Trabzon
City guide · Updated 2026
Trabzon is the main city of Turkey's eastern Black Sea coast — a green, rainy, mountainous region utterly different from the rest of the country. Travellers come less for the city itself and more as a base for the misty highlands, alpine lakes and the spectacular monastery clinging to a cliff above the forest. It is especially popular in summer, when much of Turkey (and the Gulf) heads north for the cool, green plateaus.
Top things to do
- Sumela Monastery — A Byzantine monastery built into a sheer cliff face high above the Altındere valley; the region's must-see (check seasonal access and book ahead).
- Uzungöl — A serene mountain lake ringed by forested peaks and wooden chalets, about 1.5–2 hours from the city.
- Hagia Sophia of Trabzon — A 13th-century church with fine frescoes, near the seafront.
- Yaylas (highland plateaus) — Pastures such as Ayder and the Pokut/Sal plateaus, often above the clouds; the heart of Black Sea highland culture.
- Atatürk Köşkü — A white mansion in leafy gardens overlooking the city.
Best time to visit
June–September is the prime window: the highlands are green and accessible, and the weather is mildest. The Black Sea is the wettest part of Turkey year-round, so pack a rain layer in any season; winters are cold and damp with snow in the mountains.
Getting there & around
Trabzon Airport (TZX) connects to Istanbul in about two hours. The mountain sights are spread out and best reached by rental car or organised day tours (Sumela and Uzungöl are common half- or full-day trips). Roads are winding — allow extra time.
Where to stay
Stay central in Trabzon for transport links and day trips, or overnight at Uzungöl or a highland yayla guesthouse for early-morning mist and quiet before the day-trippers arrive.
What to eat
The Black Sea kitchen revolves around hamsi (anchovies) in season, Akçaabat köfte (a renowned local meatball), cornbread, and above all Trabzon-style kuymak — a molten cheese-and-cornmeal fondue eaten for breakfast.