Giresun is a graceful Black Sea city of steep hills, Ottoman houses and the ruins of a Byzantine castle on the headland above the sea. Its offshore island — the only island on Turkey's Black Sea coast — is said by Strabo to have been a sanctuary of Ares where Amazonian warriors sacrificed horses, and the legend persists in annual Aksu Festival ceremonies.
The surrounding hillsides are covered with hazelnut trees — Turkey is the world's largest hazelnut producer, and Giresun province grows much of the crop. The highland plateaus above the coast offer cool summer retreats.
Known for: Giresun Island (Amazon legend) · Byzantine castle · Hazelnut orchards · Kümbet highland · Black Sea coast
- Region
- Black Sea
- Famous for
- Giresun Island & hazelnuts
- Best seasons
- Jun–Sep
- Produce
- Hazelnuts (fındık)
Giresun on the live map
Explore Giresun and all of Turkey on the live intelligence map — tap a city node to fly in.
What Giresun is known for
Giresun Island (Aretias) can be reached by small boat from the harbour; the Aksu Festival (May) celebrates its Amazon legend with offerings and traditional ceremonies. The Byzantine castle above the city gives fine sea views. The Kümbet highland plateau above Espiye is a popular yayla summer retreat.
- Giresun Island — Amazon legend, Aksu Festival (May).
- Byzantine castle — coastal panorama.
- Hazelnut orchards — world's finest crop.
- Kümbet highland plateau — summer retreat.
Getting around
Giresun is on the Black Sea coastal highway, 1.5 hours from Trabzon. Boats to the island run from the harbour in summer; highlands need a car.
On the platform
Giresun is joining Türkiye Gez as we expand into a Turkey-wide city intelligence platform. This guide is the launch foundation — live transport data, an interactive map and deeper neighborhood content roll out city by city, on the same architecture that powers Istanbul today.
Frequently asked questions
About Giresun
1Giresun Island with its Amazon legend (the region's only Black Sea island), the Byzantine castle, hazelnut farming and highland yayla plateaus.