Trabzon is the cultural capital of Turkey's Black Sea coast, where steep green mountains rise straight out of a misty sea. For centuries a Silk Road port and the seat of its own empire, it now draws visitors for its dramatic landscapes as much as its history.
The star is the Sumela Monastery, clinging to a sheer cliff face in a forested valley — but the real magic is the highland plateaus (yaylas) and the alpine lake of Uzungöl above the coast.
Known for: Sumela Monastery · Uzungöl · Highlands (yayla) · Black Sea · Hamsi
- Region
- Black Sea
- Landscape
- Green mountains
- Best seasons
- Jun–Sep
- Icon
- Sumela Monastery
Uzungöl
What Trabzon is known for
Sumela Monastery is the unmissable sight, carved into a cliff 1,200 metres up. In the city, the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon and the Atatürk Pavilion are worth a visit, while the surrounding highlands — Uzungöl, Ayder and the Pokut plateau — are the region's quiet highlight.
- Sumela Monastery on its forested cliff.
- Uzungöl — an alpine lake ringed by mountains and tea houses.
- Highland plateaus (yaylas) for cool-summer escapes.
- Black Sea cuisine: hamsi (anchovies), cornbread and muhlama.
Getting around
Trabzon's airport connects to the major cities, and the compact centre is walkable around Meydan square. The mountain sights — Sumela, Uzungöl — are best reached by organised tour or rental car, as public transport into the highlands is limited.
On the platform
Trabzon is joining Istanbul Hub 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.