Georgia and Turkey – two amazing countries, rich in history, culture, and nature. A journey from Batumi to Trabzon is a unique opportunity to see the most beautiful places located on the border of these two countries. I set off to explore Trabzon for three days, as I had already explored Batumi inside and out. Since there are not many interesting articles about this place on the internet, I will try to fix that. I hope you will enjoy it. Share in the comments if it was helpful, share it with friends, or just write to me. It would make me happy.
Where Is Trabzon?
Trabzon is located in Turkey, on the Black Sea coast, in the northeast of the country.
How to Get from Batumi to Trabzon?
There are several ways to get from Batumi to Trabzon:
- By bus;
- By taxi and then by bus on the Turkish side;
- By car;
- By plane.
By Bus
If you want to go directly from Batumi to Trabzon, the best way is to use the company – Metro M. Visit the website of the company, choose where you want to go on your journey, day and just buy a ticket. The bus runs daily but always check the schedule. The carrier also operates in the opposite direction: from Trabzon to Batumi.
Taxi to the Border, Bus to Trabzon
I took a more savvy approach. I called a taxi from home to the Sarpi Border Crossing Terminal bus stop (on the map). I walked across the border and asked for a bus to Trabzon on the Turkish side. There are still many Georgians on the Turkish side who can quickly help you get on the right bus. You can pay in Georgian lari (20 lari) or Turkish lira (130 lira). The main carrier from the Turkish border to different destinations is Ali Osman ULUSOY.
By Car
The easiest and most convenient way to get from Batumi to Trabzon is by your own car. You just pack your clothes and go. It takes 20-30 min to get to the border, if it is not a busy day, you will pass the border very fast. And after you will enjoy the road to Trabzon, It goes near the coastline, and on a sunny day, the views are amazing. You can make some stops, try local food and enjoy the seaside.
By Plane
You can get from Batumi to Trabzon by plane. But, to tell the truth, it is not the best or easiest or cheapest way to go there.
Rent a Car in Trabzon
The best way to get around and explore Turkey is by car. We rented from Rent Go Trabzon. We didn’t try other services, but this one seemed trustworthy. The office is located in the city center, and the deposit is small ($50), which was quickly returned to the card. We also had no problems with the car.
What to Visit in Trabzon?
The best things to visit in Trabzon and Trabzon area:
- Uzungol (Caykara)
- Rize Tea Plantations
- Ayder – Turkish Switzerland (Ayder)
- Sümela Monastery
- Sera Lake
- Trabzon Forum
Uzungol (Caykara)
I headed straight to Lake Uzungol as my first stop. It takes about 1.5 hours by car from Trabzon. The scenery along the road is so captivating that it’s impossible to look away – the rocks, mountains, and rivers are all stunningly beautiful. Upon arrival, you can take a leisurely walk around the lake and enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee in one of the local cafes. However, I highly recommend venturing higher up to truly experience the breathtaking views. At the top, you’ll find some cafes that offer an incredible view of the lake and mosque. Not only can you enjoy the scenery, but you can also indulge in a meal or order a Turkish breakfast. Although the prices are a bit higher than in the city, the view alone makes it all worthwhile.
📍 Uzungöl, 61940 Çaykara/Trabzon, Türkiye
🗺️ https://goo.gl/maps/HKZuGSk75qSFzQtj9
🍔 Cafes with a view – Galo Omad, Kom Cafe
Rize Tea Plantations
The next day we went to the tea plantations in the Rize region, which is located in the northeast of Turkey. Here, among the picturesque hills and mountains, there are endless fields of tea, where many locals work. The destination was the place – Çeçeva Durak Kafe. But on the way, we saw enough of the endless tea plantations and the higher we climbed, the steeper the views opened up.
📍 Haremtepe Köyü Yolu, 53260 Haremtepe/Çayeli/Rize, Türkiye
🗺️ https://goo.gl/maps/us7Y7u9TcLqVmmtSA
🍔 Cafe with a view – Çayluk Kafe, Kenan Amcanın çay bahçesi, Çeçeva Durak Kafe, Çeçeva konak kafe ve restoran.
Ayder – Turkish Switzerland (Ayder)
Ayder, a charming mountain village in the northeast of Turkey, allures visitors with its pristine beauty and refreshing air. The village is nestled amidst lush forests, cascading mountain streams, and cascading waterfalls, imbuing the surroundings with a captivating ambiance. Ayder is renowned for its therapeutic hot springs, boasting numerous beneficial properties. Tourists can relish a leisurely stroll, hike, or mountain climb in the area while sipping on freshly brewed tea at the café. During the winter months, Ayder transforms into a cozy mountain resort with a plethora of trails and ski slopes to explore. This breathtakingly beautiful and well-preserved area of Turkey is an idyllic haven for those seeking seclusion, serenity, and stunning vistas.
The road to Ayder is perfect and there is 4G internet along the way. Turning from the highway to the road that leads to Ayder is necessary for the city of Ardeşen. (The first time we turned in the wrong place, and stopped at no one knows where).
📍 Ayder Yaylası Yolu, 53780 Güroluk/Çamlıhemşin/Rize, Türkiye
🗺️ https://goo.gl/maps/1jh8iD3F7S8pgy9R9
Ayder Thermal Hotels
- Ridos Thermal Hotel Spa , адрес: Ilıca köyü, İkizdere
- Ayder Yaylacı Otel
- Ayder Altıparmak Otel
- Ayder Koru Otel
- Çağlayan Otel
- Hotel Kervansaray
The price of a double room in hotels ranges from 80-120 tur.lira (60-90$).
Sümela Monastery
This is a historical monastery in northern Turkey, carved into the rock. It was founded in the 4th century and attracts tourists from all over the world with its beauty and historical value. This place is a real pearl of Turkey and will not leave indifferent even the most demanding travelers. But, if you are not very interested in history, then you can walk at a leisurely pace through the park, which is very beautiful.
Entrance to the park (Altindere Valley National Park) costs about 500 lira per person (around 25 USD). You can only pay in cash. We only had dollars, but we were lucky because the guard agreed to change them.
Upon arrival, you must park your car. If you don’t want to walk (30 minutes uphill), then you can buy a ticket for a minibus (30 lire), wait until it is ready, and drive to the monastery in 7 minutes.
touristjourney.com
A cool view opens from the other end of the monastery when you stand and look at this whole structure in the rock. All in all, I recommend visiting.
📍 Sümela Monastery
🗺️ https://goo.gl/maps/fJB6h5YCLWdRBC3d6
Sera Lake
Sera Lake is a beautiful lake surrounded by majestic mountains and forests. Here you can enjoy scenic walks, fishing, catamaran and kayak rides, as well as panoramic views of the surrounding nature. It is located not far from the city, so you can just go there for breakfast, enjoy the views, and then go on a trip away.
📍 Demirtaş, Yahya Aydın Sk. No:5, 61310 Yıldızlı/Akçaabat/Trabzon, Türkiye
🗺️ https://goo.gl/maps/QUfhPrj1rxhnCWyD8
🍔 Sera Lake Resort Hotel
Trabzon Forum
If you are traveling from Batumi to Trabzon, then you should definitely go shopping in a large shopping center – Trabzon Forum. There you will find many shops, cafes, restaurants and entertainment for the whole family. Among them you can find such popular brands as Mango, LC Waikiki, Adidas, Nike, Puma, Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Calvin Klein and many others. Zara and H&M are out. Also, if you want to bring souvenirs, there are many local shops in the mall: Grand Bazaar, Hamamcioglu Baklava, Hacı Dayı Lokumları and 1881 Turkish Delight. Here you can find traditional clothes, shoes, carpets, souvenirs, decorative items.
avrupakent.com
📍 Forum Trabzon Shopping Center
🗺️ https://goo.gl/maps/UYXDy2XP5i1WKMLdA
Where To Eat in Trabzon
- KIBRIS Kebap & Restaurant
- Cemilusta
- Berweuli Ala Carte Cafe Restaurant
- Grab some coffee at The Middle Coffee Meydanpark
Travel plan
This trip plan is suitable for those who travel by car from Batumi. If you want to rent a car, contact Rent Go, they may have offices in the cities closest to the border.
Day 1:
- Trip from Batumi to Uzungol (about 4 hours)
- Visit Uzungol and surroundings
- Transfer to Rize (about 2.5 hours)
- Visit the tea plantations of Rize
- Transfer to Ayder (about 1.5 hours)
- Stop at one of the Ayder thermal hotels
Day 2:
- Visiting Ayder thermal hotels
- Transfer to Sümela Monastery (about 2.5 hours)
- Visit Sumela Monastery
- Transfer to Sera Lake (about 1.5 hours)
- Stop at Sera Lake for a walk and photos
Day 3:
- Trip to Trabzon (about 1.5 hours)
- Visiting the Trabzon Forum and shopping for national goods
- Lunch at Trabzon
- Return to Batumi (about 4 hours)
This travel plan provides an opportunity to get acquainted with the most beautiful places on the border of Georgia and Turkey, including mountain lakes, historical monasteries, thermal hotels and shops with national goods.
The Bottom Line
This is probably all I wanted to share with you. For those who are tired of Batumi and want to explore something new, take a trip along the Black Sea coast of Turkey. You will undoubtedly find a lot of delicious food, a warm welcome. Leave comments, share with friends, I’ll be interested to know that the article resonates with you.
