Cheap flights to Trabzon
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Quick summary
Country
Turkey
Continent
Asia
Airport
TZX
Currency
Turkish lira
Time zone
UTC+3
Deals already spotted to Trabzon
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Green Turkey
Things to do in Trabzon, the gateway to the Black Sea mountains
Most things to do in Trabzon reveal a Turkey few visitors expect: green, misty and rainy, with lakes beneath spruce forests and a summer life that moves up to the high plateaus. The city itself is the great port of the eastern Black Sea, backed by the Pontic Mountains, and the natural base for exploring this landscape.
A name that travelled
The name Trebizond has travelled through literature: in Cervantes' Don Quixote the hero dreams of becoming Emperor of Trebizond, and Offenbach made it the title of a comic opera.
Sumela
A monastery on a cliff face
Sixteen centuries of history in Altındere National Park
According to tradition, Sumela was founded around 386 CE under Theodosius I by two Athenian monks, Barnabas and Sophronios, around an icon of the Virgin said to have been painted by St Luke. The monastery lies at Maçka, in Altındere National Park, about 50 km from Trabzon (45 to 60 depending on the route), clinging to a cliff of about 300 m at roughly 1,200 m above sea level. The frescoes in the rock church date from the 14th to the 18th century.
Abandonment, restoration and reopening
Abandoned in 1923 after the population exchange, the monastery was closed in 2015 because of rockfalls, then reopened in 2019 after safety work and restoration that uncovered hidden frescoes. An Orthodox liturgy is held there every year on 15 August.
Practical information
From the car park, a paid shuttle runs up to the entrance of the site, and you then climb steps beside an old aqueduct. A ticket is required (the MüzeKart is accepted) and opening hours vary by season, generally from 08:00 until late afternoon or evening: check before you go. Come in the morning to avoid the crowds, with sturdy shoes and a waterproof layer, as mist and rain are frequent.
Trebizond
The capital of an empire
Founded by Greek colonists, then part of the Achaemenid Empire and the Kingdom of Pontus, the city knew its golden age from 1204 to 1461, when it was the capital of the Empire of Trebizond, a breakaway Byzantine state ruled by the Komnenos dynasty that prospered on the Silk Road and traded with Genoa and Venice. Mehmed II conquered it in 1461, after a siege of 21 days. Trabzon joined the modern Turkish state in 1923.
In the city
Things to do in Trabzon itself, and its museums
| Place | Worth knowing |
|---|---|
| Hagia Sophia of Trabzon | A Byzantine church of the 1250s, now a mosque, about 3 km west of the centre; free entry, with frescoes visible (to be checked around prayer times) |
| Fatih Mosque | The former Byzantine cathedral of Panagia Chrysokephalos, where emperors were crowned |
| Meydan square and bazaar | The heart of the city, with cafés, caravanserais and mosques, best explored on foot |
| City Museum | The history of Trabzon from its Greek foundation to Ottoman times (museum opened in 2001) |
| Atatürk Pavilion | The villa where Atatürk stayed several times, furnished in period style |
| Boztepe | The wooded hill above the city, with the Girls' Monastery and panoramic tea terraces |
Trabzonspor
On the football side, Trabzonspor is Turkey's most successful club outside Istanbul, and its museum shows its history and trophies.
Lakes and plateaus
Uzungöl, Sera Lake and the yaylas
Uzungöl
About 95 to 100 km from Trabzon, Uzungöl is a lake roughly 1,000 m long and 500 m wide, at 1,090 m, formed in the 17th century by a landslide. Access is free and a walk around the lake takes about 45 minutes. The village is very touristy in summer.
Sera Lake
Closer, 12 km from the centre, Sera Lake was also born of a landslide, in 1950.
The high plateaus
The province counts more than 20 plateaus and 43 plateau festivals a year. Kadırga, at 2,300 m, hosts its festival in July; Sultan Murat and Hıdırnebi are other nearby plateaus, and Karester and Lustra lie above Uzungöl.
Food and drink
Anchovies, kuymak and hazelnuts
The local star is hamsi, the Black Sea anchovy, and the region accounts for about a fifth of Turkey's fish catch. It is also a world leader in hazelnuts and cherries, and produces a lot of tea. Try kuymak, made with corn and butter, Akçaabat meatballs, Vakfıkebir bread and Hamsiköy rice pudding.
Where to eat
Fish restaurants cluster along the waterfront and around Meydan square, and the tea terraces of Boztepe make a panoramic stop. Small plateau restaurants serve plainer cooking based on local produce.
Getting there
An airport 15 minutes from the centre
Trabzon Airport
About 6 km east of the centre, roughly 15 minutes by taxi or Havaş shuttle. Flights from Istanbul are frequent (about hourly) and take around 1 h 30 to 2 h; there are also links with Ankara and Izmir.
Trabzon has no railway and regular international sea links are not operating (to be checked): you arrive by air or by road.
| Journey | Approximate time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| TZX to the centre | About 15 minutes | Taxi, Havaş shuttle or a dolmuş on the coastal road; times and fares to be checked |
| Centre to Sumela Monastery | About 1 h to 1 h 15 | About 50 km; organised tour, taxi or rental car |
| Centre to Uzungöl | About 1 h 30 to 2 h | About 95 to 100 km; a mountain road, slower in bad weather |
| Istanbul to Trabzon by bus | About 18 h | Possible, but flying is far easier |
Getting around
On foot, by dolmuş and on excursions
The sights of the centre, between Meydan square, the bazaar and the old town, can be reached on foot: distances are short, but the old town is built on a ridge and involves climbing up and down. Dolmuş run all over the city and link the province; for Hagia Sophia, take the dolmuş marked Aya Sofya.
Sumela, Uzungöl and the plateaus
For these outings a rental car, a taxi or a full-day tour is simplest; mountain roads are winding and mist is frequent. The plateaus are easier to reach in summer.
When to go
When to visit Trabzon?
May to June
The start of the best period, which runs from May to October; spring is fairly mild with sunny spells.
July and August
The height of summer, warm and humid, with average highs around 26 degrees C; July is the driest month and hosts the Kadırga festival.
September and October
Still in the good season, but October is the wettest month of the year.
November to April
Outside the recommended period: cool, wet and misty on the coast, colder and snowy at altitude.
Length of stay
How many days, what budget and what formalities
Sumela and the city
Sumela Monastery in the morning, before the crowds, then Hagia Sophia and the Boztepe viewpoint.
Uzungöl
A day at Uzungöl, with a walk around the lake.
The plateaus
If you stay longer, head up to yaylas such as Kadırga, Sultan Murat or Hıdırnebi.
Recommended length
Allow two to three days: two cover Sumela, the city and Uzungöl, and three leave room for the plateaus.
Cost level
Low to medium: meals in local restaurants, dolmuş and museums stay affordable, while private excursions and seafront or plateau lodgings are the main expenses.
Entry rules and common sense
Depending on your nationality, an e-visa or an exemption applies: check the official site evisa.gov.tr and your own government's advice (to be checked). Trabzon is a welcoming city and the usual precautions are enough, along with care on mountain paths in mist. In mosques, cover shoulders and knees and take your shoes off at the door.
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In pictures
Trabzon in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Trabzon
Where is Trabzon Airport and how do I get to the centre?
The airport (TZX) is about 6 km east of the centre, roughly 15 minutes by taxi or Havaş shuttle. Flights from Istanbul are frequent and take around 1 h 30 to 2 h.
When is the best time to visit Trabzon?
From May to October, especially July, the driest month. October is the wettest, and winter is cool, wet and misty on the coast.
Is Trabzon an expensive destination?
No: the cost level is low to medium. Local meals, dolmuş and museums are affordable, while private excursions and plateau lodgings are the main expenses.
How many days do you need in Trabzon?
Two to three days: Sumela Monastery and the city on day one, Uzungöl on day two, and the plateaus if you stay longer.
How do you get around Trabzon?
On foot in the centre and by dolmuş in town. For Sumela and Uzungöl, a rental car, a taxi or a full-day tour are simplest.
How do I get to Sumela Monastery from Trabzon?
It lies about 50 km away, an hour to an hour and a quarter by road. From the car park, a paid shuttle runs up to the site and steps lead to the entrance; come in the morning and check seasonal hours.
What should you eat in Trabzon?
Anchovies (hamsi), kuymak, Akçaabat meatballs, Vakfıkebir bread and Hamsiköy rice pudding; the region also produces tea, hazelnuts and cherries.
How much does a flight to Trabzon usually cost?
It mostly depends on your departure city, the season and how far ahead you book. The "deals" section above shows real examples of prices already detected by SniperAir for this destination.
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