Things to Do in Fındıklı: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Fındıklı

• 1 Historic
• 6 Nature

While you are in Fındıklı, 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 Fındıklı

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

May–October

Places to visit

7 places

• 🧀

  Muhlama (cheese fondue with cornmeal)

  Prepared with cornmeal and cheese melted in butter. This dish has an important place at local tables and is made using traditional recipes. Made with fresh, natural ingredients, it is a healthy option.

• 🐟

  Hamsi Tava (fried anchovies)

  Fresh anchovies fried in cornmeal. Prepared using recipes passed down from generation to generation, this dish is an important part of the region's culinary culture. Anchovy festivals are the finest sign of the local people's passion for this fish.

• 🥬

  Karalahana Sarması (collard greens stuffed with rice and minced meat)

  Prepared by wrapping collard green leaves around rice and minced meat and cooking them. The combination of collard greens and cornmeal makes up one of the most characteristic flavours of Black Sea cuisine.

• 🍽️

  Vegetable hamsi tava

  Mentioned in the source as "sebzeli hamsi tavası", one of the dishes made with anchovies.

• 🍽️

  Pickle fry (turşu kavurması)

  One of the Black Sea flavours in Fındıklı's cuisine.

• 🍽️

  Laz böreği (Laz pastry)

  Stands out among the desserts of Fındıklı's cuisine.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Fındıklı

• 🍵

  Tea Culture

  Tea farming forms the foundation of the district's culture in Fındıklı. This tradition is passed down from generation to generation as an important element of the local people's cultural identity.

• 💃

  Horon Tradition

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

Local Products

• Fındıklı Tea — Tea grown in the district, one of the quality varieties of Rize tea.
• Fındıklı Honey — Honey obtained from plateau flowers, known for its natural character.

Economy

The economy of Fındıklı is based on tea production and trade. Tea factories provide employment in the district.

How to Get to Fındıklı

Fındıklı is 45 km from Rize. Rize–Artvin Airport is 85 km away.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Rize

Fındıklı: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Fındıklı 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
• Çayeli 4 places Çayeli Coast, Çayeli Tea Gardens and Çayeli Plateaus
• Derepazarı 4 places Derepazarı Tea Gardens, Derepazarı Stream and Valley and Village Mosques
• 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