In 60 seconds
Completely unlike the sun-baked Mediterranean, Turkey's Eastern Black Sea is an emerald kingdom of misty temperate rainforests, soaring Pontic alpine ridges, and rushing glacial streams. Ancient Trabzon—once the medieval Byzantine Empire of Trebizond—is crowned by the 13th-century frescoed church of Hagia Sophia. In the steep granite canyons inland, the 4th-century Greek Orthodox Sümela Monastery clings impossibly to a 300-metre vertical cliff wall, while eastward the terraced tea plantations of Rize climb toward alpine yayla meadows and high glacial tarns.
Best for
Known for
Skip if
You demand guaranteed hot sunny Mediterranean beach weather; the Black Sea coast receives frequent atmospheric rain and misty mountain fog.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Trabzon & Eastern Black Sea fits them. Choose interests
See
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
4th-century Greek Orthodox sanctuary carved into sheer 300m granite cliffs
An architectural wonder clinging to a vertical mountain face above dense fir forests, featuring a sacred rock-cut cave chapel covered in vibrant biblical frescoes.
13th-century Byzantine imperial church · Splendid stone reliefs & floor mosaics
Built by Emperor Manuel I of the Empire of Trebizond, featuring exquisite South Porch stone carvings depicting the Fall of Man and vivid interior domed frescoes.
Emerald mountain lake enclosed by steep fir-clad slopes and village minarets
A serene highland lake formed by an ancient landslide damming the Haldizen stream, surrounded by dense spruce forests and scenic wooden walking trails.
1890 European-style white timber mansion set in pine woods on Soğuksu Hill
A charming Russian-Crimean-influenced summer villa built by a wealthy Greek merchant where Atatürk stayed, surrounded by hydrangea gardens and pine air.
Eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Where to eat the food this city is actually known for.
The historic waterfront home of garlic-spiced Akçaabat köfte since 1974
The definitive destination for succulent, garlic-infused Akçaabat grilled meatballs served with grilled peppers, piyaz bean salad and local cornbread.
Traditional regional eatery famed for sizzling kuymak (mıhlama)
Order hot bubbling kuymak: slow-cooked cornmeal, fresh local village butter and stringy Kolot cheese stretched hot onto warm crusty cornbread.
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Acclaimed seafood restaurant dedicated to Black Sea maritime delicacies
Celebrated for seasonal wild Black Sea catches including crispy cornmeal-dusted anchovies (hamsi tava), Atlantic bonito, turbot and butter-braised whiting.
Botanical tea garden set amidst terraced tea plantations overlooking the sea
Sit surrounded by manicured green tea bushes to sip premier first-harvest loose leaf Black Sea tea from steaming copper samovars.
Beyond the obvious
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Rushing mountain river gorge spanned by Ottoman stone bridges & fairy-tale cliff castle
Venture east into the wild Fırtına Valley to discover single-arch Ottoman humpback stone bridges and the haunting stone towers of Zilkale perched over a forested canyon.
Hilltop observation plateau overlooking Trabzon harbour and the Black Sea
A refreshing hill terrace above the city where locals gather around smoking copper samovars to drink Rize tea while watching ships navigate the Black Sea.
After dark
Historic coastal rock terrace bar right on the rocky Black Sea shore
A breezy seaside open-air terrace where travellers enjoy cold beers and salty maritime breezes against the backdrop of crashing northern waves.
Orientation
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Vibrant city center of leafy pedestrian squares, stone bazaars and traditional tea gardens
The practical commercial and cultural core, close to transit hubs, dining and historic city walls.
Mountain valley enclave of timber chalets and alpine walking trails
Ideal for highland nature lovers seeking clean mountain air, morning mist and trailhead access.
Stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Comfortable urban hotels steps from the main pedestrian square
Best for convenience and easy daily minibus access to Sümela Monastery and regional sights.
Rustic wooden alpine cabins and boutique riverside lodges along the Fırtına River
Perfect for hikers, rafters and those who want to wake up to rushing mountain torrents and misty green forests.
Practical
Context
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
Founded by Greek colonists from Sinop as Trapezous, becoming a crucial Black Sea terminus of Silk Road trade.
Rules as the independent Byzantine Empire of Trebizond under the Komnenos dynasty until conquered by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II.
Restoration of Sümela Monastery and expansion of eco-tourism makes the Eastern Black Sea Turkey's green mountain frontier.
Further out
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Alpine highland meadow at 1,350m surrounded by sheer fir forests and Gelin Tülü waterfall
A celebrated mountain plateau famous for natural thermal hot springs, wooden chalets, and folk bagpipe (tulum) dancing under pine peaks.
Dazzling limestone cavern filled with stalagmites, cave pearls and travertine pools
One of the world's most colour-rich dripstone caves, displaying magnificent mineral formations illuminated along wooden walkway paths.
