Places to Visit on the Black Sea Tour: Samsun to Batumi, Stop by Stop

The places to visit on a Black Sea tour fall into three groups: coastal cities, plateaus and history stops. Samsun, Ordu, Trabzon and Sinop are on the coast; Uzungöl, Çamlıhemşin and Ayder are on the plateaus; Kastamonu and Safranbolu are inland. Our Black Sea and Batumi tour lasts 5 nights, 6 days and also adds Batumi in Georgia to the route. Below we describe each stop in the order it appears in the programme.

Route overview

The programme starts with an overnight journey from Istanbul. From Samsun the next morning, you travel east along the coast, climb to the plateaus of Trabzon and Rize, and cross to Batumi. On the way back you head west via Fatsa, Sinop and Kastamonu, finishing with Safranbolu on the last day. In total you stay 4 nights in hotels; the first night is spent on the road.

This route lets you see the Black Sea not as a single region but as a long coastline with very different faces.

Samsun: where the National Struggle began

Samsun is the city where Atatürk landed aboard the Bandırma steamship on 19 May 1919. There are two stops in the programme:

• Bandırma steamship: A faithful reconstruction of the steamship is visited today as a museum ship. The cramped cabins on board make it easier to imagine the conditions of that voyage.
• İlkadım Monument: The monument symbolising Atatürk's landing in Samsun, and its surroundings.

Ordu: coastal views from Boztepe

In Ordu you go up to Boztepe, just above the city. From the hilltop you get a wide view of Ordu's coastline, the green slopes reaching down to the sea and the city centre. Ordu is known for its hazelnut orchards; you often see them on the slopes along the way.

Trabzon: the mansion and Hagia Sophia

Two history stops in Trabzon are in the programme:

• Atatürk Mansion: An elegant white-fronted mansion on a wooded slope. It is associated with Atatürk's visits to Trabzon and is visited today as a museum.
• Hagia Sophia, Trabzon: A building from the time of the Empire of Trebizond, known for its frescoes. Its position overlooking the sea adds to its beauty.

Uzungöl and Çamlıhemşin

After Trabzon, the route turns to the plateaus. Uzungöl is a lake surrounded by steep, wooded slopes, known for the wooden houses and mosque on its shore. A short walk along the lakeside is enough to see the postcard view. For details, see our Uzungöl guide.

At the end of the day you travel on to Rize's Çamlıhemşin district. This is the gateway to the Fırtına Stream valley and Ayder.

Fırtına Stream, Gelintülü Waterfall and Ayder

Day four is spent in the greenest part of the Black Sea:

• Fırtına Stream: A valley known for its fast-flowing water and the stone arch bridges that span it.
• Gelintülü Waterfall: A waterfall on the road to Ayder that falls like a fine veil.
• Ayder Plateau: One of the Black Sea's iconic plateaus, with wooden highland houses, surrounding forests and green meadows.

We also cover these three stops in our Ayder and Fırtına Stream article.

Batumi: a seaside city across the border

The same day you cross into Georgia and visit Batumi. With its long seafront boulevard, modern buildings and squares, Batumi offers a very different atmosphere from Türkiye's Black Sea coast. At the end of the day you head back to Fatsa. Whether an ID card or a passport is required for the border crossing is confirmed with up-to-date information at the quote stage. For more, have a look at our Batumi guide.

Sinop: castle and historical prison

Day five is in Sinop. Sinop Castle and its walls encircle the city's waterfront. The Historical Prison, with its thick stone walls and courtyard, is visited today as a museum; the stories of the writers and poets once imprisoned here are the most talked-about part of the visit.

Kastamonu: Şerife Bacı and Nasrullah Square

The same day you travel on to Kastamonu. The Şerife Bacı Monument commemorates the heroic woman who died carrying ammunition to the front in the War of Independence. Then you visit Nasrullah Mosque and its square, the meeting point of the city's historic centre.

Safranbolu: the finale

On the last day, in Safranbolu, you take in the view of the old neighbourhoods from Hıdırlık Hill and visit Cinci Han and the Yemeniciler Bazaar. Then you return to Istanbul. If you would like to spend longer in Safranbolu, we also have a separate Safranbolu and Amasra tour.

What to be prepared for on this route

The route is long, and the time spent on the coach is considerable. In return, in a single tour you see the coast, the plateaus and another country. As the weather can change during the day, dressing in layers and carrying a raincoat are important; you can find a detailed list in our when to go and what to wear article.

Not in the programme but often asked about

Sümela Monastery, walks through the Rize tea gardens and long plateau hikes in the Kaçkar Mountains are not part of this programme. If your group would like stops like these, we can look together at whether they are feasible at the quote stage.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Black Sea tour?

Our programme is 5 nights, 6 days. The first night is spent travelling from Istanbul, and you stay 4 nights in hotels.

Which cities are on the Black Sea tour?

The route includes Samsun, Ordu, Trabzon, Rize (Uzungöl, Çamlıhemşin, Ayder), Batumi in Georgia, Fatsa, Sinop, Kastamonu and Safranbolu.

Do I need a passport for Batumi?

Batumi is in Georgia. As border crossing conditions can change, whether an ID card or a passport is required is confirmed with up-to-date information at the quote stage. Before you travel, check the current situation with official sources and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Does the tour go up to the plateaus?

Yes. Uzungöl and Ayder Plateau are in the programme; Fırtına Stream and Gelintülü Waterfall are visited in the same area.