Province · Mar Negro Oriental

Bayburt

City in the upper valley of the Çoruh River, with a castle on the rock, the Baksı Museum, awarded by the Council of Europe, and the traditions of Dede Korkut.

In the photo: Bayburt Castle above the Çoruh River, Bayburt

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Bayburt

Bayburt lies in the upper Çoruh River valley, between the coast of Trebizond and the Erzurum plateau, in a region of steppe and mountains with long winters. It is one of Turkey’s least populated provinces and receives few foreign visitors.

Bayburt Castle occupies a rocky hill above the town and the river. Fortified in the time of Emperor Justinian, it was rebuilt by the Seljuks and restored by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1541; Russian troops largely destroyed it during the 1828–1829 war. The walls provide views over the Çoruh valley.

In the village of Bayraktar, the old Baksı, the Baksı Museum was established in 2010 by artist Hüsamettin Koçan on a hill above the valley. It brings together contemporary art and traditional crafts and received the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2014.

In Aydıntepe, an underground city of galleries and rooms carved into the rock can be visited. Local tradition links Bayburt to Dede Korkut, the wise bard of Turkish epic tales, honored in a cultural festival in July. Mount Kop, on the road to Erzurum, has a winter sports centre.

At the table, tatlı çorba, which despite its name is a savory stew of meat and wheat, and galacoş, made from cornmeal and butter with yogurt, are local dishes.

When to go

June to September is usually the most pleasant period, with dry, warm days and cool nights; July hosts the Dede Korkut festival. Winter is long and cold, with snow; on Mount Kop snow typically lasts from December until the end of May.

Getting there

The most used airports are Erzurum (ERZ) and Trebizond (TZX), on the other side of the mountains. There are buses from Erzurum and from Trebizond to Bayburt. A car makes access easier for the Baksı Museum and Aydıntepe.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Bayburt

Which airport to use for Bayburt?

Erzurum (ERZ) and Trebizond (TZX), both with flights to Istanbul and Ankara, followed by road travel to Bayburt. Also check on the regional airport at Köse before finalizing your trip.

What is the Baksı Museum?

It is a museum of contemporary art and traditional crafts founded in 2010 by artist Hüsamettin Koçan in the village of Bayraktar, on a hill above the Çoruh valley. It received the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2014. Visiting days vary: check before you go up there.

How many days to stay in Bayburt?

One day covers the castle, the town centre and the Baksı Museum. With two days you can include the underground city of Aydıntepe.

Bayburt pairs well with which other cities?

Bayburt lies between Trebizond and Erzurum and is often a stop on the route between the Black Sea coast and eastern Anatolia. Gümüşhane, with the Karaca cave and the ruins of Santa, is nearby.