Trip to Trebizonda, Turkey: how to get there, how many days and when to go

Trebizonda – Trebizonda Destination Trebizonda and the Black Sea highlands Capital

How to get there

Trabzon Havalimanı (TZX) Trebizonda · 6 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Arrive via TZX airport and continue to the center by local transport or taxi. For Sumela, book road transport via Maçka and allow for the final walk.

How many days

Two days: one for the city and another for Sumela.

When to go

Trebizonda can be visited in different seasons, but May to October makes combining it with Sumela and the valleys easier. Rain and fog can occur even in summer; winter is wetter and has shorter days.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

In Trebizonda, combine walks by neighborhood with urban transport. The excursion to Sumela requires regional travel.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Trebizonda

Morning
Trabzon Ayasofya Camii
Visit Ayasofya’s Byzantine architecture along the permitted route and observe the external elements before leaving the coastal area.
Afternoon
Sümela Manastırı
Reserve the afternoon for Sümela Manastırı. Half a day from Trebizonda, including travel and walking.
Late afternoon
Landscape and streets of Trebizonda
Return to Trebizonda’s core with time to observe the streets and landscape, without adding a long transfer at the end of the outing.
Evening
Overnight in Trebizonda
Dine in the area where you are staying in Trebizonda and confirm transport for the next leg.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How many days to allocate to Trebizonda with Sumela?

Two days separate the urban visit from the trip to the monastery in the Altındere valley. Add time if the journey continues to Uzungöl or Ayder, as those bases are not extensions of the city-center walk.

Is the Hagia Sophia (Santa Sofia) of Trebizonda the same as Istanbul’s?

They are different buildings in different cities. Trebizonda’s is on the Black Sea coast and preserves Byzantine-origin architecture and paintings in a space used as a mosque.

Is Sumela in the center of Trebizonda?

The monastery is inland, in the Maçka area. Reaching it combines road travel and a walking section on the slope, and it should be planned as a regional excursion.

Can I visit Sumela, Uzungöl and Ayder in a single day?

The sites lie in different valleys and require distinct approaches. Choose one direction per day or change base, so the experience is not reduced to long hours in a vehicle.

Your trip to Trebizonda.