The Black Sea coast of Turkey, located in the north of the country and stretching from Istanbul to the border with Georgia, is famous for its beauty, abundance of greenery, alpine lakes and glaciers. But of course, the main wealth of the region is the Black Sea – the crossroads of the ancient world. From the Balkans in the west, Europe in the north, the Caucasus and Central Asia in the east, Asia Minor and Mesopotamia in the south, people constantly moved across the Black Sea for trade and war.
According to allcitycodes.com, some of the ancient sea ports of the Black Sea coast of Turkey are older than the Egyptian pyramids.
The plateau and the coast of the Black Sea regions with their rich flora and fauna, the opportunity not only to relax on the sea, but also to walk in the mountains, go rafting, canoeing, enjoy winter sports, hunting and fishing attracts everyone who does not like the heat of the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts. The Turks themselves, by the way, prefer to rest on the Black Sea coast of their country.
How to get to the Black Sea coast of Turkey
By plane, you can fly to Istanbul with regular daily flights of Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot from Moscow, as well as charter flights of other airlines. Turkish Airlines domestic flights will take you to Samsun and Trabzon.
You can take a ferry from Sochi to Trabzon. The ferry runs three times a week. There is also a regular ferry service with Ukrainian ports. Ferry UKR Ferry will take you from Odessa to Istanbul in 36 hours. The cost of the trip is about 80 EUR per person (one way). You can also sail to Istanbul from Sevastopol and Yalta. Steamships run along the Black Sea coast on the route Istanbul – Sinop – Samsun – Trabzon.
By land, the coast can be reached from many points in Europe by car, bus or train through Bulgaria. Metro Turizm buses leave from Sofia, Varna and Burgas every day. The road from Sofia will take 9 hours and will cost 30–60 EUR. Öz Batu buses also run daily from Sofia and Skopje (Macedonia, fare 50–78 EUR, travel time 14 hours).
Part of the road to the coast can be covered by train, but you will have to change trains in Sofia, Belgrade or Bucharest. Passenger trains arrive at the Istanbul railway station.
Transportation
The entire coast is connected by numerous minibus routes that run from early morning until late at night, so you can always go on a “outing” to a neighboring town and be sure that you will get “home” in the evening.
Weather on the Black Sea coast of Turkey
The climate of the coast is Mediterranean with a transition to subtropical. The mountains prevent the penetration of cold air from the central regions of the country, so it is humid and warm here. In summer, the temperature is around +23 °C, in winter – about +7 °C.
The Black Sea coast has the most rainfall in Turkey during the year, with rainfall mainly from October to March.
Kitchen
The cuisine of the region is characterized by a strong love for fish and seafood. The main “nail” of the menu is hamsa. This fish is added wherever possible. We advise you to try soup with anchovy and tomatoes Hamsi Corbasi, and pilaf with anchovy — Hamsili Pilav.
This part of Turkey has the most delicious cheeses, so Ogma peyniri cheese is made with the addition of herbs and spices, and will be the “highlight” of any breakfast. And for dessert, order Helvasi Hemşin, a cake with walnuts and pistachios.
The beaches of the Black Sea coast of Turkey
The eastern part of the coast, which boasts an abundance of historical monuments and the presence of large ports where cruise ships sail, attracts tourists. High mountains dotted with narrow canyons almost approach the seashore, resort towns follow one after another, so you can always find a secluded beach surrounded by beautiful landscapes and accessible thanks to the numerous “dolmush” plying along the coast.
The western part of the coast has relatively good beaches and low mountains. It is here that the inhabitants of Istanbul prefer to relax.
Entertainment and attractions of the Black Sea coast of Turkey
The Black Sea coast is an ideal find for tourists who prefer to combine independent sightseeing with an indispensable beach holiday. The whole history from the legendary Jason and the Argonauts to the present day is captured in the historical monuments of the cities of the region. And on the coast there are many places for hiking and walking in the mountains and valleys, along the picturesque lakes.
We list the main tourist “pearls” that you need to see if you come to the Black Sea coast:
- Amasya, which contains the ruins of a medieval castle, mansions from the Ottoman Empire and an archaeological museum with a huge number of exhibits.
- In Rize you can visit as many as four Byzantine castles. In the Hempshin Valley, south of Rize, mountain hikers will find something to their liking.
- Samsun, which provides you with an extensive concert program, the Ataturk Museum and the oldest mosque in the city – Pazar. To the south of Samsun in the Khavza region there are thermal springs.
- Sinop – offering to inspect the ancient fortress (it is also a former prison). Now it is one of the most famous tourist sites in Turkey.
- Also among the sights of the “highest class” is the Ottoman city of Safranbolu
- In Trabzon, visit the rock monastery Sumela, built on the site of the discovery of a miraculous icon in 346.
- Nature lovers will be attracted by the mountain lake Borabay, located in the crater of the volcano. The lake is famous for trout fishing and picnic areas with stunning views of the surrounding area.
