Somewhere on the drive up from the coast, the rain stops, the cloud lifts off the pines, and Uzungöl appears below you: a long green lake, a white mosque with two slender minarets on its shore, wooden chalets climbing the slopes, and a river running in from the forest. It is one of those views that people from the Gulf fall for on the first visit and then keep coming back to, often with three generations in the car. Trabzon, the old port city about two hours down the valley, is the base, with its Byzantine church, sultans' mosques and the best breakfast in Türkiye. This Trabzon and Uzungöl guide covers both, plus Sümela Monastery on its cliff and a longer loop east to the Ayder plateau and the tea gardens of Rize.
When to go
The Black Sea coast is green because it rains, a lot, so plan for weather rather than against it. Trabzon's long-term averages give daily highs of about 11°C in January, 20°C in May, 27–28°C in July and August, 21°C in October and around 16–17°C in November. Autumn is the wettest stretch: October and November each average over 100 mm of rain in the city, while July is the driest month.
- May and June: fresh green everything, waterfalls in full flow, wildflowers on the plateaus and fewer visitors. Our pick for families who want the scenery without the summer crowds.
- July and August: peak season. Warm on the coast, pleasant at Uzungöl (which sits around 1,100 metres up) and on the plateaus. Hotels by the lake book out weeks ahead around the Gulf summer holidays.
- September: still warm, quieter, and the first autumn colour in the forests.
- October and November: mild on the coast but rainy and often misty in the valleys. For the Saudi school break (20–28 November 2026) expect cool, damp days on the coast and cold, possibly snowy days up at the lake. Pack waterproofs, accept some grey, and enjoy having Uzungöl almost to yourself.
- December to March: snow at Uzungöl and on the plateaus turns the region into a winter postcard. Roads to the lake are usually kept open, but drive with care or with a driver who knows the route.
Getting there
Trabzon Airport (TZX) sits right on the coast just east of the city centre, so you are in town within minutes. In summer there are direct flights from several Gulf and Saudi cities, taking roughly four hours. Year-round, the easy route is via Istanbul, from where flights to Trabzon take under two hours. From Amman and Cairo you will normally connect in Istanbul. Compare live fares: Riyadh to Trabzon, Jeddah to Trabzon, Dammam to Trabzon, Kuwait to Trabzon, Dubai to Trabzon, Amman to Trabzon, Cairo to Trabzon and Istanbul to Trabzon.
If you plan to spend most of your time around Ayder and the Kaçkar mountains, also look at Rize–Artvin Airport, which opened on the coast east of Rize in 2022.
Visas
Citizens of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan can visit Türkiye visa-free for short stays under the current rules. Egyptian and Lebanese passport holders either apply through Türkiye's official e-Visa portal, where they meet its conditions, or apply at a Turkish consulate. Check the portal with your own passport before booking; it tells you exactly which route applies.
Where to stay
- Trabzon centre, around Meydan Park: the most practical base. Walk to the old bazaar, the mosques and dozens of breakfast places; day trips leave from here.
- The coast road and Akçaabat: larger hotels with sea views and parking, good if you have a car.
- Uzungöl: wooden chalets, lake-view hotels and bungalow resorts. Spend at least one night: the lake at dawn, before the day-trippers arrive, is the moment you came for.
- Ayder: simple mountain hotels and guesthouses on the plateau, best for one or two nights on a longer trip.
Our Trabzon hotels page shows live rates, and the Trabzon places guide has the sights on a map.
What to see in Trabzon
Hagia Sophia of Trabzon
Built in the thirteenth century when Trabzon was the capital of the Empire of Trebizond, this small stone church on a garden terrace above the sea is one of the finest late Byzantine buildings anywhere. It now serves as a mosque, and its painted frescoes survive in the porches and the nave. Dress modestly and avoid prayer times.
Gülbahar Hatun Mosque and the Ottoman city
Sultan Selim I, who served as governor of Trabzon before taking the throne, completed this mosque in 1514 in honour of his mother, Gülbahar Hatun, who is buried beside it. Its deep, columned portico and quiet courtyard make it the most peaceful corner of the city. From here, walk down through the old Ortahisar quarter and the covered bazaar for spices, hazelnuts, honey and Trabzon's famous silver filigree, the kazaziye.
Boztepe
The hill behind the city is where locals go to watch the sun set over the Black Sea, with tea gardens and family picnic spots along the slopes. Go at the end of the afternoon, order a pot of tea and a plate of simit, and watch the lights come on in the harbour.
The Atatürk Pavilion
A white mansion built in the 1890s for a wealthy local family, set in gardens and pines a few kilometres above the centre. Atatürk stayed here during his visits to Trabzon, and it is now a small museum with period rooms. The gardens are lovely in spring.
Day trips
Uzungöl
About two hours from Trabzon by road, Uzungöl is a lake formed by a landslide that dammed the valley long ago. A level path runs most of the way around it, perfect for pushchairs and grandparents. Rent a bike, take a short ride up to the viewpoints above the village (the jeep drivers in the village know them all), or simply sit by the water with fresh trout and tea. The village is busy in July and August; come early or stay the night.
Sümela Monastery
In the Altındere Valley about an hour south of Trabzon, the Greek Orthodox monastery of Sümela clings to a sheer cliff face, its buildings tucked into the rock high above the forest. It reopened after a long restoration; the final stretch up is a steep walk, so wear good shoes. Check opening times before you go on the official Turkish museums site, as hours vary by season and the site occasionally closes for works.
Karaca Cave
Across the mountains in Gümüşhane, on the road south from Trabzon, Karaca Cave is a compact show cave full of stalactites, pools and coloured rock, with walkways that make it easy for children. Combine it with Sümela on a long day.
Rize, the Fırtına Valley and Ayder
East of Trabzon the coast road runs past Rize, where tea bushes cover every hillside. Stop at a tea garden on the slopes for the view and a glass of the local tea. Turn inland at Ardeşen into the Fırtına Valley: stone bridges, rafting on the river in summer, and Zilkale, a medieval castle perched on a forested crag. At the head of the valley, the Ayder plateau sits around 1,350 metres up, with wooden houses, waterfalls and a thermal spa. It is too far for a relaxed day trip from Trabzon; spend a night.
What to eat
Black Sea food is its own thing: cornmeal, butter, dark cabbage, hazelnuts and, above all, fish. Türkiye is a Muslim-majority country and meat in ordinary local restaurants is generally halal; if you need certification, ask.
- Hamsi: Black Sea anchovies, at their best from late autumn into winter. Try them fried crisp (hamsi tava) or baked into rice (hamsili pilav).
- Kuymak (muhlama): cornmeal cooked with butter and stretchy local cheese until it pulls in long strings. The essential Black Sea breakfast dish.
- Akçaabat köfte: small grilled meatballs from the town just west of Trabzon, served with piyaz bean salad.
- Kara lahana çorbası: a hearty soup of dark cabbage, beans and corn.
- Laz böreği: layers of thin pastry filled with milk custard and topped with syrup.
- Trabzon bread and hazelnuts: the big round loaves from Trabzon and Akçaabat bakeries, and hazelnuts in every form.
- Rize tea: served all day in small tulip glasses. It is the region's pride.
Getting around
Trabzon's centre is walkable and served by dolmuş minibuses along the coast. For the lake, Sümela and the east, most visitors rent a car or hire a driver; the main roads are good, but mountain roads are narrow and winding, and fog can come down fast. Car rental desks are at the airport. Taxis are metered in the city; agree a price in advance for day trips.
A 3-day plan
- Day 1, Trabzon: a long kuymak breakfast, the Gülbahar Hatun Mosque and the bazaar, the Hagia Sophia in the afternoon and sunset tea on Boztepe.
- Day 2, Uzungöl: drive up in the morning, walk around the lake, lunch on trout, viewpoints in the afternoon, and overnight by the lake.
- Day 3, Sümela: sunrise at the lake, then Sümela on the way back, and a last fish dinner in Trabzon.
A 7-day plan
- Day 1: arrive, Meydan Park and an easy evening in the centre.
- Day 2: Trabzon: Gülbahar Hatun, the bazaar, Hagia Sophia, the Atatürk Pavilion and Boztepe.
- Day 3: Sümela and Karaca Cave.
- Day 4: Uzungöl; overnight at the lake.
- Day 5: east along the coast to Rize's tea gardens, then the Fırtına Valley and Zilkale; overnight in Ayder.
- Day 6: Ayder: waterfalls, short plateau walks and the thermal baths.
- Day 7: back to Trabzon or fly out of Rize–Artvin.
Want this shaped around your dates and family? Our AI trip planner builds the day-by-day plan with live flights and lakeside stays.
Money and practical tips
- Currency: the Turkish lira (TRY). Cards work almost everywhere in Trabzon; carry cash for village cafés, plateau stalls and parking.
- Weather: bring a rain jacket in every season, and warm layers for the lake and the plateaus even in summer.
- Driving: fill up before mountain roads, avoid driving them at night in fog, and use winter tyres from December.
- Crowds: Uzungöl's peak is the middle of the day in July and August; arrive before 9am or after 5pm.
- Official tourism information: Türkiye's tourism board runs goturkiye.com.
FAQ
How far is Uzungöl from Trabzon?
About two hours by road. It works as a day trip, but a night at the lake is far more rewarding.
When is the best time to visit Trabzon?
May to September for green landscapes and drier weather; winter for snow at Uzungöl. October and November are the rainiest months.
Is Trabzon good for families?
Yes. The lake path at Uzungöl, Karaca Cave, the parks and the tea gardens all suit children, and the food is easy for picky eaters.
Can I visit Sümela Monastery?
It has reopened after restoration, but hours change by season. Check the official museums site before you go and expect a steep final walk.
Do I need a car?
Not in Trabzon itself, but for Uzungöl, Sümela and Ayder a rental car or a driver gives you far more freedom than tours.
Is Ayder worth adding?
If you have five days or more, yes. Spend a night there rather than trying to do it in a day from Trabzon.
