Things to Do in Hopa: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Hopa

• 1 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 1 Nature
• 2 Attraction
• 1 Other

i Photo: Gürsoy Tokgöz (CC BY 3.0) · Source

1 📍 Other

Sarp Border Gate

Border gate on the Georgian border.

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2 📸 Attraction

Hopa Port

One of Türkiye's main ports.

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3 🌳 Nature

Hopa Coast

The Hopa coastline on the Black Sea offers a characteristic Black Sea shore scene, with small coves and fishermen's harbours. There are coastal walking paths and fish restaurants along the shore.

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i Photo: Jaba1977 (Attribution) · Source

4 📸 Attraction

Kemalpaşa (Sarp) Village

Kemalpaşa, on the Georgian border, is a lively trade and tourism point thanks to the border gate. Together with Sarpi on the Georgian side, it is a settlement where cross-border cultural exchange takes place.

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5 🕌 Religious

Orta Hopa Mosque

A mosque in the centre of Hopa, in Orta Mahalle, probably built at the end of the 19th century.

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6 🏛️ Historic

Yoldere Village Arched Bridge

A single-arch bridge in Yoldere village, Hopa district.

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While you are in Hopa, you can also see the highlights of Artvin province. These places are in other districts.

• Artvin Castle — Known locally as Livane Castle, it was built in 937 by the Georgian king Ashot the Great and controlled the approach to the town and traffic along the Çoruh.
• Kafkasör Plateau — A forest-ringed highland pasture at an altitude of about 1,200 metres, 12 km from the city centre; it hosts the bull wrestling of the annual Kafkasör Culture, Tourism and Arts Festival.
• Hatila Valley National Park — A narrow V-shaped valley, in places a canyon, 10 km from Artvin centre; slopes reach gradients of up to 100 per cent in places.
• İşhan Monastery — A Georgian monastery in the village of İşhan in Yusufeli; it was founded in the 9th century by the monk Saba on the site of a 7th-century church and renovated in 1032 by the architect Ivane Morchaisdze.
• Dörtkilise (Othta Eklesia) — A 10th-century Georgian monastery 5 km from the village of Tekkale in Yusufeli; its name is a translation of the Georgian Othta Eklesia ("four churches").
• Barhal (Parhali) Church — The main church of the monastery in the village of Altıparmak in Yusufeli, built between 961 and 973 by the Georgian king David III; a three-aisled basilica measuring 28 × 19 metres, it is one of the best-preserved Georgian buildings in the region.

Practical Information for Visiting Hopa

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Summer months (June-August)

Places to visit

6 places

• 🐟

  Hamsi Tava (pan-fried anchovies)

  The anchovy, the emblematic fish of the Black Sea, is served in Hopa fried in cornmeal in the form of a tava. Anchovies are at their most delicious in the winter months and are the main source of protein for local people.

• 🧈

  Kuymak

  Kuymak, made with cornmeal, butter and civil cheese, is one of Hopa's traditional dishes. It is served stirred continuously over a fire until it reaches a stretchy consistency.

• 🥬

  Karalahana Çorbası (collard green soup)

  Made with collard greens, cornmeal and beans, this soup is an indispensable winter dish in Hopa. Its nourishing and filling nature makes it a favourite on cold days.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Hopa

• 🚪

  Border Culture

  Because of its location on the Georgian border, Hopa has been a meeting point of different cultures throughout history. The district, where Laz, Georgian and Turkish cultures have lived side by side, has a multilingual and multicultural character.

• 🎭

  Laz Culture

  Hopa is one of the important centres of Laz culture. In the district, where Laz is spoken, traditional Laz music, dances and cuisine are kept alive.

Local Products

• Hopa Hamsili Ekmeği — Hopa Hamsili Ekmeği was registered as a protected geographical indication on 24 September 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 904). Product group: bakery and pastry products, dough products, desserts. Registered by: Hopa Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Hopa Laz Böreği — Hopa Laz Böreği was registered as a protected geographical indication on 8 January 2019 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 407). Product group: bakery and pastry products, dough products, desserts. Registered by: Hopa Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Economy

Hopa's economy rests on tea cultivation, fishing, port activities and border trade. Trade with Georgia through the Sarp Border Gate is an important source of income. Hopa Port is one of the important trading points in Eastern Black Sea. Tea production and fishing are traditional livelihoods.

How to Get to Hopa

Hopa is reached by road, 65 km from Artvin city centre and 190 km from Trabzon. Rize-Artvin Airport is 70 km away. There are intercity bus services to the district, which lies on the coastal road. Crossing into Georgia is possible through the Sarp Border Gate.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Artvin

Hopa: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Hopa Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Artvin The province's 19 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Artvin

• Artvin Central District 11 places Artvin Castle, Çoruh River Valley and Camili Biosphere Reserve
• Ardanuç 10 places Gevhernik Castle, Ardanuç Castle and Bulanık Church
• Arhavi 8 places Ciha Castle, Arhavi Waterfalls and Arhavi Plateaus
• Borçka 8 places Borçka Karagöl, Macahel Valley (Macahel Vadisi) and Borçka Dam
• Kemalpaşa 5 places Sarp Border Gate, Remains of Makriali Church and Kemalpaşa Coast
• Murgul 5 places Murgul Copper Mine, Murgul Dam and Lake and Murgul Forests
• Şavşat 13 places Karagöl-Sahara National Park, Şavşat Castle and Sahara Plateau
• Yusufeli 10 places Barhal (Altıparmak) Church, Çoruh River Rafting Course and Barhal River Rafting Area