The ancient Greeks described the region on the Black Sea coast as a frightening and barbaric place far from the civilized world. The region became famous through the legend of Jason and the Golden Fleece. In the fourth century BC, the Black Sea coast was marked by rivalries and battles between Athens and the Persians. Remnants of Christian and especially Greek culture in the Black Sea region are the numerous Orthodox monasteries, the remains of which can be found in various cities along the coast and on mountain slopes.
For tourists, the Black Sea coast is considered an insider tip because the climate is wetter than in other regions of Turkey and fewer visitors explore the region. Nevertheless, diverse flora and fauna, deserted beaches and historical sites attract people to the region: in the town of Amasra, which lies on a peninsula, you can explore the ruins of a Byzantine castle and the Fatih Mosque. There is also a historical museum. Traditional wooden architecture can be found in the town of Bartin, west of Zonguldak. The so-called strawberry festival in spring gives visitors an insight into the local culture of the place. In the area of the small coastal town of Sile, various long sandy beaches can be visited. The Uzungöl is considered a picturesque mountain lake with fish restaurants on its banks.
Recently, the popularity of individual tourism and sustainable tourism in the mountains has been increasing. This is particularly true for the mountain ranges of the Kaçkar Mountains in the Black Sea region, which are ideal for hiking.
Amasya - The history of the first settlement of the city can be traced back to the Hittite peoples because they founded the first settlements here in the Pontic Mountains.
Abant Lake - If you pass along the Black Sea coast road near Bolu, you will reach the Lake, which is called Abant Gölü in Turkish after approx. 34 kilometres southwest of Bolu.
Bayburt - The city of Bayburt in North-eastern Anatolia can look back to a long and extremely varied history. As one of the cities on the old trade route "Silk Road", Bayburt was a prominent hub in history and thus occupiers and conquerors abounded.
Bolu is one of Turkey’s provinces. The city is one of the best starting points to do an environment excursion. Bolu was constructed as Bithynion in the 2nd century.
Because of the earthquake nothing from the past can be remembered there today.
Samsun is the largest city of the Black Sea region of Turkey, it is a city with an industry and commerce centre at the same time it possesses a saddening story. For hundreds of years this city has gone throughso much damage that when it is seen today it’s site is very plain and functional.
Sinop is a young city with a very old heritage that is losing its charm day by day. It is a city surrounded by beautiful beaches that are located on a long promontory. A suburb of Istanbul, gets into our mind.
Amasra is one of the most beautiful towns along the Black Sea coast. Poised on a peninsula split by two inlets, the site was first settled in the 12th century B.C. and named after the Persian Princess Amastris.
Trabzon (old name was Trapezunt) is a Turkish town at the south coast of Black Sea. In 2000 about 975.137 inhabitants were registered.
Ereğli - Worth mentioning and worth visiting is the area around the city port of Ereğli, west of Zonguldag, even there mainly is heavy industry with iron and steel factories which have settled there.
Gümüshane - On the way to Trabzon we stopped for a short tea break in Gümüshane, a small town of about 26,000 inhabitants.
Giresun, located in north-eastern Turkey on the Black Sea, is the capital and, with almost 90,000 inhabitants, the largest city in the Turkish province of the same name.
Rize is a town in the north-east of Turkey on the Black Sea at the foot of the Kackar Mountains, the most eastern and highest part of the Pontian Mountains. The border with Georgia is just 100 kilometres from here.
Kaçkar Dağı - In recent years, more and more nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts have found their way to Turkey, especially Black Sea region.
Kastamonu - One of the historically oldest cities in the Black Sea region is without any doubt Kastamonu, a place that is said to have existed around 1800 BC, well before the Roman occupation.
Ordu is located in northern Turkey, about 900 km from Istanbul and 600 km from Ankara, on the eastern Black Sea coast and at the same time on the edge of the Pontic Mountains.
Ordu - The centre of the town stretches along a stony beach on the shores of the Black Sea,running parallel to the highway. Ordu has a small harbour but this can be used by the larger ships too.
Pompeiopolis, sometimes also written Pompeioupolis, was an ancient city in the Paphlagonia region of Asia Minor in the north of today's Turkey.
Karabük - Shortly after the founding of the Republic of Turkey by Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk), there was a rapid development in industrial terms, which among other things led to the establishment of the first steel mill in Turkey.
Çorum - The Turkish city of Corum is located about 100 kilometers west of Amasya, a provincial capital with about 210,000 inhabitants, which belongs to the Black Sea region, although the coast is about 300 kilometers away.
Tokat - One of the most interesting Anatolian places is the provincial capital Tokat, which today has about 114,000 inhabitants. The old town on Castle Hill and the district around Hatuniye Camii reflect the decayed splendor of a long history.