Trabzon, Turkey: travel guide
Black Sea port with a cliffside monastery and green highland lakes
A historic Black Sea port once capital of the Empire of Trebizond. Trabzon's star attractions are the Atatürk Pavilion, the clifftop Sümela Monastery, and the emerald Uzungöl lake tucked in lush highland forests.
About Trabzon
Trabzon is a port city on Turkey's eastern Black Sea coast, once the capital of the Empire of Trebizond. Its green setting differs sharply from the dry Aegean and Mediterranean, with steep hills, tea terraces and frequent mist.
The headline sight is Sümela Monastery, built into a cliff face in the forest above the valley. In town you can visit the Atatürk Pavilion and the Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia, and look out over the sea from Boztepe Hill. Uzungöl lake and the Ayder highland plateau make longer excursions into the mountains.
Trabzon suits travellers who want nature and local culture over beaches. Late spring to early autumn is the usual season, though the Black Sea coast sees rain in every month.
- Country
- Turkey
- Currency
- TRY
- Time zone
- Europe/Istanbul
- Nearest airport
- TZX
Last updated
Top places to visit in Trabzon
Sümela Monastery
monastery · 4.8 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Clinging to a sheer 270-metre cliff face in the lush Altındere Valley, Sümela Monastery is one of the world's most dramatically sited religious buildings. Founded in 386 AD by two Athenian monks, it was a major Greek Orthodox centre for…
Uzungöl Lake
Nature · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Nestled at 1,090 metres in a verdant valley of the Eastern Black Sea highlands, Uzungöl (Long Lake) is one of Turkey's most serene landscapes. The milky-turquoise lake surrounded by dark forest, wooden chalets and mist-covered peaks has…
Atatürk Pavilion (Trabzon)
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A white Italianate mansion built by a Greek merchant in 1890 and used by Atatürk on his visits to Trabzon in 1924 and 1937. Now a museum, it preserves his private rooms, personal belongings and period furnishings. The hillside garden…
Trabzon Boztepe Hill
hilltop-park · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Boztepe Hill — Trabzon's spectacular hilltop park with the iconic panoramic Black Sea views, the famous tea gardens, and the dramatic city panorama.
Trabzon Hagia Sophia
byzantine-church · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Hagia Sophia of Trabzon — the spectacular 13th-century Byzantine church (now a mosque), with the iconic frescoes, the dramatic Black Sea views, and the historic Komnenos dynasty heritage.
Trabzon Ayder Plateau
highland-plateau · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Trabzon to Ayder Plateau — the spectacular Kaçkar Mountains highland with the iconic green pastures, the traditional wooden houses, and the famous thermal springs.
Trabzon Anzer Honey
honey-plateau · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Trabzon to Anzer Plateau — the spectacular highland famous for the world's most expensive honey (Anzer Bal), with the iconic green pastures and the dramatic mountain landscape.
Trabzon Pokut Plateau
stone-houses · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Trabzon to Pokut Plateau — the spectacular Kaçkar Mountains highland with the iconic stone houses, the famous foggy panorama, and the dramatic mountain meadows.
Trabzon Macka Day Trip
pontic-town · 4.6 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Trabzon to Maçka — the spectacular town in the Pontic Mountains, with the iconic Maçka Park, the historic Greek heritage, and the gateway to Sümela Monastery.
Things to do
- Sümela Monastery Day Trip Cultural · 5 h · from TRY 330 per person
- Trabzon City & Hagia Sophia Tour Cultural · 4 h · from TRY 200 per person
Day trips and tours
- Sümela Monastery & Maçka Valley Day Trip 7 h · from TRY 870
- Uzungöl Highland Lake & Tea Plantation Tour 9 h · from TRY 970
Where to stay in Trabzon
- Trabzon City Centre about TRY 45 per night
The most practical base for Trabzon — a compact, walkable city centre with the best hotel infrastructure, good restaurants serving Black Sea cuisine, and easy access to day trips to Sümela Monastery and Uzungöl. The…
Hotels
- Zorlu Grand Hotel Trabzon 5-star · TRY 2,800 to TRY 7,500 per night
- Radisson Blu Hotel Trabzon 5-star
- Sera Lake Resort Hotel Spa & Aparts 4-star
Where to eat
- Fevzi Usta Balık Evi Black Sea Cuisine, Seafood · about TRY 350 per person
- Boru Restaurant Uzungöl Turkish, Black Sea Cuisine · about TRY 300 per person
Getting to Trabzon
Airport: Trabzon (TZX)
Getting around
- Car Rental Self
- Shared Taxi
- Taxi
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Overpriced Taxi to Sümela
Trabzon city taxis
Drivers quote inflated flat rates for the 45 km trip to Sümela Monastery (legitimate one-way fare: 350–450 TRY). Some drivers claim to be "official monastery guides" requiring an additional fee.
How to avoid it: Agree on a round-trip price (with waiting time) before departing. Official tour minibuses from the city centre are the most reliable option. Guides at Sümela must show official badges.
Fake Hazelnut / Tea Quality
Market stalls near Trabzon Meydan (Atatürk Square)
Traders sell mixed-quality hazelnut or tea samples at premium prices claiming they are "premium export grade" or "first harvest." The product received may be inferior to what was sampled.
How to avoid it: Buy hazelnuts and tea from established shops with proper packaging or from the local Migros supermarket. Avoid unmarked bags from street stalls.
More in Turkey
Frequently asked questions about Trabzon
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Trabzon?
- The highest-rated places in our Trabzon guide are Sümela Monastery, Trabzon Ayder Plateau, Trabzon Pokut Plateau, Trabzon Hagia Sophia, Trabzon Anzer Honey.
- Where should I stay in Trabzon?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Trabzon: Trabzon City Centre.
- How do I get around Trabzon?
- Ways to get around Trabzon covered in our guide: Self-drive car, Shared taxi, Taxi, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Trabzon?
- Scams reported to us for Trabzon include Overpriced Taxi to Sümela; Fake Hazelnut / Tea Quality. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Trabzon?
- The nearest airport to Trabzon has the code TZX.