Things to Do in Rize 2026: Tea Plantations, Kaçkar and Fırtına Valley

Rize’s activities are dominated by two themes: the tea landscape (visiting plantations, drinking tea, understanding the cultivation) and the mountain access (the Kaçkar range via the Fırtına Valley and Ayder). The city itself has a castle and a tea research garden; the surrounding valleys and mountains provide everything else.

For the hiking detail, see hiking near Rize.

Tea plantation visits

The most specific Rize experience is visiting a working tea plantation — the terraced hillside rows, the hand-picking (June–October harvest), the tea factory processing, and the farm breakfast with fresh-brewed tea.

Çaykur Tea Research Institute (Atatürk Çay Bahçesi): The tea garden in Rize — the most accessible plantation visit, on the hillside above the city centre. Free entry. Walking through the plantation rows, a tea house at the top with panoramic Black Sea views, fresh tea.

Village plantations: The villages above Rize have working family tea farms — some offer guided visits, farm breakfasts, and the opportunity to participate in the harvest (June–July, and September–October second harvest). Ask at the Rize Tourist Information office or guesthouses for current farm visit options. ₺100–200 including breakfast and tea.

The harvest: Tea is picked by hand — the “two leaves and a bud” picking method, selecting only the growing tip of each shoot. Watching or participating in the harvest (the women of the villages do most of the picking) is a specifically Rize experience.

Tea processing factory: The Çaykur factories (the state tea company) process the harvest. Factory tours are available in some locations — seeing the wilting, rolling, and drying process explains how the fresh leaf becomes the dry tea in the package.

Ayder Yayla and Hot Springs

Ayder is a plateau village at 1,350m altitude, 75km south of Rize via the Fırtına Valley — the most developed access point for the northern Kaçkar and a destination in itself.

Hot springs (kaplıca): Ayder has natural hot spring baths — sulphurous mineral water at approximately 38–42°C. Several kaplıca facilities in the village; ₺50–100 to use. The combination of a cold mountain walk and a hot spring soak is the standard Ayder experience.

Character: Ayder has been significantly developed for domestic tourism — hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops. The underlying mountain landscape is beautiful; the tourist infrastructure is dense. Best in spring (snow retreating) and autumn (foliage).

Transport from Rize: Bus to Çamlıhemşin (1.5 hours, ₺40–60); dolmuş to Ayder (30 minutes, ₺20–30). Or taxi from Rize ₺200–350 return.

Fırtına Valley

The Fırtına (Storm) River valley extends south from the Black Sea coast into the Kaçkar Mountains — one of the most dramatic valleys on the Turkish Black Sea coast. Dense forest, fast-moving river, Ottoman stone bridges, and the Byzantine-Ottoman Zilkale castle.

Çifte Köprü (Twin Bridge): An Ottoman double-arched stone bridge over the Fırtına River — one of the most photographed structures in the Black Sea region. Free access.

Zilkale (Zil Kale): A ruined castle on a 400-metre cliff above the Fırtına River — dating from Byzantine and Georgian periods, with Ottoman modifications. One of the most dramatically situated fortifications in Turkey. ₺50 entry (if collected).

White-water rafting: The Fırtına River’s fast sections are used for organised rafting. ₺300–500/person from operators in Çamlıhemşin.

Access: Bus from Rize to Çamlıhemşin (1.5 hours, ₺40–60); the valley extends south from there.

Rize Castle (Rize Kalesi)

A small Byzantine-Ottoman castle on a hill above Rize city centre — partially restored, with a garden and the best city view. Entry: ₺80.

Views: The castle hilltop looks over the city, the tea plantations on the hillsides above, and the Black Sea below.

Black Sea coast drive

The coast road (D010) between Trabzon and Artvin passes through Rize — one of the most visually distinctive coastal drives in Turkey. Tea plantations on the hillsides above the road; the dark green-blue sea below; the mountains rising to the south.

The Artvin section (east of Rize): The road east of Rize passes through increasingly dramatic landscape — Hopa (60km east) is the last significant town before the Georgian border; the cliff sections are impressive.

Activity summary

Activity	Cost	Duration	Transport
Tea plantation walk (Atatürk garden)	Free	1–2 hours	Walk from centre
Farm tea visit	₺100–200	Half day	Taxi
Ayder hot springs	₺50–100	Half–full day	Bus + dolmuş
Fırtına Valley + Zilkale	—	Full day	Bus to Çamlıhemşin
White-water rafting	₺300–500	3–4 hours	As above
Rize Castle	₺80	1 hour	Walk

For the historical background, see history of Rize.