Black Sea
Trabzon Tours & Travel Guide
Trabzon opens Turkey's lush Black Sea region — cliff-hanging Sumela Monastery, Uzungol lake, and tea-country valleys unlike anywhere else in the country.
Recommended stay
2–3 days
Best months
May–October
Tours available
2 private tours
Top Things to Do in Trabzon
- Sumela Monastery
- Uzungol lake
- Ataturk Pavilion
- Black Sea tea valleys
Black Sea culture in Trabzon
Trabzon is the gateway to Sumela Monastery clinging to a cliff face, alpine Ayder Plateau and tea-country valleys. The city itself holds the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon (Byzantine frescoes) and a lively fish market. Green landscapes and cooler summers contrast sharply with the Mediterranean coast — ideal for travelers who have seen Istanbul and Cappadocia already.
Sumela Monastery visits
Sumela often requires advance tickets and a steep forest walk from the parking area. Weather can close the site — build flexibility into your Black Sea week. Combine with Zigana Pass viewpoints and local trout restaurants for a full day from Trabzon.
How to include Trabzon in Turkey
Fly from Istanbul to Trabzon (about 90 minutes). Link east to Erzurum or south toward Cappadocia on adventurous overland routes, or fly back to Istanbul. Most itineraries need at least three nights to avoid rushing mountain roads.
Best time for the Black Sea
June–September offers open alpine roads and monastery access. Autumn tea harvest scenery is stunning. Winters bring snow to Ayder — check road conditions before booking remote lodges.
Trabzon Tours
Visit the cliff-hanging Sumela Monastery, Ataturk Pavilion and Trabzon highlights on a private Black Sea day tour.
Escape to Uzungol's alpine lake surrounded by pine forests — trout lunch, village walks and tea plantations.