Most foreigners cruising in Türkiye plug for tried and tested itineraries along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. But recently, Türkiye’s Black Sea coast is gaining popularity. The region, stretching almost 1,000 miles from Istanbul to Georgia, remains under the radar for most other than the Turks themselves.

About Türkiye’s Black Sea Coast

A visit to Türkiye’s Black Sea coast will lightly surprise you. This historic region and its landscape is a complete contrast to southern Türkiye – the waters cooler, and the scenery green and sub-tropical. There are beautiful unspoilt beaches with almost alpine backdrops, pretty little ports and fishing villages, fabulous seafood, culture and cuisine, plus you encounter relatively few foreign tourists or pleasure yachts.

Türkiye’s Black Sea coast is the land where Queen Hippolyte’s fierce Amazonian women once lived. A land of great empires; Persian, Ionian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Explore where Jason and the Argonauts searched for the Golden Fleece, and take a tour to the iconic Sumela monastery that appears to defy gravity by hanging precariously from a cliffside.

Highlights of the Black Sea Coast

AMASRA

Few people know that Amasra was Türkiye’s original holiday resort. As the closest seaport to Ankara, it was here that the cities elite ventured for their vacations back in the 1940s. The beautiful beaches and pretty natural landscape made Amasra the ideal getaway, well before the likes of Bodrum and Antalya. It’s an attractive town straddling a peninsular, with an island linked by a Roman bridge sheltering the Old Harbour.

Amasra dates back to the 6^th-century and was once an important trading port and part of the Pontic Kingdom. Centuries later, under Ottoman rule, its commercial importance was quashed by larger Black Sea ports, leaving the Amasra of today a wonderfully unspoiled resort, and one of Türkiye’s most attractive low-key destinations.

Amasra is a quintessential Turkish seaside town. Life has slowed down and revolves around sipping cay in harbourside cafes, playing backgammon, grazing over Turkish breakfasts, and enjoying fresh seafood dinners before an evening stroll. Those that visit either head to the beach, or enjoy walking around the low-level Ottoman buildings, watching life pass by from a local café, or meandering through the eclectic array of little shops.

SINOP

The model ships for sale in the artisan stores of Sinop are a nod-back to the cities sea trading roots, as it has been a famous seaport for centuries – the locals even say, “the Black Sea has three harbours – July, August and Sinop!”

Sinop is Anatolia’s most northerly point and is wrapped around a craggy peninsula, with a natural, sheltered harbour. Many legends surround Sinop’s origins, but most agree it dates back to the 7^th century and was christened Sinop after the Amazon Queen “Sinova”. It’s also famed as the birthplace of Diogenes, the famous philosopher.

The city is attractive and cosmopolitan, with a good range of seafood restaurants along the harbour front. Unique cotton clothes, nautical wooden carvings, and crystals fill the shops, and there’s a citadel, archaeology museum, 13^th-century mosque and church worth visiting if you venture ashore.

SILE

Sile is known for its long white sandy beach, cotton fields, crafts and stripy black and white lighthouse. Just along the coast from Istanbul, it’s a laid-back and popular holiday destination for city Turks, many now owning holiday homes in the region.

Like most towns and villages along Türkiye’s Black Sea coast, Sile started life fishing and trading and was popular with ships sailing from the Bosphorus. One of the main features of the area is the lighthouse, built by the French during the Ottoman era. Sile highlights include its castle and see-through, beautifully embroidered cotton cloth, sold by women throughout the town and a great purchase.

SAMSUN

Samsun is a thriving modern city with an airport, busy seaport, decent hotels, and a long and fascinating past. It’s not the most attractive of cities, more of a business centre so attracts relatively few tourists. It is still home to some excellent museums, including the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, and Ataturk Museum, so do mark Samsun as a stop if you’re cruising with history-buffs.

Unfortunately, most of Samsun’s historic charm was destroyed by Genoese raiders who burnt the city down in the 1400s. Today, the city is remembered most as the place Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) came ashore in 1919 to convince Türkiye’s people to stand-up against Allied occupation. This action marked the start of the War of Independence.

GIRESUN

Giresun is the capital of a Turkish province of the same name. It’s known as the birthplace of cherries, as its ancient name meant cherry in Greek as the towns former Greek occupants credited the city for introducing the fruit to Europe.

Despite an abundance of cherry orchards, hazelnuts (findik) also drive Giresun’s economy. The climate is ideal for growing this popular nut, and like Ordu, Giresun hazelnuts are considered some of the best in the world.

For those cruising along the coast, the main lure of Giresun is its link with Jason and the Argonauts. Jason is said to have looked for the infamous Golden Fleece on Giresun Island. Although his search was to no avail and he eventually found the fleece in Colchis, many still visit Giresun Island to take a local tour and learn more about this fascinating legend.

ORDU

Ordu is the worlds hazelnut capital. This attractive Greek-founded city, produces 75% of the world’s hazelnuts, with the majority ending up in Nutella spreads.

Like many cities on the Black Sea Coast, Ordu has passed through many civilisations’ hands, and most left their mark on the landscape. Although it is a sprawling city, the old town’s narrow alleys give it character, and the seaside promenade is a lovely place to walk and people watch of a summers evening. To the rear of the city are the lush green slopes of Boztepe, and to the west are a few good sandy beaches.

RIZE

Rize is both a city and a province on Türkiye’s Black Sea coast. During the 1940s, tea was introduced to the region. As a result, Rize quickly became Türkiye’s leading producer of tea, the countries’ favourite brew. Today, the slopes at the back of the city look almost southeast Asian with their tea plantations, making for an interesting approach. Rize is worth a look if you’re cruising the Black Sea coast, and a good range of hotels, restaurants, shops and cafes can be found around its central square, a trip into the tranquil green pastures to cities rear is also a nice escape from the crowds. 

TRABZON

Trabzon is the largest city along the Eastern Black Sea Coast, near the border with Georgia. It has a sub-tropical climate, a long history, and was an independent state for some periods, ruling over a vast stretch from Sinop to Georgia.

Trabzon is often referred to as “Sultan’s City“, as it was the birthplace of the famous Ottoman Sultan, Suleman the Magnificent. It is also known for its hazelnuts, anchovies (hamsi) and a traditional folk dance called the Horon.

The main reason you may wish to stop at Trabzon is the Sumela Monastery, one of the main highlights of Türkiye’s Black Sea coast.

Greek-orthodox Sumela Monastery dates back to the 4^th century and is a short drive from the port in Trabzon. Take sturdy shoes and water, and prepare for a hike up the mountainside to the monasteries breath-taking cliffside location. The effort is worth it as the elaborate frescoes inside, and the views are spectacular. ASK US to arrange a private tour.

Those travelling the coast will lightly stop off at Trabzon, as its airport runs regular domestic flights to Istanbul and the coast, plus some international flights. It is a big modern city boasting a wealth of hotels, restaurants and shops. The port is busy, so please do CONTACT US for assistance.

CAPTAINS NOTES: TURKEY’S BLACK SEA COAST

The best time to cruise Türkiye’s Black Sea Coast is between May and October, but if possible plug for high season (July and August). During this time the waters are warmer, conditions more stable, and the fishing season is closed meaning the waterways, harbours and ports are far less crowded.

It should be noted that there are no specific, first-class superyacht marinas like Yalikavak, along Türkiye’s Black Sea coast. We know many captain’s and guests like to at least touch nose with the Black Sea from Istanbul. Cruising this area is for those that want to explore a little further afield and discover a Türkiye that feels a lot more traditional, away from the foreign tourist and yachting crowds. There are some large seaports as mentioned, so although these routes may not be popular yet, there’s no reason they won’t become a highlight in the future.

The Black Sea is a busy trading route, so please CONTACT US for a bespoke cruising itinerary and pointers on where’s best to go. Many small harbours and ports cannot take yachts of size, so arrangements do need to be made in some cases.

Black Sea Coast Ports Of Entry include: Eregli, Hopa, Giresun, Inebolu, Rize, Samsun, Sinop, Trabzon and Zonguldak.

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