Day Trip to Ayder Plateau & Rize Tour: The Magic of the Black Sea

Things to Do in Trabzon

Trabzon's Black Sea setting — cooler, greener, and less touristed than Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean coasts — centers on the cliffside Sumela Monastery and dramatic mountain scenery. This collection ranks what's worth doing. **Good to know:** The Black Sea region gets genuinely more rain than the rest of Turkey — pack for it even in summer. English is less widely spoken here than in the tourist-heavy coastal cities; a translation app helps. Sumela Monastery involves a real uphill walk from the parking area — wear proper shoes. See our dedicated [Sumela Monastery Visit Guide](/collections/sumela-monastery-guide-trabzon) and [Getting to & Around Trabzon](/collections/getting-around-trabzon) for the specifics.