Lake Uzungöl: The Green Pearl

No list of things to do in Trabzon is complete without Uzungöl, the "long lake" that has become the symbol of the entire region. Nestled at around 1,100 meters above sea level and surrounded by dense pine and spruce forest, Uzungöl looks almost unreal in photographs — and even better in person. The still, dark-green water perfectly mirrors the wooden chalets and minaret of the lakeside mosque, creating one of the most photographed scenes in Turkey.

The lake itself formed centuries ago when a landslide dammed the Haldizen Stream, and today the entire basin functions as a small alpine town built around tourism, agriculture, and dairy farming. A wooden boardwalk circles part of the lake, making it easy to walk at a relaxed pace while taking in the mountain backdrop. Trout fishing and trout restaurants are a local specialty here — freshly grilled trout with a view of the water is practically a rite of passage for visitors.

Uzungöl is also a gateway to the wider Kaçkar Mountains range, so many travelers use it as a base for short hikes before continuing deeper into the plateaus. The best months to visit are between May and September, when the fog lifts more consistently and the meadows are in full bloom. In winter, snow transforms the lake into a quieter, almost Nordic landscape, appealing to a different kind of traveler.

Practical tip: Uzungöl gets crowded on weekends and during the Gulf tourism season, so arriving early in the morning gives you the best light for photos and the calmest atmosphere by the water.

Sumela Monastery: A Journey Through History

Built directly into a sheer cliff face nearly 1,200 meters above the Altındere Valley, Sumela Monastery is one of the most dramatic religious sites anywhere in the Mediterranean world. Founded in the 4th century by Greek monks, the monastery grew over the centuries into a complex of chapels, a library, guest rooms, and a bell tower, with the highlight being the Rock Church — its interior almost entirely covered in frescoes depicting biblical scenes.

Reaching Sumela is part of the experience. Visitors first arrive at the Altındere Valley National Park, then follow a marked forest trail uphill through pine trees before the monastery suddenly appears, seemingly suspended against the rock. The climb takes roughly 20–30 minutes depending on your pace, and shuttle options are available for those who prefer not to walk the full distance.

The frescoes, though weathered and partially damaged over the centuries, remain remarkably vivid in places, and ongoing restoration work has helped preserve what's left. Beyond its religious significance, Sumela is simply a striking example of how architecture can work with — rather than against — a dramatic natural setting.

Sumela is normally included in most day tours from Trabzon city, often paired with a stop at Uzungöl, since the two sites sit relatively close together on the same route inland from the coast. Opening hours vary seasonally, so it's worth checking ahead, particularly during winter months when access can be limited due to weather.

Ayder Plateau and Nature Excursions

If Uzungöl represents the postcard version of the Black Sea highlands, Ayder Plateau is where the region shows its wilder, more authentic side. Located in the Rize province within the Kaçkar Mountains, Ayder sits at roughly 1,350 meters and is famous for its thermal springs, wooden highland houses, and some of the greenest scenery in Turkey.

The plateau is a hub for outdoor activity: hiking trails branch out toward smaller yaylas (summer highland pastures) higher in the mountains, waterfalls tumble down forested slopes just outside the village center, and the whole area has a cooler, cloud-forest microclimate that feels distinctly different from the coast just an hour or two away. The Ayder thermal baths are a popular stop after a day of walking, believed locally to have therapeutic properties for muscle and joint pain.

Traditional Black Sea cuisine is another highlight here — dishes built around corn, anchovies (hamsi), and local dairy, including the famous muhlama, a stretchy cornmeal-and-cheese dish served bubbling hot. Many highland villages around Ayder also host small local markets selling honey, tea, and handmade textiles, giving visitors a genuine sense of daily life in the highlands rather than a purely staged tourist experience.

Ayder is roughly a 2.5 to 3-hour drive from Trabzon city, making it slightly farther than Uzungöl or Sumela, so it's usually paired with an overnight stay or built into a multi-day northeastern Turkey itinerary rather than a single day trip.

Trabzon City: The Bazaar and Black Sea Coast

Trabzon city itself deserves more than a passing stopover. As a historic Silk Road trading port, Trabzon absorbed Greek, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Caucasian influences, and that layered history is still visible in its streets today.

The heart of the old city is the Trabzon Bazaar, a dense network of shops selling everything from hazelnuts (a major regional export) and Black Sea tea to handmade jewelry and traditional textiles. Wandering the bazaar, along with the nearby Kunduracılar Street, gives a good sense of local commerce that has barely changed in feel for generations. Nearby, the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon — a Byzantine-era church-turned-mosque-turned-museum — is worth visiting for its well-preserved frescoes and coastal setting.

Trabzon's Black Sea coastline is different from Turkey's more famous Aegean and Mediterranean beaches: cooler waters, rocky and pebbled shorelines in places, and a moodier, more dramatic seascape. The Trabzon boardwalk area near the port is popular in the evenings for tea, simit, and watching fishing boats come in. For a broader city view, Boztepe Hill overlooks Trabzon and the sea beyond, especially striking at sunset.

Trabzon also functions as the practical base for most regional exploration — its airport connects to major Turkish and Gulf cities, and most tours to Uzungöl, Sumela, and Ayder depart directly from the city center.

Best Day Tours from Trabzon

For travelers with limited time, day tours are the most efficient way to experience the highlights of the region without committing to a multi-day trip. The most popular combination pairs Sumela Monastery with Uzungöl Lake in a single day, since both sites lie along a similar inland route and complement each other well — history and architecture in the morning, lake scenery and trout lunch in the afternoon.

A second common option is a full-day Rize and Ayder Plateau tour, which usually includes stops at tea plantations (Rize is Turkey's tea-growing heartland), the Ayder thermal springs, and scenic viewpoints over the Kaçkar range. Some operators also offer combined "Black Sea highlights" tours that touch all three — Sumela, Uzungöl, and a shorter visit to Rize — for travelers who want a broader overview in a compressed timeframe.

Private and small-group tours are widely available and are generally recommended over public transport for these routes, since the mountain roads are winding and public bus schedules to Uzungöl and Ayder are limited. Guided tours also make it easier to time visits around Sumela's variable opening hours and Uzungöl's crowd patterns.

Planning Your Trip

Northern Turkey rewards travelers who give it a little more time than the typical two-day Trabzon stopover. A well-paced itinerary — Trabzon city, Sumela and Uzungöl on one day, and Ayder or Rize on another — captures the full range of what this region offers: layered history, alpine scenery, and a coastal culture shaped by centuries of trade.

If you'd like the logistics handled for you, a ready-made trip covering all of these highlights takes the guesswork out of transport, timing, and route planning. Explore a complete Trabzon tour package and start planning your trip today.

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