İstanbul, Bolu Yedigöller, Samsun, Trabzon, Artvin

Black Sea Coastline Route

A route which never leaves the forests!

We’ll start at the Bosphorus and the northern coasts of İstanbul, and drive among the forests of Bolu.

After distancing ourselves a bit from the sea, we’ll meet it again at Samsun. From Samsun to Artvin, the Black Sea will be on our left and the endless forests spreading across the tall mountains will be on our right.

See

The Bosphorus in İstanbul
The flora encircling the lakes in Bolu
The War of Independence Museum in Samsun
Sumela Monastery in Trabzon
The streams between the green mountains of Artvin

Taste

Exquisite dishes at luxury and boutique restaurants in İstanbul
Delicious local dishes by the famous chefs of Bolu
The famous pide of Samsun
Kuymak in Trabzon, a Black Sea specialty with egg, cornmeal, and local cheese
Puçuko in Artvin, a local dish made with dried beans and meat

Smell

The famous tulips in İstanbul in the spring
The endemic plant species in the Bolu Yedilgöller area
The flowers of the Kızılırmak Delta in Samsun
The smell of the earth after the famous Black Sea rain
The endemic flora of the Kaçkar Mountains in Artvin

Touch

The continuous wind on the shores of the Bosphorus in İstanbul
The snow on the mountains of Bolu
The sand at Atakum Beach in Samsun
The famous Black Sea rain in Trabzon
The fresh air of the high-altitude plateaus in Artvin

Listen

The history of local landmarks in İstanbul
The story of Köroğlu, a local Ottoman hero, in Bolu
The story of the Turkish War of Independence which started in Samsun
The passion of Trabzonspor fans
The story of the tradition of “folk medicine” in Artvin