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Shining in the Black Sea region, Trabzon has mesmerized many tourists with its rich heritage, pure beauty, delicious cuisine, and the warm hearts of its residents. If you are eager to see the place where beauty in land meets the glory of the sky, do not hesitate to plan your trip right away and pack the article below to guide you through the amazing experience while exploring the best places to visit in Trabzon.
In this article, we are going to review the best places to visit in Trabzon and the many things you can do while staying there. Buckle up to be fascinated!
Best places to visit in Trabzon
Trabzon is so rich in historical places that if you ask me about the best places to visit in Trabzon, I would have to say every inch of this place can present to you the tales of an ancient city.
Trabzon has many churches (which mostly turned into mosques in Ottoman Era), mosques, museums, monasteries, and old Bazaars (shopping areas) if you are a fan of the history and culture.
On the other hand, Trabzon offers mesmerizing nature, national parks, modern shopping centers, and many attractive festivals.
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Although Trabzon is a place for every taste, I suggest a mix and match. Experience a touch of history and fairy tales, combined with feeling the refreshing breeze of nature in your cheeks, while enjoying the local cuisine!
Now let’s see what places Trabzon has to offer.
The Hagia Sophia (Ayasofaya)
First of all, keep in mind that this old church which belongs to the Byzantine period is different from the namesake mosque in Istanbul, Fatih district.
The Hagia Sophia in Trabzon was mainly built like a Greek church in the 13th century when it was the capital of the Trebizond Empire, but turned into a mosque in 1584 and then into a museum in 1964. Then again, it became a mosque in 2003.
Although it is now officially a mosque, you can see many Christian elements inside the building such as a bell tower which is pretty distinctive in the Black Sea area, paintings on the ceiling, frescoes, and even a chapel on the second level.
The Fatih Mosque (Former the Panagia Chrysokephalos church)
Up until the 4th century AD, this was the place of a Mithraeum. The church building was founded in the 10th century and became the central cathedral of Trabzon in the middle ages. A fun fact about the Panagia Chrysokephalos church is that it was a place to hold coronation feasts for the rulers on Trebizond.
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In 1461, the Ottoman authorities converted the church into a mosque which is still standing.
The Hagia Anna (the Saint Anne’s Church)
Among the best places to visit in Trabzon, lies The Hagia Anna. The building goes back to the 6th or 7th century and you can see beautiful carvings there. A fun point is that you can see aged men from the area sitting outside playing backgammon and also keep an eye on the church which might be fascinating for a foreigner to watch.
Saint Mary Catholic Church
In 1845, Russian king Nicholas forced the monks in Tbilisi to leave Georgia. Some of them came to Trabzon and the church is founded by them. Nowadays, this church is the only church in Trabzon that still holds masses regularly. So, if you are a fan of visiting old rituals, the best place to visit in Trabzon for you is here.
Iskender Pasa mosque
Founded in 1529 by Iskender (Alexander) and is located in Meydan square. Because of its fairly close location, it is a pity if any tourist misses visiting this mosque. So, whenever you got the chance to visit the Meydan, walk to the east and you will find it.
Bazaar mosque
Founded in 1839 by Osman Pasa and is the oldest mosque in Trabzon which indicates European architecture.
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Gulbahar Hatun mosque
Founded in 1514 by Sultan Salim honoring his mother Gulbahar whose tomb is also there. If you go there, you will see children having a Quran lesson mostly before noon and are usually very eager to talk to tourists that are visiting. So, apart from the fact that there is one of the best places to visit in Trabzon, you get to see how warm-hearted the children are being raised and enjoy their presence.
You can also find a carpet that is made out of prayer rugs or mats.
Trabzon Castle
Trabzon castle represents how far this city goes back and for sure is one of the best places to visit in Trabzon if you care about rich heritage and culture. It was built in the 5th century and functioned more as the walls surrounding the city for defensive purposes rather than a castle alone.
These walls divided the city into three regions: The fortress which was the upper area and played the role of a citadel, the middle, and the lower region. The castle is still very glorious with perfect green scenery.
Zagnos Vadisi park is a beautiful place near the Castle ruins, from which you can have a view of the Castle.
Kizlar Monastery (Panagia Theoskepastos)
It was built in 1360 and was the one nunnery in town. It was living up until the Greeks abandoned the town in 1922. There are still paintings of Alexios the 3rd, his spouse Theodora, and even his mother named Irene in there, who were believed to be the keepers of the convent.
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Kustul Monastery (Saint George Peristereota Monastery)
Unfortunately, this important piece of art which used to have churches and residential areas is now almost completely ruined, but for the people who cherish the ancient magnificent architecture, it still has a high value. Also, you can find videos on the internet that artificially restored the place in 3D.
Sumela Monastery
Originally in the 4th century, built by two Greek priests. It resorted in 2018 and during that, a path was discovered that led them to a chapel that contained paintings about life, heaven, etc. The Hagia Varvara chapel is under the building and open to visitors.
The Ataturk house museum
This country house was built in the 19th century by a Greek banker named Konstantin Kabayanidis. In 1924 and 1937, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey, stayed there during his visit to Trabzon which turned this place into a tourist attraction.
Whether you are a politician or not, this is one of the best places to visit in Trabzon to see a man can raise the value of things including a house.
Trabzon Museum
This place was built as a mansion in 1889 by a Greek merchant named Kostaki Teophylaktos. It is in the current city center and provides tourists with exhibitions about the history of Trabzon, arts and paintings, and more importantly, there is a statue of Hermes (the Greek god) in the basement, which goes back to the 2nd century BC.
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Boztepe Park
A combination of a park and a tea garden located on hills provides you with a spectacular view of the whole town. There used to be a Mithara statue until the 3rd century presumably guarding the city but later it was replaced. Try not to miss the sunset in Boztepe park which is said to have a magic effect on your heart as well as your eyes.
Uzungol nature and Dursun Ali Inan Museum
If you want to see the dance of many lakes in a green wide environment, don’t miss Uzungol village in the south of Trabzon. The Uzungol lake itself offers jaw-dropping natural beauties which you can hike around.
If you go to the east of the lake, you can find the museum which holds in itself a collection of rural art crafts, and elements collected by Mr. Dursun.
Best places to visit and shop in Trabzon
Trabzon has many modern shopping centers together with a list of old traditional Bazaars. Historically, the wedding gifts in Trabzon were handmade silver or gold bracelets which you can still purchase as a souvenir. Another fun gift to bring home is Kemenche which is Turkey’s national musical instrument.
Trabzon Bazaar
Old and narrow lines lead to a traditional market in which you can find anything you might need at reasonable prices. I suggest putting on comfortable shoes as there are many stalls you might like to stop by, and you need to walk through the place on your feet.
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The Russian Bazaar
There is also a historical Bazaar in the east part of Meydan square, which takes its name after the fact that Russians used to do trades in this Bazaar in old times. Nowadays, if you are looking to buy anything including souvenirs for your loved ones at reasonable prices, this bazaar is the best place to visit in Trabzon.
Best places to find culture and cuisine in Trabzon
Thinking about the best places to visit in Trabzon, you should consider picking the places where you can get the most out of Trabzon culture and festivals, concomitance with tasting the local meals and tea coming right from the tea gardens.
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Best places to see festivals in Trabzon
Folk dancing, especially “Horon” dance, is still a part of festivals and parties. Trabzon music is made for dancing and has tales about love tragedies between rich and poor, or Muslim and Christian young lovers which are mostly shown in their festivals such as Sultan Murat festival in Sultan Murat plateau or Kadirga festival in Galley plateau.
So, in case you are a fan of a dynamic culture mirrored into fun activities, these are the best places to visit in Trabzon for you.
Best places to have local cuisine in Trabzon
Trabzon is one of the world’s main producers of tea, hazelnut, and cherry. Also, fishing is a big part of the local cuisine, especially Hamsi. Below are some famous dishes in Trabzon and the places you can try them:
Hamsi (Anchovies)
Usually served fried. You can try Bordo Mavi café in Meydan.
Akcaabat Kofte
Something like hot meatballs that are served almost everywhere such as Kofteci Ali.
Karadeniz Pidesi
A bread that is full of egg, cheese, and meat which you can find in local restaurants such as Sfiha.
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Vakfikebir Ekmegi
A kind of bread similar to the Italian Casareccio which can have a weight of 7 kgs and you can find in almost every bakery in Trabzon.
Final words about the best places to visit in Trabzon
Having said so much about the city and the best places to visit in Trabzon, the glory continues and there are still many other attractions that this town has to offer.
Taking a look back into the history, you rarely can find a town with such rich ancient background and diversity, which also benefits from remarkable landscapes and shining scenery. So, put visiting Trabzon at the top of your To-Do list immediately, and don’t forget to take beautiful pictures.
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