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Province · Mar Negro Ocidental
Sinop
The far north of Turkey: a peninsula with an ancient fortress, the former prison turned museum, Hamsilos Bay and the İnceburun lighthouse.
In the photo: Hamsilos Bay, Sinop
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 Sinop
Sinop sits on a peninsula in the middle of Turkey’s Black Sea coast, and the province contains the northernmost point of the country, the İnceburun cape, 20 km from the city, with an 1863 lighthouse. It is a small port town where the philosopher Diogenes the Cynic was born.
Sinop’s fortress was built by Greek colonists from Miletus and expanded by Romans, Byzantines and Seljuks. Inside the citadel, which served as a shipyard, Sinop Prison operated from the late 19th century, closed in 1999 and converted into a museum. Many Turkish writers served sentences there, and the pavilions and cells can be visited.
14 km from the centre, Hamsilos Natural Park protects a narrow bay where the sea cuts into the land like a river, a ria-type coast surrounded by forest. Nearby is the Akliman inlet, with a sandy beach, dunes and woodland.
In the centre, the Pervane Madrasa, from 1262, housed the city’s first museum. The Archaeological Museum preserves finds from the ancient necropolis, and the Ethnographic Museum occupies a late-18th-century mansion. Inland, Boyabat has a castle on the rock and Erfelek has the Tatlıca waterfalls.
The cuisine is fish-based: in winter, Black Sea anchovy (hamsi) is the most common fish in the harbour restaurants.
When to go
June to September is beach season in Akliman and Hamsilos, with warm days and less rain. May and October are usually pleasant for the town and museums, with fewer crowds. Winter is wet and cool, with rough seas.
Getting there
Sinop Airport (NOP), near the city, has flights to Istanbul. Another option is to fly to Samsun (SZF) or Kastamonu (KFS) and continue by bus or car. There are buses from Samsun, Kastamonu, Ankara and Istanbul. Confirm before booking.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Sinop
Where is Turkey’s northernmost point?
It is the İnceburun cape, in Sinop, 20 km from the city, with an 1863 lighthouse surrounded by forest. Access is by road up to near the lighthouse.
Can you visit the old Sinop prison?
Yes. The prison operated within the fortress until 1999 and was converted into a museum, with pavilions and cells open to visitors. It is in the centre, next to the harbour; check opening days before you go.
How to get to Hamsilos Bay?
Hamsilos is 14 km from Sinop centre, on the way to İnceburun. It can be reached by car, taxi or local transport. The natural park has a bathing area, woodland and paths along the water.
Does Sinop have a beach?
Yes. Akliman, next to Hamsilos, has a long sandy beach, and there are beaches near the town. The sea is usually good for swimming from June to September.
How many days to stay in Sinop?
Two days allow you to see the fortress, the prison-museum and the central museums, as well as Hamsilos and İnceburun. In summer, an extra day is useful for the beach.