Things to Do in Hemşin: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Hemşin

• 1 Historic
• 3 Nature

While you are in Hemşin, 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 Hemşin

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Summer months (June–September)

Places to visit

4 places

• 🧀

  Muhlama

  Prepared with cheese melted in butter and cornmeal. This dish holds an important place on local tables and is made according to traditional recipes. It can be tasted in its most authentic form at local markets and home restaurants.

• 🥧

  Laz Böreği

  A sweet börek of thin layers of yufka with muhallebi between them, baked in the oven. Made according to recipes passed down through generations, this dish is an important part of the region's culinary culture.

• 🥬

  Karalahana Çorbası

  A soup made with kale, cornmeal and beans. Prepared with local ingredients, this flavour reflects the region's gastronomic richness. This soup, which warms you on cold winter days, is the region's comfort food.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Hemşin

• 🎵

  Hemşin Culture

  Hemşin has one of the most colourful cultures on the Black Sea, with its own language, music and traditions. Tulum music and the horon dance form the basis of its cultural identity.

• 🎉

  Plateau Festivals

  Plateau festivals held in the summer months, with horon shows, wrestling competitions and local cookery contests, are the district's most colourful events.

Local Products

• Hemşin Çorabı (Hemşin socks) — Hemşin Çorabı was registered as a protected geographical indication on 9 August 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 841). Product group: handicrafts other than carpets, kilims and textiles. Registered by: Hemşin Municipality.
• Hemşin Tea — Tea grown in the district and one of the quality varieties of Rize tea.
• Hemşin Honey — Honey made from plateau flowers, known for its natural qualities.

Economy

Hemşin's economy is based on tea production, beekeeping and livestock farming. Farming, livestock and small-scale trade are among the livelihoods of Hemşin's people.

How to Get to Hemşin

It is 20 km from Rize. Rize-Artvin Airport is 60 km away.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Rize

Hemşin: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Hemşin 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
• Fındıklı 7 places Fındıklı Beach, Fındıklı Plateaus and Fındıklı Tea Gardens
• Güneysu 4 places Güneysu Tea Gardens, Güneysu Plateaus and Güneysu Valley
• 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