East Black Sea; The region of cities, villages, plateaus and flavors that reveal the miraculous treasures of our country.. The Eastern Black Sea routes, which those who have not been able to tell but want to see ‘one day’, are among the top places to visit in Turkey with its corners that make you feel good, relax and refresh your heart.. We gave priority to places and nature, where we can get to know the culture of the region, during the fast Eastern Black Sea tour where we visited Trabzon, Rize and Artvin, which are the most prominent cities of this region. Come, let’s see what we saw and what we did during our 3-day trip to the Eastern Black Sea, let’s go together.
Karçal Mountains on the way to Artvin view
#How to Navigate?
The first step to start your Eastern Black Sea route is to look for a flight ticket to Trabzon. After your arrival in Trabzon, you must first rent a car from the companies at the airport before or after your flight in order to go to the places you want to see in the region.. You can choose the vehicle you want according to your route; However, due to some difficult and winding roads in this region, your priority should always be 4×4 vehicles for highland trips.. Do not be surprised by off-road vehicles, especially if special plateaus such as Pokut and Gito adorn your dreams on the Rize side.. Otherwise, you cannot go to these plateaus.
Interior architecture of Trabzon Museum
#Where to Stay?
You have many alternatives for accommodation in Trabzon, which is your first route in the region.. Trabzon hotels close to the beach, which will offer you magnificent Black Sea views, can be one of your choices.. If you are planning to spend a few hours in Trabzon and go to Rize, you can divide the road into two and stay in Ardeşen hotels in order not to get tired.. Ardeşen, a district of Rize, is home to many rafting hotels and pensions with its location next to the Fırtına Stream. Those who plan can choose Rize hotels to start the day early.. The main thing in this region is to stay in bungalow type hotels and hostels located in the villages of Rize.. These bungalows are perfect for those who want to wake up to a lush nature in the morning and sleep with the sound of Fırtına Creek.
Accommodation in Artvin is entirely up to your preference.. Those who plan to go for a day can see Karagöl in Borcka and return to Rize after a difficult journey that takes a few hours.. Those who want to continue to Artvin’s border highlands or Şavşat after Borçka Karagöl will be more comfortable staying in Artvin hotels.
Çamlıhemşin ‘s famous or famous Ada Pension
#Trabzon
Trabzon City Museum:
Before starting the places to visit in Trabzon, you will get to know the history and culture of the city The first destination should be the City Museum to get information about. In the museum where the entrance is 5 TL per person; You can follow the historical journey of Trabzon step by step and experience the richness of different cultures and flavors detailed according to the villages and towns.. Add Kostaki Mansion, another must-see place in the bazaar, to your list after the highly interactive City Museum.
Trabzon City Museum
Trabzon Museum:
This magnificent house, also known as Kostaki Mansion, is located in Kostaki, the famous banker of a period. Made at the request of Theophylaktos. Kostaki Mansion, which has a magnificent architecture completely decorated with Italian craftsmanship, has a separate garden and separate rooms.. However, when Teophylaktos goes bankrupt, all his assets are confiscated and then this house is bought by the Nemlioğlu family.
The house used as headquarters during the War of Independence, 1924 It stands out as the place where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s stay, who came to the city for the first time in ,. In the mansion, which serves as the Trabzon Museum today; In addition to the archaeological and ethnographic works, you can see the details of Italian architecture and Atatürk’s room.. Entrance to Trabzon Museum is 5 TL.
Trabzon Museum
Historical Kalkanoğlu Rice:
After two museums, it’s time to taste the flavors of the Black Sea. Historical Kalkanoğlu Pilaf with 150 years of history; It should be added to the city tour in terms of both space and taste.. I need to specify the journey of the place in history; The story of Kalkanoğlu Pilaf dates back to 1856.
The chief rice cook of the sultan at that time, Süleyman Ağa, nicknamed Kalkanoğlu, is invited to the city by the Governor of Trabzon in order to fill the lack of food in the city.. Süleyman Ağa did not refuse the invitation of the governor and came to Trabzon, and then settled down.. The tradition still continues today in Süleyman Ağa’s shop, which has been distributing rice by grams for many years so that everyone can get equal food.
Kalkanoğlu The procedure is to say compote to roasted rice. If you wish, you can also eat the famous black beans here.. A feast consisting of 300 grams of rice for 2 people, 1 portion of roasted beans, 1 portion of dried beans and 2 compotes is 60 TL.
Historical Kalkanoğlu Rice
Hagia Sophia Mosque and Museum:
Istanbul King I from the Kommenos family, who escaped to Trabzon after the invasion of the Latins and established a new state here in 1204.. The Hagia Sophia Church, which was built at the request of Manuel, was converted into a mosque in 1461 with the conquest of Trabzon by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, and turned into a foundation work.. Hagia Sophia in the Late-Byzantine style; It draws attention with its view overlooking the Trabzon coast, its garden full of lush trees and colorful flowers; but its main splendor is the murals that adorn various parts of the architecture and depict biblical subjects.. Entry is free to the Hagia Sophia Museum.
Hagia Sophia Mosque and Museum
Sumela Monastery:
When it comes to places to visit in Trabzon, the top of the list is of course Sumela Monastery. taking. The historical monastery within the borders of Maçka province of Trabzon stands out as one of the miraculous values of our country with its location 1,150 meters above sea level and its structure built on the rocks in Maçka’s Montenegro. Sumela Monastery, which is thought to have been founded by two priests, Barnabas and Sophronios, who came from Athens during the Byzantine Empire’s time between 375-395, is known as the Virgin Mary among the people.
Consisting of parts such as a church, chapel, kitchen, rooms prepared for students, guesthouse, kitchen and library, the monastery is in the process of restoration closed to visitors until 2018. However, while you’re in Trabzon, you can go to this fascinating monastery, wander around and see Sumela, albeit from afar.
Sumela Monastery
Hamsiköy:
Those who have come to Trabzon should add Hamsiköy after Sümela Monastery while continuing on the Eastern Black Sea route.. Just like the monastery, the fame of Hamsiköy, which is a part of the town of Maçka, comes from its rice pudding.. Even though it is a little troublesome on its winding roads, which have become the classics of the region, the moment you enter the village, which embraces you with its lush nature, a completely different world is with you.
Hamsiköy, with the combination of 5 small villages around it. formed and the ‘hamsi’ in its name comes from ‘hamse’, which means five in Arabic.. There are many places to eat famous rice pudding in the village, which embraces nature and greenery with its mini mini houses; Of course, the meaning of eating at Yayla Lokantası, which is the first of the village, aka Osman Usta’nin Yeri, is different.. Osman Usta’s rice pudding smells like village milk. Fresh, like home-cooked rice pudding. One who tastes it, can’t leave the bowl.
Here you eat rice pudding plain, not with hazelnut bowl as in the photos.. Osman Usta is so confident in the flavor of the rice pudding that he doesn’t need any extra flavor.. A bowl of rice pudding is 6 TL at Osman Usta’nin Yeri.
Osman in Hamsiköy The Master’s Rice Pudding
#Rize
Storm Creek:
Firtina Creek, one of the craziest cascading streams in Turkey, is formed by the merging of streams on the slopes of the Kaçkar Mountains overlooking the Black Sea.. The Fırtına Stream, which makes friends with many places in your Rize route, also offers a suitable environment for adrenaline sports such as rafting and zipline.
Firin Deresi
Çamlıhemşin and Çinçiva Village:
Çamlıhemşin, which is one of the places to visit in Rize, is literally an oxygen center with its location adjacent to Fırtına Creek.. The first place you should see in Çamlıhemşin, one of the tea centers of our country with its magnificent mountains and nature that offers a thousand and one shades of green, is formerly Çinçiva, now Şenyuva Village. You can start the day with a delicious breakfast at Çinçiva Kahvesi in this cute village, which has come to the fore in recent years with its TV series.
Kahve Çinçiva, Çamlıhemşin
If you don’t want to meet Mihlama (kuymak in Trabzon) made from butter, cheese and corn flour at the venue overlooking Fırna Creek among the impossible. After your breakfast at the coffee shop, you can take a coffee break at Zua Coffee, which is right across the Çinçiva Coffeehouse, by visiting the surrounding area before the return trip.. The unique Çamlıhemşin person gives color to Çinçiva, such that after a few minutes spent in both places, you start to feel like a Hemşinli.. Çamlıhemşin is definitely one of the most special places in the Eastern Black Sea Region.
Historical Stone Bridge in Çinçiva Village
Zilkale:
As you head towards the heights after Çinçiva, you will see Zilkale. Located on a high hill in the Fırtına Valley, on the western slopes, the history of Zilkale is thought to date back to the Middle Ages.. Zilkale within the natural protected area; With its secret passages, walls and inner castle, it provided the safety of the caravan route like other castles in Rize at the time.. Half an hour from the center of Çamlıhemşin and ten minutes away from the village of Çinçiva, the entrance to the castle is 3 TL.. While you’re at it, you can take a break at the Kaledibi Cafe right next to it, or you can set up your first route for the village breakfast here.
Zilkale, Rize
Palovit Waterfall:
Palovit Waterfall is one of the places to visit in Çamlıhemşin.. Palovit, which you will reach 10 minutes after Zilkale, is Rize’s highest flow waterfall. Falling from a height of 15 meters, Palovit Waterfall is also one of the trekking stops of Çamlıhemşin.. Located in the Kaçkar Mountains National Park, this unique waterfall takes its name from the Palovit Valley, where it is located.. You can go to Palovit Waterfall with any vehicle you want, the road is also very suitable for standard vehicles.
Palovit Waterfall, Rize
Rize Highlands:
One of the first things that comes to mind when you think of a trip to the Black Sea is the highlands.. It is necessary to give credit to Rize regarding the Black Sea plateaus, which attract a great deal of attention from the locals and tourists, especially with the festivals held in the summer months.
In recent years, such as Ayder, Pokut and Gito, it In addition to the popular highlands, Elevit, Trovit, Palovit, Samistal, Sal, Çat, Avusor and Hazindak are also worth seeing.. Those who are planning a plateau trip should try to organize their tours by mid-May; Before this date, roads and hostels in this vicinity are closed due to seasonal conditions.. Don’t forget to rent an all-terrain vehicle as the roads are winding and challenging except for Ayder, which is open in all seasons and the road is extremely comfortable.
Ayder Plateau, Rize
Rize Flavors:
One of the things to do in Rize is to taste the flavors that have surpassed our country.. Include the trio of dried beans, roasted rice pudding at Lale Lokantası in Çayeli, roasting in Dağmaran against the green landscape of Rize, Huzur Pide. Don’t forget to include the traditional flavors of and the ‘turbo’ rice pudding served with kadai and hazelnuts on top.
Mihlama in Kaledibi Cafe, Zilkale, Rize
# Artvin
Borçka Karagöl:
One of the heavenly corners of the Eastern Black Sea Region is Karagöl in Borcka. Karagöl, which is approximately 60 km from the center of Artvin and 27 km from Borcka, was formed as a result of a landslide that took place on a hill close to the Klaskur Plateau. With this feature, Karagöl is a landslide lake , attracts attention as a must-see place in Artvin for travelers making a tour of the Eastern Black Sea Region.. The shores of Borcka Karagol, which was declared a Nature Park in 2002, are also very popular for camping and caravan tourism; You can also get the necessary equipment for the camp from their relatives.
Winter landscape in Borçka Karagöl
I recommend a day trip for those with limited time; however, it should be added that the part of the road after Borçka has a very tiring structure consisting of constant hard bends.. However, the natural beauties accompanying you along the way and the scenery between the Karçal Mountains that appear before you when you arrive, embrace you in such a way that all the tiredness you have experienced so far vanishes in an instant.
*This article was published on the Skyscanner Turkey blog on May 22, 2017.
I have prepared another mini article for those who will have little time on their Eastern Black Sea trip; You can click here to read my article on Top 10 Must-See Places in the Eastern Black Sea Region.
For all my travels in the Eastern Black Sea and all my other travels, follow me on my Instagram account. Follow on , let’s travel together!
At Çinçiva’s Zua Coffe, Çamlıhemşin, Rize
