Things to Do in Trabzon 2026: Sumela, Byzantine Heritage and Black Sea Nature

Trabzon’s main attractions divide between the city’s Byzantine heritage, the extraordinary Sumela Monastery south of the city, and the Black Sea landscape — the forest valleys, mountain lakes, and the Kaçkar range accessible from Trabzon as a base. The city itself is more functional than beautiful, but the surrounding region is among the most visually distinctive in Turkey.

For food context, see food to try in Trabzon.

Sumela Monastery

Sumela Monastery (Sümela Manastırı) is a Greek Orthodox monastery founded in the 4th century CE, built into a sheer 300-metre cliff face in the Altındere National Park, 40km south of Trabzon. The monastery clings to the rock at approximately 1,200 metres altitude, above a dense broadleaf forest valley.

The setting: The monastery appears to grow out of the cliff — clinging to the rock face above a dense forest valley at approximately 1,200 metres altitude. The approach is through broadleaf forest; the monastery emerges suddenly from the trees. The visual impact is extreme.

History: Founded in 386 CE (according to tradition, on the orders of the Emperor Theodosius I), Sumela was continuously occupied through the Byzantine, Trabzon Empire, and Ottoman periods. It was abandoned in 1923 following the population exchange, which removed the Greek Orthodox population of northeastern Turkey. The monastery was later looted; the main frescoes were damaged. Restoration is ongoing.

What to see: The rock church carved into the cliff (frescoes from multiple periods, the oldest from the 9th century); the monastic cells along the cliff face; the main courtyard; the water cisterns. The cliff-face approach via wooden walkways and stairs is itself a significant experience.

Frescoes: Many of the original Byzantine frescoes survive in damaged form — overpainting and restoration at various periods makes the layers complex. Some of the best frescoes are in the rock church interior.

Entry: ₺300. Seasonal hours; check current access restrictions (some sections may be under restoration).

Transport from Trabzon: Organised minibus tours from Trabzon (₺200–400/person including transport; several daily departures). Taxi from Trabzon ₺300–500 return with waiting time. The Uzungöl dolmuş also passes the Sumela turnoff.

Duration: 2–3 hours at the monastery; 4–5 hours including transport from Trabzon.

Combine with: Uzungöl on the same day (Sumela + Uzungöl is a standard Trabzon day tour route).

Uzungöl

Uzungöl (“Long Lake”) is a mountain village 100km south of Trabzon at 1,000m altitude — a lake surrounded by forest and steep mountains, with a village of tea houses, pensions, and restaurants at the water’s edge. One of the most photographed landscapes in the Black Sea region.

Character: Uzungöl has been significantly developed for domestic tourism (particularly Arab tourist groups) — which has produced a large number of guesthouses, restaurants, and tourist shops. The underlying landscape is genuinely beautiful; the tourist infrastructure is heavy.

Best time: October–November for autumn foliage (the beech forest turns orange and yellow); May for green and misty; December–February for snow. Avoid July–August if possible — the peak season crowds and coaches diminish the experience.

What to do: Walk around the lake (3km circuit, 1 hour); take a horse ride; eat in the lakeside restaurants (trout, Black Sea meze); stay overnight for the morning mist.

Transport from Trabzon: Dolmuş from the Trabzon otogar (bus station) — approximately 2 hours, ₺50–80. Regular departures in season.

Hagia Sophia of Trabzon

The Hagia Sophia of Trabzon (Ayasofya Müzesi) is a 13th-century Byzantine church with some of the finest surviving Byzantine frescoes in Anatolia — including a rare double portrait of Christ and John the Baptist, and substantial figurative painting that survived Ottoman conversion to mosque use because the church was used as a military hospital for a period.

Entry: ₺150.

Location: On the seafront west of the city centre — a cliff-edge position above the Black Sea.

The building: Built by Emperor Manuel I of Trebizond (1238–1263 CE), with the distinctive three-porch entrance façade decorated with carved reliefs showing Genesis scenes. The interior frescoes cover the vaults and walls; the specific iconographic programmes are well-documented.

Context: Unlike Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia (much restored and altered), the Trabzon version retains much of its original fresco programme. It is a genuinely important Byzantine monument.

Trabzon Castle (Ortahisar / Kale)

The Byzantine-Ottoman castle complex in the centre of Trabzon — an upper and lower citadel, with the historic neighbourhood of Ortahisar below. The castle is partially accessible; the surrounding district has Ottoman-era houses, small mosques, and the old bazaar streets.

Entry: ₺100 (castle area).

Views: The upper castle terrace gives views over Trabzon city and the Black Sea. On clear days, the mountain horizon to the south is visible.

Ataturk Köşkü (Atatürk’s Villa)

A 1903 Italian-style villa on a hillside above Trabzon — used by Atatürk on his visits to the city. The villa is preserved as it was during his stay.

Entry: ₺100.

Location: 5km west of the city centre on a forested hillside.

Kaçkar Mountains

The Kaçkar range rises to 3,932 metres (Kaçkar Dağı) immediately south of the eastern Black Sea coast. The range is one of Turkey’s premier trekking and mountaineering destinations — glaciated peaks, high alpine meadows (yaylalar) covered in wildflowers, deep river valleys with lush vegetation.

Trabzon is the access point for the northern slopes of the Kaçkar. The main trekking hub on the northern side is Çamlıhemşin (80km east of Trabzon), with onward access to the Fırtına Valley and the high yaylalar.

See hiking near Trabzon for full Kaçkar details.

Platana (Akçaabat)

Akçaabat is a district west of Trabzon known for two things: köfte (Akçaabat köftesi, a specific local preparation) and the historic fishing village of Platana (ancient name). A pleasant half-day trip from Trabzon for the köfte and the old town atmosphere.

Activity summary

Activity	Cost	Duration	Transport
Sumela Monastery	₺300	2–3 hrs + travel	Minibus/taxi
Uzungöl	—	Half or full day	Dolmuş 2 hrs
Hagia Sophia Trabzon	₺150	1–2 hours	Walk/taxi
Trabzon Castle	₺100	1–2 hours	Walk
Atatürk Villa	₺100	1 hour	Taxi
Kaçkar day hike	—	Full day	Taxi/bus to trailhead

For the historical background, see history of Trabzon.