On 19 May 1919, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stepped off a steamship at the port of Samsun, beginning the national resistance movement that would become the Turkish War of Independence and ultimately the Turkish Republic. May 19th is now a national holiday — Atatürk’s arrival in Samsun is considered the founding moment of modern Turkey.
Beyond its historical significance, Samsun is an energetic Black Sea port with a good seafood scene, modern waterfront and the easiest starting point for exploring the eastern Black Sea coast.
- Region
- Black Sea
- Historical date
- 19 May 1919
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Gateway to
- Trabzon, Rize, Artvin
Panorama 19 May Museum
This impressive museum commemorates Atatürk’s landing and the early stages of the independence struggle. The centrepiece is a 360-degree panoramic painting of the period, with three-dimensional figures and dioramas bringing the scenes to life.
The adjacent Bandırma Ferry — a full-scale replica of the ship that carried Atatürk to Samsun — is moored on the seafront as an open museum.
Sahil Bulvarı and the Black Sea coast
Samsun’s long seafront boulevard stretches for kilometres along the Black Sea shore, with parks, cafés and a promenade busy in summer evenings. The sea here is cooler and rougher than the Mediterranean, and the coast east of Samsun quickly becomes one of Turkey’s most beautiful — lush green mountains dropping to the water.
Gateway to the Black Sea coast
Samsun is the best starting point for a Black Sea road trip east toward Trabzon, Rize and Artvin. The D010 coast road passes fishing villages, tea plantations and dramatic cliffs for 400 kilometres.
Samsun in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Samsun
2Samsun is where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk landed on 19 May 1919 to launch the Turkish War of Independence — the founding moment of the Turkish Republic.
Yes — Samsun has the best transport links on the Black Sea coast and is the easiest starting point for a road trip east toward Trabzon, Rize and Artvin.