View of Trabzon Yomra district from above
Discover Turkey's Black Sea Bounty

Cruise to Trabzon, Turkey

The magic of the Black Sea coast will define your Trabzon cruise vacation. It's drawn people here for centuries, from the ancient conquerors that the city's renowned museum spotlights to the former Ottoman and Turkish heads of state whose former residences are open to tourists. At some point during your trip to Trabzon, you, too, will fall under its spell. It's impossible for the glistening beauty of the Black Sea not to take your breath away as you look down on it from the ancient fortifications that tower just above Trabzon's city center. As you'll discover on your cruise to Trabzon, the city is a self-contained destination, but you're also in a gateway destination. Resourceful, motivated travelers can use their visit here to not only find the best things to do in Trabzon but to traipse through tea fields or to relax by alpine lakes that might remind you of the Swiss Alps. Trabzon's busy bazaars, meanwhile, are the perfect place to shop for any mementos you think your future self might want to have when looking back fondly on your time here.
National Language Turkish
Currency Accepted Turkish Lira (TRY)

Things To Do in Trabzon

The church of Hagia Sophia in Trabzon, Turkey.

Go Back in Time

The church of Hagia Sophia in Trabzon, Turkey.

The church of Hagia Sophia in Trabzon, Turkey.

Go Back in Time

The Hagia Sophia in Trabzon has cycled through many identities since its construction in the 13th century — a church, a mosque, a museum and, since 2013, a mosque again. Look up when you visit: The frescoes on the ceiling, restored in 2020, are among the most pristine examples of Byzantine-era art remaining in modern Turkey.

Mountain village of Uzungol in Trabzon, Turkey.

Enjoy Trabzon's Many Views

Mountain village of Uzungol in Trabzon, Turkey.

Mountain village of Uzungol in Trabzon, Turkey.

Enjoy Trabzon's Many Views

Trabzon is one of Turkey's hilliest cities, so a postcard-perfect panorama is never far away. Make the trek (or, preferably, get a cab) up to Trabzon Castle and look down on the Black Sea from atop its Roman-era walls. Or instead head farther east to the House of Atatürk, the ornately decorated home of the "father of modern Turkey."

Uzungol Mosque and Lake is one of the most famous monuments in Turkey
Uzungol Mosque and Lake is one of the most famous monuments in Turkey

Escape to Rize or Uzungöl

It would be a pity to cruise to Trazbon and not take in the beauty just outside the city. Travel 90 minutes by taxi to Uzungöl, a high-altitude village where Turkish mosques reflect in the long lake of the same name. Or head an hour along the coast to Rize, one of Turkey's top tea-producing areas.

Turkish meatballs with fresh green peppers and pickles on a wooden chopping board
Turkish meatballs with fresh green peppers and pickles on a wooden chopping board

LOCAL CUISINE

Satisfy your hunger with hamsili pide, a local take on boat-shaped Turkish flatbread filled with fresh-caught anchovies. Anchovies (hamsili) are also the key ingredient in Trabzon's take on kofte; the meatballs are made with beef or lamb elsewhere. Seek out casual eateries with lots of locals — look for outdoors tables and airy, open interiors.

Authentic red Trabzon fabric in a shop
Authentic red Trabzon fabric in a shop

SHOPPING

Visit the covered Bedesten market, Trabzon's answer to Istanbul's famous Grand Bazaar, for all your shopping needs. Stock up on fragrant spices, choose a colorful lamp for your home or pick up postcards, buy colorful fabrics and other trinkets for friends and family. Or browse some of the highest quality leather goods in all of Turkey.

Insider's Tips
Insider's Tips
1 Many merchants in Trabzon (and throughout Turkey) are happy to accept euros or U.S. dollars for purchases.
2 Although Trabzon's port is within easy walking distance of some attractions, others (such as the Atatürk Pavilion), require a taxi.
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