Things to Do in İyidere: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in İyidere

• 1 Historic
• 2 Nature
• 2 Beach
• 1 Attraction

While you are in İyidere, you can also see the highlights of Rize province. These places are in other districts; İyidere is about 20 km from the provincial centre.

• 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 İyidere

Suggested time

Half a day to 1 day

Best time to visit

May–September (tea harvest and summer season)

Places to visit

6 places

• 🍽️

  İyidere Pileki Taşı

  İyidere Pileki Taşı was registered as a protected geographical indication on 24 July 2024 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1618). Product group: other products. Registered by: İyidere Kaymakamlığı (District Governorship).

• 🧀

  Muhlama (Kuymak)

  Prepared with cheese from tulum melted in butter and cornmeal, muhlama is indispensable at breakfast tables in İyidere. It is served hot in a copper pan.

• 🥬

  Karalahana Çorbası

  Prepared with fresh kale leaves, cornmeal and dried beans, this soup is a staple of the Black Sea kitchen in the winter months.

• 🐟

  Hamsi Tava

  The best-known fish of the Black Sea, the anchovy, is fried in cornmeal to make tava. In İyidere it is prepared with fresh anchovies in the winter months.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of İyidere

• 🍵

  Tea Harvest Tradition

  The tea harvest, which lasts between May and October, shapes İyidere's social life. The harvest, carried out by whole families, is a living example of the imece tradition.

• 💃

  Horon and Tulum

  In İyidere, horon is danced to the tulum at weddings and festivals. This traditional dance of the Black Sea is passed down from generation to generation in the district.

Local Products

• Tea — Tea grown on the slopes of İyidere is one of the important production areas of Rize tea. A tea factory affiliated to ÇAYKUR operates in the district.
• Kiwi — İyidere's mild climate is suitable for kiwi cultivation. In recent years, kiwi production has increased alongside tea farming.

Economy

İyidere's economy is based on tea farming. A tea factory affiliated to ÇAYKUR operates in the district. Fishing and kiwi cultivation are among the additional sources of income. Small-scale trade and the service sector also contribute to the economy.

How to Get to İyidere

İyidere is 20 km from Rize city centre. The coastal road (E-010 highway) passes through the district. Rize-Artvin Airport is about 55 km away. There are regular minibus services towards Rize and Trabzon.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Rize

İyidere: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in İyidere 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
• Hemşin 4 places Hemşin Valley, Hemşin Arch Bridges and Hemşin Plateaus
• İkizdere 10 places Anzer Plateau, İkizdere Valley and Foothills of the Kaçkar Mountains
• Kalkandere 6 places Kalkandere Castle Remains, Çağlayan Village Waterfall and Kalkandere Valley
• Pazar 5 places Pazar Coast, Pazar Plateaus and Pazar Tea Gardens