Trabzon
From Turkey Travel Guide
Trabzon is a city in the Black Sea Region of Turkey as well as the largest port of Black Sea. Historically known as Trapezus and Trebizond, It's the capital of Trabzon Province and in its long history it was also the capital city of the Trezibond Empire. Trabzon's traffic plate number is 61.
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[edit] History
Trabzon's history goes back to the 8th century BC, Milesian emporia. It was founded by Greek traders of Miletus and called as Trapezus. It was an important trading center as a Greek colony. Later Mithridates, the ruler of Pontus set up the Pontus Kingdom which included Trabzon, too. But when Romans annexed the Kingdom of Pontus, Trabzon started to be ruled by the Romans and became even a more important location for trading. New roads and connections were built to improve the commerce. Unfortunately the Goths looted the city in 258 and the city could not recover in the proper sense until the 8th century. Located on the historical Silk Road, Trabzon was the main source of transshipping Byzantine silks into eastern Muslim countries while the caravans from Persia were passing through the Trabzon to sell their goods to Europe. In the 15th century, Mehmed II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, conquered the city (1461) and sent Turkish settlers into the area as the old ethnic Armenian, Greek and Laz communities remained. Trabzon was initially a sanjak (region) then became an eyalet (county) and finally a vilayet (province) in 1868.
During the World War I, Trabzon was captured by Russians but by the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, it was again a part of Turkey. Trabzon has developed its economic and commercial life and is still a busy trading centre.
[edit]
Located on the Black Sea coast of northeastern Turkey, Trabzon has borders with the provinces of Rize, Giresun and Gümüşhane. Trabzon city has 17 subprovinces and 9 of these (Besikdüzü, Vakfikebir, Çarsibasi, Akçaabat, Yomra, Arsin, Arakli, Sürmene and Of) are located on the 114 km coast line.
[edit] Weather
Located on the Black Sea coast and surrounded towards south by steep mountains running parallel to the coast, Trabzon has a typical Black Sea climate with lots of rain all year round. It's a mild climate where day and night temperature difference is not so high. March and May are the rainiest months and it rarely snows in Trabzon. During the winter, the lowest average minimum temperature is around 5°C in January. Summers are warm and humid with the average maximum temperature around 28°C in July and August.
(°F)
(52)
(51)
(54)
(61)
(66)
(74)
(79)
(80)
(75)
(68)
(61)
(55)
(°F)
(40)
(39)
(42)
(48)
(55)
(62)
(68)
(68)
(62)
(56)
(49)
(43)
(inches)
(3.0)
(2.6)
(2.3)
(2.3)
(2.1)
(2.1)
(1.5)
(2.0)
(2.9)
(4.7)
(3.8)
(3.4)
[edit] Getting there
Trabzon is a beautiful historical city which attracts lots of tourists. Therefore several airlines have taken the task in providing frequent and cheap flights to Trabzon, Turkey. These airlines include Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Lufthansa Airlines, Onur Air, and Kibris Turk Hava Yollari.
[edit] By plane
The major airport in this city is the Trabzon Airport (TZX).
You can leave the airport to their various destinations in the city by bus, car or taxi.
[edit] By train
Turkish State Railways, TCDD [1] is working on a fast train line project for Trabzon. No train lines available at the moment.
[edit] By car
Turkish State General Directorate of Highways [2] updates the road information on its website.
[edit] By bus
There so many bus companies from most of the cities in Turkey, have services via Trabzon.
[edit] By boat
There are some private tour companies offering boat rides through Black Sea Coast, including Trabzon. Also ferries from Sochi on Russian Black Sea coast are running twice a week.
[edit] Getting around
[edit] By car
You can take a cab or rent a car to drive in Trabzon.
[edit] By public transport
Municipality of Trabzon [3] has bus services running all around the city for a very reasonable price like 0.90 Turkish lira.
[edit] By foot
[edit] By bike
It's hard to cycle because of the geographical conditions, especially the hills in the area.
[edit] See
Trabzon Museum a great place for art lovers especially with its artistic designs and craft works. Located in the city center, it hosts an impressive collection of monuments from the history.
Trabzon Ayasofya Church (Turkish: Ayasofya Müzesi), is a monastery church, constructed between 1238 - 1263 at the time of the King Manuel of the Trabzon Kommenos Empire. When Trabzon was conquered by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the building was first converted into a mosque and then eventually into a museum.
Atatürk Köşkü is the villa museum where Atatürk had stayed when he visited Trabzon in 1924.
Trabzon Castle can not be visited because it's in the military zone.
Within Trabzon Province, there are the famous touristic attractions Sümela Monastery and Uzungöl. The monastery was founded in the fourth century by Athenian monks, Barnabas and Sophroniusis and built on the side of a very steep mountain overlooking the forests below. If you like nature you would appreciate the beautiful scenery Uzungöl offers.
[edit] Do
There are so many interesting things to do in Trabzon because it is one of the remarkable cities in Turkey with its history, culture, plateaus, nature, traditional handcrafts, delicious dishes, jokes, folk dances and many other beauties.
Watch & listen to Horon and Kemençe which has a special place in Anatolian folk dances, reflecting the enthusiasm, dynamism, and excitement of Trabzon people with its rhythm and figures. You can even try to dance "horon" which is performed by men, women, young and elderly people in festivities, local weddings and harvest times.
If you like to be in the nature, visit Boztepe Park which is located on the hills above Trabzon. Many visitors enjoy standing on the hills because of the wonderful view. There's a nice tea garden inside the park where you can relax and drink non-alcoholic beverages.
Located on the ancient narrow streets Bazaar District in Trabzon, offers interesting shops.
[edit] Events and Festivals
International Sümela Arts and Culture Festival is organized July in Maçka, Trabzon. (Phone# +90-462-512 1006)
International Akçaabat Music and Folk Dance Festival is organized in July in Akçaabat, Trabzon. (Phone# +90-462-227 1300)
Sürmene Mountain & Sea (Zarha-Madur) Festival is also organized in July. (Phone#+90-462-752 2018 & +90-462-752 2002)
[edit] Eat
Hamsi (Anchovy) is the traditional fish of this region which has a world wide fame. There has been lyric poems and a book called 'Hamsiname' written for the love of hamsi. Other local dishes of this cuisine are Karadeniz pidesi which is a canoe shaped bread, often with ground beef, cheese, eggs, kara lahana çorbası bean and cabbage soup, tava mısır ekmek a deep-dish corn bread, Akçaabat köfte which is a spicy lamb meatball from the Akcaabat district and the famous kuymak that's cooked in butter and cheese. You should also try the famous hazelnuts of Trabzon.
[edit] Drink
Traditonal Turkish yogurt based drink Ayran is highly recommended with Akçaabat koftesi and corn bread.
[edit] Sleep
[edit] Budget
Horon Hotel [4] is a 3* hotel, located in the city center of Trabzon. It's approximately 15 minutes drive away from the Airport and 10 minutes from the Bus Terminal. It faces both the North Boztepe and South BlackSea landscapes offering a nice view to its guests.
[edit] Mid-Range
Usta Park Hotel [5] is located at the city center and offering easy access to all the pleasures of downtown.
[edit] Upscale
Zorlu Grand Hotel [6] is the only 5-star hotel in Trabzon is 4 km to the Trabzon Airport, 10 minutes to the World Trade Center, and 50 meters to central Trabzon which is the point of departure of all transportation vehicles.
[edit] Work
You need a valid work permit by Turkish State.
[edit] Learn
Karadeniz Technical University [7] has departments of Computer Engineering, Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Forest Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geodesy and Photogrammetry Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, English Language and Literature, Deck, International Affairs, Public Administration, Faculty of Medicine, Tourism and Hotel Management. It also offers summer schools, language courses and career planning programmes.
[edit] Keep connected
[edit] Internet
TTNET, Smile, Smart or Biri ADSL services are available.
[edit] Phone
Phone code for Trabzon is +90 (462)
[edit] Post
National Post Office PTT [8] has branches in Trabzon province.
[edit] Safety
Trabzon is a safe city in general. Municipality of Trabzon [9] has security cameras from several locations in the city. Trabzon Police Department [10] can be reached at +90-462-230 1985.
[edit] Stay Healthy
Trabzon Fatih Devlet Hastanesi (State Hospital) [11] is located in İnönü Mahallesi, Trabzonspor Bulvarı in the city center and the phone number is +90-462-230 2285.
Özel Karadeniz Hastanesi (Private hospital) [12] can be reached at +90-462-229 7070.
Numune Eğitim Ve Araştırma Hastanesi (State Hospital) [13]
[edit] Books
[edit] External links
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