Trabzon is the Black Sea's largest city and was the capital of the Byzantine-era Empire of Trebizond, so a day here mixes a working port city with a concentrated set of historic sites. It is a real day trip, not a half-day add-on: the sights are spread across the old town and a hill above it, so you need the full day rather than a few hours between buses. Expect a city that feels busier and more commercial than Giresun, with a genuine old bazaar quarter alongside modern waterfront development.
| Distance | ~145 km east |
|---|---|
| Travel time | ~3 hours by bus or car |
| Getting there | Bus (Metro Turizm or Ulusoy, ~150–250 TRY / ~$4.50–7.50 USD each way from Giresun Otogar); car via D010 coastal road |
| Address | Trabzon city center, 61000 Trabzon |
How to get there
- Bus from Giresun Otogar: ~150–250 TRY (~$4.50–7.50 USD); 3h
- Car rental: D010 coastal scenic route; ~145 km
Location
Trabzon city center, 61000 Trabzon
41.0053, 39.7269 View on map
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia Museum (Trabzon) - an 13th-century Byzantine church with surviving frescoes, distinct from the Istanbul building of the same name
- Atatürk Köşkü (Atatürk's Mansion) - a hillside villa where Atatürk stayed on visits to the city, now a small house-museum
- Boztepe (Trabzon) - the hill above the city with the best overview of the harbor and rooftops
- Uzun Sokak - the old town's long market street for a walk through everyday shops rather than a tourist strip
- Gülbahar Hatun Mosque - an Ottoman-era mosque complex worth a stop if you're already in that part of town