Rize is where Turkey’s tea comes from — the terraced hillsides above the city are covered with tea bushes, giving the province its famously intense green. Behind them, theKaçkar Mountainsrise to over 3900m, one of Turkey’s great trekking regions and a world away from the Aegean resorts.
Here are the places worth building your visit around.
- Region
- Black Sea
- Best seasons
- Jun–Sep (hiking)
- Known for
- Tea, Kaçkar Mountains
- Base for
- Multi-day mountain treks
Kaçkar Mountains
The Kaçkar Mountainsare Turkey’s most dramatic highland trekking area — a range of peaks topping 3900m, covered in summer wildflowers and glacial lakes, with yaylas (highland villages) still used by nomadic herders. The classic route crosses from the Black Sea side (Ayder or Çamlıhemşin) to the Georgian valleys on the other side in 4–6 days. Day hikes from Ayder are also possible.
Ayder plateau
At 1350m above sea level, Ayderis the most popular Black Sea yayla — a highland settlement of wooden houses in a green valley with waterfalls and hot springs. In summer it’s the base for hiking into the Kaçkars; the thermal baths are a good end-of-day treat. Ayder sits 65km from Rize city through the Fırtına Valley.
Fırtına Valley
The Fırtına River(“Storm”) carves through the mountains from Rize toward Ayder — one of Turkey’s most beautiful valley drives, lined with Ottoman-era stone bridges, dense forest and the ruins of Zilkale, a medieval Genoese castle perched on a clifftop. The river itself is popular for white-water rafting and fishing.
Rize tea gardens
The terraced hillsides above Rize city are some of the most photogenic in Turkey — rows of tea bushes stretching across steep slopes toward the sea. The Ziraat Tea Gardenat Ziptu Hill gives the best overview and serves tea surrounded by the plants it’s made from. The Rize Tea Museumin the city explains the history and culture of Turkey’s national drink.
Rize in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Rize
3Trek in the Kaçkar Mountains from the Ayder plateau, drive through the Fırtına Valley to see Zilkale Castle, walk through the Rize tea gardens, and soak in the Ayder thermal baths.
The classic crossing takes 4–6 days and requires good fitness but no technical climbing skills in summer. The Ayder plateau offers shorter day hikes suitable for most walkers. A guide is recommended for the full crossing.
Rize–Artvin Airport (opened 2023) has flights from Istanbul. Alternatively, fly to Trabzon (1 hour west) and take a 1.5-hour bus. The coastal road is spectacular but the journey from Istanbul by road takes about 16 hours.