Ready-made plans
Ready-made plan

5 days in Trabzon for families

Trabzon 2 nights, Uzungöl 1 night, Ayder 1 night

I made this for families who want green mountains, cool air and lakes after the Gulf summer. You start in Trabzon, then sleep by the lake at Uzungöl and up on the Ayder plateau.

Sumela Monastery on its cliffA night by the lake at UzungölAyder plateau and Gelintülü WaterfallBest in May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
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Prices are checked when you open the plan, a month ahead. They are never saved in it.

Day 1 Arrive in Trabzon and a sunset over the Black Sea

  1. 13:00Land at Trabzon Airport, transfer to the city centreThe airport is right on the edge of the city. If you book a car with a driver, have them meet you here and keep them for all 5 days.Trabzon Airport · about 20 min · 100 TRY per person to 650 TRY per car
  2. 14:00Check in at your Trabzon hotelRest before a gentle evening; the mountain days start tomorrow.City centre · about 2 hrs · FreeArrive by transfer
  3. 16:30Ayasofya Mosque (Hagia Sophia of Trabzon)A 13th century Byzantine church by the sea, now a mosque, with old frescoes and a garden by the water.Fatih, Trabzon · about 45 min · FreeTaxi, 12 min
  4. 18:00Boztepe viewpoint at sunsetTea gardens on the hill with the whole city and the Black Sea below. Kids can run on the grass.Boztepe · about 1 hr · free; tea approx 30 to 60 TRYTaxi up the hill, 15 min
  5. 19:15Dinner at CemilustaA busy local favourite on the main square, good for families.Meydan · about 1 hr 15 min · 400 to 800 TRY · Order: Akçaabat köfte with piyaz, then kuymak (cornmeal and melted cheese)Taxi, 10 min

Tip: Weather on the Black Sea changes fast. Keep a light rain jacket for everyone in the car all trip.

Day 2 Sumela Monastery and Hamsiköy rice pudding

  1. 09:30Sumela MonasteryA monastery built into a cliff high above a forest valley. From the car park it is a steep 20 to 30 minute walk on stone steps; a shuttle runs at busy times.Altındere Valley, Maçka · about 2 hrs 30 min · Approx 450 to 1,000 TRY per person, Müzekart accepted
  2. 12:30Riverside lunch in the Altındere ValleySimple restaurants by the river below the monastery grill fresh trout. Choose a table by the water.Altındere Valley · about 1 hr · 400 to 750 TRY · Order: Grilled trout (alabalık) with salad and cornbreadWalk or shuttle down, 10 min
  3. 14:00Rice pudding in HamsiköyThis mountain village is famous across Turkey for its sütlaç made with local milk. Every cafe in the village serves it.Hamsiköy, Maçka · about 45 min · 150 to 300 TRY · Order: Hamsiköy sütlaç topped with crushed hazelnutsDrive, 45 min
  4. 15:00Drive back and rest at the hotelA long rest after the mountain morning.City centre · about 2 hrs · FreeDrive, 1 hr 10 min
  5. 17:30Atatürk Pavilion (Atatürk Köşkü)A white mansion in pretty gardens on the hill above the city. Calm and easy for little legs.Soğuksu · about 45 min · Approx 50 to 150 TRY per personTaxi, 15 min
  6. 19:00Trabzon pide on Uzun SokakWalk the old shopping street and eat at one of the pide salons around it and Meydan.Uzun Sokak · about 1 hr · 250 to 500 TRY · Order: Trabzon pide with butter and eggTaxi, 15 min

Tip: Wear trainers today; the Sumela path is steep and can be wet.

Day 3 Into the mountains: a night at Uzungöl

  1. 09:30Drive from Trabzon to UzungölAlong the coast to Of, then up a green river valley full of tea fields. Ask the driver to stop for photos.Uzungöl · about 1 hr 50 min · 800 TRY per person to 5,500 TRY per day
  2. 11:30Check in at your Uzungöl hotelAsk for a lake view room with a balcony.Uzungöl · about 1 hr · FreeShort drive, 5 min
  3. 12:30Lakeside trout lunchThe restaurants around the lake all serve trout from local farms. Pick one with a terrace on the water.Uzungöl · about 1 hr 15 min · 400 to 750 TRY · Order: Pan fried trout (alabalık) with cornbreadWalk, 10 min
  4. 14:00Walk around Uzungöl lakeA flat path loops the lake past the wooden mosque. Easy for strollers and grandparents.Uzungöl · about 1 hr · FreeWalk, 2 min
  5. 15:30Rest at the hotelRest while the day trippers leave the village.Uzungöl · about 1 hr 15 min · FreeWalk, 10 min
  6. 17:00Uzungöl viewing terraceThe postcard view of the lake, the mosque and the forest from above.Uzungöl · about 1 hr · FreeShort drive or walk uphill, 15 min
  7. 19:00Dinner at the Inan Kardeşler restaurantA family run hotel restaurant known for its trout and Black Sea home cooking.Uzungöl · about 1 hr 15 min · 400 to 800 TRY · Order: Kuymak and kara lahana çorbası (black cabbage soup)Short drive, 5 min

Tip: Uzungöl is busiest from 11:00 to 16:00 with day trips; the early morning and evening are the magic hours.

Day 4 Fırtına Valley and the Ayder plateau

  1. 09:30Drive from Uzungöl to the Fırtına ValleyDown the valley to the coast, east past Rize and Ardeşen, then up the Fırtına River valley.Çamlıhemşin · about 2 hrs 30 min · 3,500 to 5,500 TRY per day
  2. 12:30Riverside lunch in ÇamlıhemşinSmall restaurants by the Fırtına River serve the mountain dishes of the Hemşin people.Çamlıhemşin · about 1 hr · 350 to 700 TRY · Order: Muhlama (cornmeal melted with local cheese)Walk, 5 min
  3. 14:00Check in at your Ayder hotelWooden chalet style hotels on the green slopes. Rest and enjoy the cool air.Ayder · about 1 hr 45 min · FreeDrive, 30 min
  4. 16:00Gelintülü WaterfallThe 'bridal veil' falls are a short, easy walk from the village centre.Ayder · about 45 min · FreeWalk, 20 min
  5. 17:00Ayder hot springsWarm mineral pools with separate sections for men and women. Lovely after a day in the car.Ayder · about 1 hr · Approx 200 to 400 TRY per personWalk, 15 min
  6. 19:00Dinner at your hotel in AyderPlateau hotels cook simple Black Sea food; ask what is fresh that day.Ayder · about 1 hr · 350 to 700 TRY · Order: Grilled trout and Laz böreği (custard pastry) for dessertWalk, 5 min

Tip: Ayder is high and cool even in August. Bring warm layers for the evening.

Day 5 Zilkale, Rize tea gardens and home

  1. 09:00Zilkale castleA stone castle on a forested ridge above the river. A short climb from the road with a view down the valley.Fırtına Valley · about 1 hr · Free
  2. 10:30Şenyuva stone bridgeOne of the old arched bridges over the green Fırtına River. A quick photo stop on the way down.Fırtına Valley · about 20 min · FreeDrive, 15 min
  3. 12:30Lunch in Rize town centrePide salons and lokantas around the central mosque serve home style lunch at fair prices.Rize · about 1 hr · 300 to 600 TRY · Order: Pide, then Laz böreği (custard pastry)Drive, 1 hr 20 min
  4. 13:45Ziraat Botanical Tea GardenA hillside tea garden over the city and the sea. Have a glass of fresh Rize tea and buy a few packs to take home.Rize · about 45 min · free; tea approx 30 to 60 TRYDrive uphill, 10 min
  5. 15:00Transfer to Trabzon AirportThe coast road to the airport is easy; be at the terminal 2 hours before your flight.Trabzon Airport · about 1 hr 10 min · 3,500 to 5,500 TRY per day by carCar with driver, 1 hr 10 min

Tip: Rize tea and Trabzon hazelnuts make easy gifts; buy them in Rize, where they are cheaper than at the airport.

Where to stay

Trabzon, City centre and Boztepe · nights 1 to 3Close to the airport, Meydan's restaurants and the road to Sumela.
  • Zorlu Grand Hotel Trabzon luxury · about 5,000 to 8,500 TRY a night The classic big hotel in the centre, walking distance to Meydan and Uzun Sokak.
  • Radisson Blu Hotel Trabzon mid · about 4,500 to 7,500 TRY a night Up on Boztepe with sea and city views, a few minutes by car from the centre.
  • Novotel Trabzon mid · about 3,500 to 5,500 TRY a night Family rooms and easy parking, by the sea and close to the airport.
Uzungöl, Around the lake · nights 3 to 4Sleeping by the lake means quiet evenings and mornings after the day trippers leave.
  • Inan Kardeşler Hotel mid · about 3,500 to 6,500 TRY a night One of the longest running hotels in Uzungöl, with a well known restaurant.
  • Royal Uzungöl Hotel and Spa mid · about 4,000 to 7,000 TRY a night Spa and family rooms, a short walk from the lake.
  • Kilpa Hotel budget · about 2,500 to 4,500 TRY a night Simple rooms with breakfast and easy lake access.
Ayder, Ayder village · nights 4 to 5Wake up on the plateau with the waterfall and hot springs on foot.
  • Haşimoğlu Hotel mid · about 3,000 to 5,500 TRY a night A long running wooden hotel near the hot springs.
  • Hayde Otel budget · about 2,500 to 4,500 TRY a night Chalet style rooms with mountain views.

Hotel prices are typical. Make it yours to see today's prices for your dates.

What to eat

  • Akçaabat köfte at Cemilusta, Meydan, Trabzon The region's famous meatballs, made with garlic and served with peppers and beans.
  • Kuymak at Inan Kardeşler restaurant, Uzungöl Cornmeal stirred with butter and melted cheese, the Black Sea breakfast favourite.
  • Grilled trout at Lakeside restaurants at Uzungöl Fresh from local farms and served by the water.
  • Hamsiköy sütlaç at Village cafes in Hamsiköy, Maçka Creamy rice pudding with hazelnuts, famous across Turkey.
  • Trabzon pide at Pide salons around Uzun Sokak and Meydan Boat shaped bread with butter, cheese or meat and an egg on top.
  • Muhlama at Riverside restaurants in Çamlıhemşin and Ayder Stretchy cheese and cornmeal, made for cool mountain days.
  • Laz böreği at Pastry shops in Rize A custard filled pastry, the region's best known dessert.

Evenings here are early and quiet: tea gardens, lakeside walks and dinner at your hotel. Meydan and Uzun Sokak in Trabzon stay busy until about 22:00.

Why it is planned this way

  • I put Sumela at 9:30 on day 2, before the tour buses from the city arrive in late morning.
  • You sleep one night at Uzungöl, so you see the lake quiet in the evening and early morning.
  • Mist often rolls into the valleys after lunch, so the big views are planned for mornings.
  • I routed the last day through Rize, so the tea garden is on your way to the airport.

Opening times and prices change. Tomo checks them again for your dates when you make the plan yours.

Your dates, your hotel, your pace