• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Istanbul
  • Cappadocia
  • Mediterranean
  • Aegean
  • Black Sea
  • Other Places
Turkish Travel Blog

Turkish Travel Blog

Turkish People, Culture, History, and Places inTurkey

  • Culture and Traditions
  • Food and Drink
  • History
  • Travel Tips
  • Living in Turkey
  • About Turkey
    • About the Blog
    • Advertising
    • Contact

Trabzon City in Turkey : It’s Full of Love!

by Natalie

I spent three days in Trabzon city in Turkey and as a solo female traveller, I felt safe. It was easy to navigate and the locals were very friendly. Mention the city in other parts of Turkey, and most people will associate it with its football club, Trabzon Spor. The city has a lot more to offer though, then just being a football hub.

About Trabzon City in Turkey

Trabzon city in Turkey

Due to it’s location on the old silk road, Trabzon has been influenced by many cultures and religions. If we measure the size of the city on population, it is relatively small. The population count makes it the 30th largest city in Turkey.

The main claim to fame for Trabzon is as the birthplace of the Ottoman ruler, Suleiman the magnificent. This connection ensured that it was an important city during the long reign of the Ottoman rulers. It is also mentioned extensively in the journals of Evliya Çelebi who was a 17th century traveller.

Trabzon is  a coastal city so the cuisine is mainly based on fish dishes. Although it has moved with the times, and in the city square a Burger King restaurant was extremely busy. Eating out is relatively cheap, although alcohol is not widely served and I ended up with a black bag of Efes beer which I then had to drink in my hotel room.

The transport connections with other places in Turkey are good. There are frequent buses from all major cities but I opted for an internal flight from the west coast because the bus journey would have taken 24 hours.

My Impressions of Trabzon

As well as touring the main sites, I opted to spend time down by the sea front because that is where the locals seemed to head. Tea gardens and small restaurants specialising in fish dishes are the main theme. I was surprised by the amount of graffiti that I saw because this is not common in Turkey.

It all seemed to be declarations from the heart though and it made me wonder if Trabzon is a city riding high on the love vibe. It started when I took a walk down the main street and there seemed to be more than your average amount of wedding shops. Then couples started appearing everywhere. They were sitting, walking, talking, laughing and kissing.

Trabzon

I felt like a spare part.

The odd one out.

I was like the person who turned up to the dance without a date.

Trabzon Turkey

I walked further away from the couples and found a solitary place.

Then I started reading the graffiti.

Even wannabe artists with a spray can had not escaped the love bug.

“I love you” in Turkish is “Seni Seviyorum‘ . The words were everywhere, accompanied with the arrow of cupid and love hearts.

Seni Seviyorum

Love

Vildan and Davut are obviously a couple

Back in my hotel room, I wondered if it was my imagination. I was apart from my husband and missing him. Subconscious thoughts could have been making me focus on other couples, the graffiti and the love bug, more than I normally would. Then, I opened the window and the first thing I saw confirmed it was not my imagination. Even the local sex shop  was using the L word.

Trabzon love shop

Attractions of Trabzon

Don’t let the graffiti put you off if you plan to visit because there is lots of attractions in Trabzon. The three most popular are…

On the outskirts,  is Sumela monastery which is perched on the edge of a cliff face. Most people visit Trabzon especially to see this attraction. You can read more about that here.

Sumela monastery Trabzon

There is also a Hagia Sophia which is a lot smaller than it’s counterpart in Istanbul but it is still worth a visit. Formally a mosque and church, it is now a museum  but try to avoid the coachloads of people that often turn up because the interior is quite small. Read more.

Hagia Sophia Trabzon

Perched on a hilltop with a view over Trabzon is Ataturk’s house. Ataturk was the founder of the Turkish republic and  was given this house as a thank you. Read more

House of Ataturk in Trabzon

Day trips also run to the nearby natural beauty of Uzungol, although it is a long journey which does not leave you time to explore. If you can, opt to stay overnight instead.

Uzungol

Further Reading about Trabzon, Turkey

An Early Morning Tour of Trabzon – Kate Going Global

Where to Eat Pide in Trabzon – Turkish Muse

Black and White pictures of Trabzon – This site

[wp_geo_map]

Save

Save

Pin34
Share14
Tweet
Share
48 Shares

Filed Under: Black Sea Region

Hi. I'm Natalie, a freelance travel blogger and writer specializing in the country of Turkey. I love hot summer days, historical sites and coffee. Read More…

Primary Sidebar

istanbul tourist pass

Search This Website

Popular Posts

Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul : Last Days of the Ottoman EmpireDolmabahce Palace in Istanbul : Last Days of the Ottoman Empire49K Total Shares
The Colourful Wooden Mosque of MaralThe Colourful Wooden Mosque of Maral6K Total Shares
Santa Claus and His Life in TurkeySanta Claus and His Life in Turkey5K Total Shares
Sanliurfa (Urfa) : The City of Abraham in TurkeySanliurfa (Urfa) : The City of Abraham in Turkey4K Total Shares
The Serene House of the Virgin MaryThe Serene House of the Virgin Mary3K Total Shares
Ottoman Intrigue at Topkapi Palace in IstanbulOttoman Intrigue at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul3K Total Shares

Footer

Everything Else

  • Blog Sitemap
  • GDPR, Privacy and Cookies
  • Terms of Use and Disclaimer

Of Interest

  • About Us
  • Advertising and PR
  • Map of Turkey

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright @2023 - Turkish Travel Blog

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT