Things to Do in Çayeli: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Çayeli

• 1 Historic
• 3 Nature

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

• Ayder Plateau — A highland pasture 19 km south-east of Çamlıhemşin, at 1,350 metres, surrounded by spruce and beech forests; with its hot spring, waterfalls and wooden houses it is the best-known tourist centre in the Kaçkars.
• Zilkale — A medieval castle with eight towers in Çamlıhemşin, on a steep rock above the Fırtına Valley, thought to have been built in the 14th–15th centuries.
• Fırtına Stream and the Arch Bridges — A 68 km stream that rises in the Kaçkar Mountains and flows into the Black Sea near Ardeşen; it is known for the historic stone arch bridges strung along the valley and for its rafting course.
• Pokut Plateau — A highland pasture at 2,032 metres, 15 km from the district centre in Çamlıhemşin; with its wooden houses and views over a sea of clouds it is a favourite of photographers.
• Kaçkar Mountains National Park — A national park of 51,550 hectares, most of it in Çamlıhemşin, known for its glacial lakes, alpine meadows and hikes up to the Kaçkar summit (3,937 m).
• Palovit Waterfall — A waterfall in Çamlıhemşin, within the boundaries of Kaçkar Mountains National Park, dropping 15 metres amid forests.

Practical Information for Visiting Çayeli

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

May–October

Places to visit

4 places

• 🍽️

  Çayeli Koloti Peyniri

  Çayeli Koloti Peyniri was registered as a protected designation of origin on 24 August 2022 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1199). Product group: cheeses. Registered by: Çayeli District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry.

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  Çayeli Kuru Fasulye Yemeği

  Çayeli Kuru Fasulye Yemeği was registered as a protected geographical indication on 2 January 2018 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 312). Product group: meals and soups. Registered by: Çayeli Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Çayeli

• 🍵

  Tea Culture

  As the name suggests, Çayeli is one of the districts at the heart of tea culture. This tradition is passed down from generation to generation as an important part of the local cultural identity.

• 💃

  Horon Tradition

  The horon, danced to the tulum at weddings and festivals, is part of the district's cultural identity.

Local Products

• Çayeli Tea — Çayeli is one of Rize's most important tea-producing districts. One of ÇAYKUR's largest factories is located here.
• Çayeli Honey — Honey made from plateau flowers, known for its natural qualities.

Economy

Çayeli's economy is based on tea production and trade. The ÇAYKUR factory provides significant employment in the district. Fishing is also one of the traditional livelihoods.

How to Get to Çayeli

It is 15 km from Rize. Rize-Artvin Airport is 55 km away.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Rize

Çayeli: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Çayeli Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Rize The province's 10 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Rize

• Rize Central District 4 places Ziraat Botanik Tea Garden, Rize Museum and Rize Castle
• Ardeşen 6 places Ardeşen Shore, Fırtına Stream and Tunca Valley Nature Park
• Çamlıhemşin 10 places Fırtına Deresi Valley, Ayder Plateau and Kaçkar Dağları National Park
• Derepazarı 4 places Derepazarı Tea Gardens, Derepazarı Stream and Valley and Village Mosques
• Fındıklı 7 places Fındıklı Beach, Fındıklı Plateaus and Fındıklı Tea Gardens
• Güneysu 4 places Güneysu Tea Gardens, Güneysu Plateaus and Güneysu Valley
• Hemşin 4 places Hemşin Valley, Hemşin Arch Bridges and Hemşin Plateaus
• İkizdere 10 places Anzer Plateau, İkizdere Valley and Foothills of the Kaçkar Mountains
• İyidere 6 places İyidere Coast, Metropol İlçe İyidere and İyidere Valley
• Kalkandere 6 places Kalkandere Castle Remains, Çağlayan Village Waterfall and Kalkandere Valley
• Pazar 5 places Pazar Coast, Pazar Plateaus and Pazar Tea Gardens