One Of Türkiye’s Best-Kept Secrets—The Incredible Black Sea Coast

Aegean beaches, ancient Greek and Roman cities, hot air ballooning over the troglodyte homes of Cappadocia, and the exotic skyline (and fabulous food) of Istanbul, count among the “must see” attractions of Türkiye.

Yet few of the 50 million tourists who touch down in Türkiye each year visit one of the country’s most intriguing regions — a Black Sea coast that forms the nation’s northern border.

From photogenic fishing villages and sumptuous seafood to ancient monasteries, and gorgeous beaches (many of them within an hour’s drive of Istanbul), a lot of things make this coast extra special.

It’s also Türkiye’s longest shore — around 810 miles (1,300 km) from east to west. That’s twice as long as the country’s legendary Aegean coast and around the same as the California coastline.

The coast also plays a major role in Greek mythology. Jason and the Argonauts had to navigate the ship-eating rocks at the confluence of the Bosporus and Black Sea, and then sail along the coast to Colchis, where they stole the Golden Fleece.

Why is it called the Black Sea?

Some say it’s the dark blue color of the water. But a more likely explanation is how the ancient Greeks assigned colors to the cardinal directions: Green or blue for east, white for west, red for south and black for north. Thus, the waterbody north of Greece and Asia Minor was simply called the Black Sea, just like the waterbody south of Egypt became the Red Sea.

Surf, Sun & Sand Near Istanbul

Next time you fly out of Istanbul’s huge new airport, grab a window seat and gaze down at the coast, a shoreline dotted with golden beaches stretching all the way to Bulgaria.

Whether you want to take a dip in the Black Sea or dig into a delicious oceanfront meal, some of them make easy day trips from Türkiye’s largest city.

Depending on the traffic, the sandy strands of Kilyos are just an hour’s drive from central Istanbul. Solar Beach attracts a younger crowd, those who like to party hearty. Tucked into a gorgeous bay, lowkey Uzunya Beach boasts a good waterfront restaurant, a large lawn area behind the sand and even a campground for those who want to fall asleep to the sound of waves.

Istanbul surfers hit the waves in Riva village on the eastern side of the Bosporus. Overlooking the town and the main beach is Riva Castle, a 1,500-year-old Byzantine citadel. And if you believe the ancient legends, the cliffs and offshore rocks near Riva are the ones that nearly wrecked the Argonauts’ ship.

Silk Road Seaports

It wasn’t just Jason and his Argonauts who traveled along Türkiye’s Black Sea coast. It was also one of the main trade routes between east and west, a place where the overland caravans from Asia would transfer their goods for the onward journey to Byzantium/Constantinople.

Among the seaports that thrived at the time was Trabzon. Founded by Greek colonists in the 8^th-century BCE in what came to be called the Pontus region, it was one of the earliest parts of the Roman Empire to adopt Christianity. The area remained a stronghold of Pontic Greeks throughout the Middle Ages and Ottoman Empire, until the advent of modern Turkey after World War One.

Relics of the Middle Ages are among the city’s top sights today. Constructed in the 13^th century, Hagia Sophia crowns a bluff overlooking the Black Sea. Like its namesake in Istanbul, it was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans and retains many of the handsome frescoes and floor mosaics created by the early Christians.

Trabzon’s famous black-sand beaches are out west, around Akçakale. The Botanical Garden and historic Atatürk Mansion in the heights above the city center offer the best views of the coastline and Black Sea.

An hour’s drive south of Trabzon is Sümela Monastery with its priceless frescoes and vertiginous location. Largely built in the 13^th century, the monastery clings to a sheer cliff in Altındere Valley National Park with hiking routes that meander to waterfalls and cloud-shrouded mountaintops. Nearby Zigana is the region’s top spot for downhill skiing and snowboarding (December-March).

Rize & the Ayder Plateau

Another ancient Silk Road seaport, Rize lies at the foot of the Pontic Alps. In fact, its name means “mountain slopes” in ancient Greek, an apt description for a place that immediately begins to rise from the shore.

The steep valleys and foothills of the Çayeli District near Rize are covered in emerald-green plantations where the region’s celebrated tea is grown. Several plantations welcome visitors for tours and tea tasting including the family run Çeçeva Köyü Tea Garden, where you can also practice your tea harvesting skill with a wicker basket and shears.

Farther inland are the Pontic Alps, a rugged east-west range that ascends to almost 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). With more rain and snow than any other part of Türkiye, these mountains boast thick forest, flower-filled meadows, wild rivers, and wooden A-frame structures that wouldn’t look out of place in Austria or Switzerland.

About a 60-minute drive from Rize, the Firtina River Valley is the launchpad for outdoor adventure activities like whitewater rafting and over-river ziplines. Farther up the highway is the gorgeous Ayder Plateau and the town of Ayder Yaylasi, an old hot springs resort that now boasts the region’s largest cluster of hotels and restaurants.

Ayder Yaylasi is also the main jumping off point for short hikes or multiday backpacking in Kaçkar Dağları National Park. One of Türkiye’s most spectacular nature areas, the park is spangled with jagged granite peaks and more than 100 small glacial lakes.

Getting There: Driving the Black Sea coast, it’s around 800 miles (1,200 km) from Istanbul to Trabzon. The comfy modern coaches of Flixbus can get you there in 17-20 hours.

The quickest alternative is flying. Turkish Airlines offers daily nonstop services between Istanbul and both Trabzon and Rize.