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    Trabzon
    Kadıoğlu Muhsin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Turkey

    Trabzon

    CityCultureNature

    Trabzon is the largest city on the eastern Black Sea coast and a starting point for the Sümela Monastery and the green valleys of the Pontic Mountains. The port city combines Byzantine heritage with vibrant Black Sea cuisine.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Turkey
    7. Black Sea Coast
    9. Trabzon
    Trabzon is the largest city on the eastern Black Sea coast and a starting point for the Sümela Monastery and the green valleys of the Pontic Mountains. The port city combines Byzantine heritage with vibrant Black Sea cuisine. The urban area has approximately 335,000 inhabitants; its center is Meydan Square in the Ortahisar district. The Hagia Sophia is located a few kilometers to the west, and the Boztepe viewpoint hill lies to the south, overlooking the city center.

    Sights in Trabzon

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Sümela Monastery
    Place of Worship

    1Sümela Monastery

    The monastery clings to a rock face in the Altındere Valley, about 40 km south of Trabzon via Maçka. According to tradition, it was founded by two monks from Athens in the 4th century and was operational until 1923. Following stabilization work against rockfalls, it has been reopened since June 25, 2026; further restorations are ongoing. From the parking lot, the ascent is on foot or by Dolmuş; check the current status before visiting.
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    Gülbahar Hatun Mosque
    Mosque

    2Gülbahar Hatun Mosque

    Mosque and tomb complex date from 1514. They bear the name of Gülbahar Hatun, mother of Sultan Selim I, who served as provincial governor in Trabzon.
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    Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)

    3Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)

    The Late Byzantine monastery church dates from the 13th century, built under Emperor Manuel I. Some frescoes survived and were uncovered from 1957 by a University of Edinburgh team. Since 2013, the building has again been used as a mosque.
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    Zağnos Valley Park
    Park

    4Zağnos Valley Park

    The city park fills the Zağnos Valley in the center of Trabzon, below the old city wall and the Zağnos Bridge. Walking paths, seating areas, and playgrounds make it a quiet place for a break between Hagia Sophia and Meydan.
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    Atatürk Pavilion (Atatürk Köşkü)

    5Atatürk Pavilion (Atatürk Köşkü)

    The summer villa in Trabzon's Soğuksu district was commissioned by the banker Konstantin Kabayanidis starting in 1890. In 1931, it was deeded to Atatürk, who resided there during his last visit in June 1937 and decided to bequeath his fortune to the nation. The villa has belonged to the city of Trabzon since 1943 and is designed as a museum with furnished drawing rooms and a dining room. It was last restored until 2023.
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    Restaurants in Trabzon

    1

    Cemilusta

    The restaurant at Meydan is known for Akçaabat Köfte, which locals gladly recommend to visitors. In addition, Black Sea dishes like Turşu Kavurması and desserts like Baklava are on the menu.
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    2

    Calendar Lokanta and Cafe

    The café-restaurant serves daily changing regional dishes. A good spot for a simple lunch downtown.
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    3

    Historical Kalkanoğlu Pilaf

    This traditional eatery in the Pazarkapı district specializes in Pilav. Local city guides count it among the classic addresses of Trabzon cuisine.
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    Food and Drink

    Trabzon cuisine thrives on anchovies, cornmeal, and butter. Tea, a key regional export, also plays a central role.

    Hamsi Tava

    Anchovies from the Black Sea are coated in cornmeal and pan-fried. Hamsi is considered the city's most famous dish.

    Akçaabat Köfte

    The meatballs from the neighboring town Akçaabat are seasoned with garlic and grilled over charcoal.

    Kuymak

    The porridge of cornmeal and melted Kolot cheese is a staple regional dish.

    Laz Böreği

    The pudding-filled puff pastry is soaked in syrup and is one of the well-known desserts of the Black Sea coast.

    Culture & History

    From Trapezous to EmpireGreek colonists founded the city around 756 BC as Trapezous. From 1204 to 1461, it was the capital of the Empire of Trebizond, until Mehmed II conquered it. The Hagia Sophia, with its 13th-century frescoes, dates from this period.Ottoman TracesSultan Selim I served here as provincial governor, and his son Süleyman the Magnificent was born in Trabzon in 1494. The Gülbahar Hatun Mosque, built in 1514, commemorates Selim's mother.Atatürk PavilionKonstantin Kabayanidis had the summer villa in the Soğuksu district built in 1890. Atatürk stayed here during his visits; the city bought the house in 1943 and established a museum.

    Arrival & On the Go

    Getting ThereTrabzon has its own airport; Havaş buses run from there to the city center. Taxis and rental cars are available at the airport.ExcursionsSümela Monastery: Approximately 40 km south, about an hour by car. By public transport, take a bus or dolmuş to Maçka and change there.Uzungöl: This mountain lake in the Çaykara district is about 99 km from the city and suitable for a day trip.TipThe Sümela Monastery was repeatedly closed due to rockfall risk and has been reopened since June 2026. Before your excursion, check the current status with the Ministry of Culture.

    Accommodations in Trabzon

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    Campgrounds in Trabzon

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    Nearby

    Black Sea Coast

    Black Sea Coast

    The Black Sea coast stretches as a green, rainy strip across the entire north of Turkey. To the west lies the Ottoman half-timbered town of Safranbolu, to the east Trabzon with the Sümela Monastery and the tea gardens at the foot of the Kaçkar Mountains. If you're looking for mountain villages, monasteries, and fish cuisine instead of a beach holiday, you're in the right place.
    East Anatolia

    East Anatolia

    East Anatolia is the highland region in the far east of Turkey, featuring the 5,137 m high Mount Ararat, Lake Van, and the ruins of Ani. The region lies at an average elevation of 2,200 m and is the highest-lying in the country. Those who seek vast landscapes, Armenian churches, and Urartian castles will find them here.
    Kars & Ani

    Kars & Ani

    Kars, situated at an altitude of 1,768 m in Turkey's far northeast, serves as the starting point for the ruined city of Ani, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2016. The city, with a population of over 90,000, features a blend of Armenian churches, a 12th-century castle, and streets dating back to the Tsarist era. Its Russian-influenced grid layout can be found in the districts of Yusufpaşa, Ortakapı, and Cumhuriyet, while the old town Kaleiçi lies beneath the castle.
    Nemrut Dağı

    Nemrut Dağı

    Nemrut Dağı is a mountain in the Anti-Taurus range in Southeast Anatolia, on whose summit King Antiochus I of Commagene had his tomb-sanctuary with colossal statues of gods erected. Since 1987, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a popular destination, especially for sunrise and sunset. Starting points are Kahta and the village of Karadut at the foot of the mountain, about 85 km from Adıyaman.
    Southeastern Anatolia

    Southeastern Anatolia

    Southeastern Anatolia is the land between the Euphrates and Tigris, bordering Syria, home to Göbekli Tepe, the colossal statues of Mount Nemrut, and the stone city of Mardin. Here lie some of humanity's oldest cult sites, plus Gaziantep, the capital of Turkish cuisine. If you seek archaeology and hearty, spicy cuisine, this is the right place.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI