Things to Do in the Black Sea Region

In this guide the Black Sea region consists of seventeen provinces: Amasya, Artvin, Bartın, Bayburt, Bolu, Çorum, Giresun, Gümüşhane, Karabük, Kastamonu, Ordu, Rize, Samsun, Sinop, Tokat, Trabzon and Zonguldak. In a region where you can climb from the coast to the highland pastures over a short distance, the Western Black Sea (Zonguldak, Bartın, Karabük, Kastamonu, Sinop, Bolu), the Central Black Sea (Samsun, Çorum, Amasya, Tokat) and the Eastern Black Sea (Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Artvin, Gümüşhane, Bayburt) are best planned as separate routes.

Highlands, lakes and national parks

Among the best-known stops in the Eastern Black Sea are Uzungöl and Sumela Monastery in Trabzon; Ayder Plateau, Pokut Plateau, the Fırtına Stream and Kaçkar Mountains National Park in Rize; Kafkasör Plateau and Hatila Valley National Park in Artvin; and Karaca Cave and the lakes of Limni and Artabel in Gümüşhane. In the Western Black Sea, highlights include Lake Abant National Park, Yedigöller and Gölcük in Bolu; Hamsilos and the Erfelek Tatlıca Waterfalls in Sinop; Valla Canyon in Kastamonu; Tokatlı Canyon in Karabük; and the Gökgöl and Cehennemağzı caves in Zonguldak. In Samsun, the Kızılırmak Delta and Şahinkaya Canyon can be added to the nature route.

Ancient cities, monasteries and Ottoman towns

Hattusa in Çorum has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986; Yazılıkaya, Alacahöyük and Şapinuva in the same province can also be visited. Safranbolu in Karabük joined the UNESCO list in 1994, and Cinci Han and the Yemeniciler Arasta show the character of its bazaar. In Kastamonu the Kasabaköy Mahmut Bey Mosque, with its nail-free timber roof, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. The region’s historical stops include the Yalıboyu houses, Royal Rock Tombs and Harşena Castle in Amasya; the Gök Madrasa, Ali Paşa Mosque and Taşhan in Tokat; Bayburt Castle and the Tomb of Dede Korkut in Bayburt; Georgian monasteries such as İşhan and Dörtkilise in Artvin; Amasra Castle and the Kemere Bridge in Bartın; and Sinop Castle and the Historic Sinop Prison in Sinop. In Samsun, the Bandırma Steamship Museum tells the story of 19 May 1919.

Cuisine and local products

The regional cuisine revolves around anchovies, maize, black cabbage, hazelnuts and dairy products:

• Trabzon: Akçaabat köftesi, kuymak (cornmeal and cheese fondue), Hamsiköy sütlacı (rice pudding), Sürmene pidesi; Tonya butter, Vakfıkebir külek cheese.
• Rize: muhlama (cornmeal and cheese fondue), etli karalahana sarması (stuffed black cabbage with meat), pepeçura; Rize tea, Anzer honey, Rize cloth.
• Ordu: Ordu pidesi, pancar çorbası (beetroot soup); Çakıldak hazelnuts.
• Giresun: fındık ezmeli kadayıf (kadayıf with hazelnut paste), Görele ice cream; tombul hazelnuts.
• Samsun: Bafra pidesi, nokul (sweet chickpea-and-sugar treat), Çarşamba keşkeği; Bafra rice.
• Sinop: mantı (Turkish dumplings), lakerda (cured bonito), kotra, nokul.
• Artvin: Hopa hamsili ekmek (anchovy bread), Laz böreği; Borçka iron apples.
• Bolu: Mengen kedibatmaz, kabaklı gözleme (pumpkin flatbread); Bolu buffalo clotted cream.
• Kastamonu: Taşköprü kuyu kebabı (pit-cooked lamb), tirit, çekme helva; Taşköprü garlic.
• Karabük: Safranbolu lokumu (Turkish delight), zerde (saffron rice pudding); Safranbolu saffron.
• Zonguldak: zılbıt, malay, Devrek beyaz baklavası (white baklava); Devrek walking sticks.
• Bartın: pirinçli mantı (rice-filled dumplings), şapşap köftesi, kabak burması (pumpkin börek).
• Çorum: roasted chickpeas (leblebi), kuru mantı (dried dumplings), İskilip dolması; Alaca hingal.
• Amasya: Amasya çöreği, etli çiçek bamyası (okra with meat); misket apples.
• Tokat: Tokat kebabı, bez sucuğu, Erbaa katmeri.
• Gümüşhane: sironu, dölek güveci (stew); mulberry pestil (fruit leather).
• Bayburt: tatlı çorba (sweet soup), lor dolması (cheese-filled dumplings), süt böreği (milk börek).

Getting There

Trabzon, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Rize (also serving Artvin), Amasya, Kastamonu, Tokat, Sinop and Zonguldak (also serving Bartın) can be reached by air. Samsun, Giresun, Trabzon and Zonguldak have sea connections. Bayburt, Gümüşhane, Çorum and Bolu can be reached only by road; the railway also reaches Karabük and Amasya. In the Eastern Black Sea, the provinces are close to one another along the coastal road that runs from Samsun to Artvin; for highland visits, check the season and weather in advance.

Below you will find the guide to each province, along with its districts, food and transport information.