A day-by-day 4-day Trabzon plan for Iraqi travelers: the city, Uzungöl, the Ayder plateau and Sümela Monastery, plus transport and stays via RideFly.
🔍 Book your Trabzon tripTrabzon is a summer favourite for Iraqis escaping the heat: the Black Sea, green mountains, lakes and misty highland plateaus (yayla). This 4-day plan combines the city, Uzungöl lake, the Ayder plateau and Sümela Monastery, with tips on getting around, where to stay and booking your trip via RideFly.
Spend day one in Trabzon itself (Meydan Square, Trabzon's Hagia Sophia and Boztepe Hill), day two at Uzungöl lake, day three on the Ayder plateau and in the Fırtına Valley via Rize's tea gardens, and day four at Sümela Monastery before shopping and flying home. The easiest way around is a car with a driver or organised day trips, and the best season runs from late spring to early autumn.
Trabzon Airport is close to the city centre, so you can start sightseeing on arrival day. Begin at Meydan Square and stroll the pedestrian Uzun Sokak with its shops and cafés, then take a taxi west to Trabzon's Hagia Sophia near the sea, an old Byzantine church that now serves as a mosque. Before sunset, head up Boztepe Hill for tea with a view over the city and the Black Sea. Pack a light jacket: coastal weather is changeable and rain is possible even in summer.
Uzungöl is around 1.5–2 hours from Trabzon by road, east along the coast and then up a green mountain valley. Walk the path around the lake past the mosque at the water's edge, then go up to the viewpoints and plateaus above the village to see the lake from above. Set off early, as it gets crowded in peak summer, and consider staying a night if you want the lake's quiet mornings.
This is the longest day on the road, so leave early and head east along the coast past Rize and the tea plantations on its hillsides. Then turn into the Fırtına Valley with its fast river and old stone bridges, and climb to the Ayder plateau with its wooden houses, waterfall and meadows; Zilkale castle higher up the valley can be added if time allows. The highlands are cooler than the coast and the weather changes quickly, so bring warm layers and a rain jacket.
Sümela Monastery clings to a cliff above the forests of the Altındere Valley in Maçka, roughly an hour from Trabzon by road. Reaching it involves a steep walk from the car park, so wear comfortable shoes, and check before you go that it is open to visitors, as it has closed for restoration in the past. Back in town, use the rest of the day for shopping, with hazelnuts, tea and local honey the classic buys, then head to the nearby airport. If your flight home is early, visit Sümela on arrival day instead and keep the last morning for the city.
For families, a car with a driver or organised day trips is easiest, because distances between sights are long and the roads are mountainous; ask in advance which stops a tour includes. If you drive yourself, watch for fog and sharp bends on highland roads, and if you want to save, minibuses (dolmuş) run from Trabzon to some destinations such as Uzungöl. Splitting your stay between the city and Uzungöl cuts hours in the car for children. Demand peaks in high summer and during holidays, so book early and check live prices on RideFly.
You can fly to Trabzon from Baghdad, Erbil and Najaf, direct when seasonal flights run or otherwise with a stop in Istanbul, so compare options and live prices on RideFly and book your hotel in the same place. Where to stay: the city centre around Meydan Square is best for the airport, restaurants and shopping; Uzungöl suits those who want a night by the lake; and Ayder's wooden lodges are for mountain lovers. Before you travel, check the current visa conditions on the Turkey visa page.
From late spring to early autumn, when the weather is mild and the plateaus are easy to reach. Summer is the busiest season, and rain is possible at any time on the Black Sea coast.
Four days cover the city, Uzungöl, Ayder and Sümela. Add a day or two to stay overnight in the highlands or to travel at a slower pace without long drives every day.
The city centre near Meydan Square for easy access to the airport and services, plus a night in Uzungöl or Ayder if you love nature.
The airport is close to the city centre and reachable by taxi or a hotel transfer. Between sights, a car with a driver or a day tour works best, as public transport in the mountain areas is limited.
