Trabzon and Uzungöl: a guide to Turkey's green Black Sea coast

Turkey's eastern Black Sea region is green all year, with misty mountains, wooden villages and cool summers. Trabzon is the main city and the base for the famous lake of Uzungöl and the plateaus around it — a favourite summer escape for families from the Middle East.

Places not to miss

• Uzungöl — a lake in a forested valley with a mosque on its shore, about two hours from Trabzon
• Sümela Monastery — built into a cliff face in the Maçka valley
• Ayder plateau in Rize — waterfalls, hot springs and wooden chalets
• Rize's tea gardens covering the hillsides
• Boztepe viewpoint above Trabzon for tea with a view over the city and the sea

How to plan the trip

• Fly to Trabzon Airport (TZX), close to the city. From Iraq, most travellers connect through Istanbul.
• Renting a car gives the most freedom between the lakes and plateaus; mountain roads are slow, so plan short daily distances.
• Organised day tours from Trabzon to Uzungöl and Ayder are an easy alternative.
• Stay a few nights in Trabzon and one or two in Uzungöl or Ayder to enjoy the quiet evenings.

When to go

June to September is the main season, with mild temperatures while the rest of the region is hot. Rain is common all year, so pack a light rain jacket and comfortable shoes.