Trabzon

Atatürk Pavilion

Atatürk Köşkü

The summer home of banker Konstantin Kabayanidis, built late 19th century. He left during the post-war population exchanges and from 1924 Atatürk stayed here on several occasions. It's been furnished to period with his memorabilia.

Daily 09:00-19:00

Bazaar Mosque

Çarşı Camii

This late Baroque mosque was built in 1839 by governor Hazinedarzade Osman Paşa in the midst of the market quarter. It's the oldest surviving mosque in the city.

City Museum

This exhibits city history from its Ancient Greek foundation to Ottoman times, plus local natural history and ethnography. Signage is only in Turkish.

Tue-Sun 09:00-19:00·Adult 50 TL

Erdoğdu Bey Mosque

Built in its present form in 1577, this is no longer in use, replaced by a larger modern mosque adjacent.

Fatih Mosque

Panagia Khrysokephalos

The "Golden domed church of All Saints" was built in the 10th or 11th century on much earlier foundations - until the 4th century AD it was the scene of Mithras worship.In the Middle ages it was the city cathedral, and hosted coronations for the Emperors of Trebizond. It was converted to a mosque when the Ottomans took over in 1461. Restoration in 2017/18 uncovered more original features, and a raised glass platform enables you to see the fine late-Roman mosaic floor.

Girls Monastery

Kızlar Manastırı

The only nunnery in the city was built in the 1360s around one of the holy cave springs at Boztepe. The rock church has frescoes depicting Alexios III, his wife Theodora and his mother Irene (the likely benefactor of the monastery). It closed in 1922 when the Orthodox population were deported. It was restored in 2021.

Mon 12:00-19:00, Tue-Fri 09:00-19:00

Gulbahar Hatun Mosque

Founded in 1514 by Selim, then governor and later Sultan, in honour of his mother. Gulbahar Hatun (1453-1505) was originally a slave girl and became the concubine of Bayezid II; her tomb is here. The mosque was repaired in 1883.

Hagia Sophia

The city's top sight, a Byzantine church built in the 1250s, with beautiful frescoes, arches and friezes. It became a mosque in 2013 whereupon pre-Islamic features were covered up, but most of these were uncovered in 2020. The free-standing bell tower was added in 1427; nothing remains of the monastery.

24 hr·Free

History Museum

Ortahisar Tarih Müzesi

Restored mansion with photographs, documents and artefacts describing the city in the Ottoman and Republican periods. Signage is only in Turkish.

Daily 09:00-17:00·Free

Hüsnü Köktuğ Mosque

Used as a mosque since 1953, and some believe it used to be St Elefterios Church, built by the Genoese in the 15th century. However it doesn't look it, and more likely that church was closer to the port and long ago demolished. However Hüsnü Köktuğ has a strong claim to be the city's ugliest mosque, with its jarring modern facade. In 2025 it's closed for reconstruction.

Closed

Kalepark Fortress

This was rebuilt by the Genoese when they took over in 1306. They called it "beautiful castle", Leonkastron or in Turkish Güzelhisar, which you wouldn't guess from its shambles of a ruin.

Kaymaklı Monastery

Monastery of the All-Saviour, Ամենափրկիչ Վանք

The Armenian Monastery of the All-Saviour is on a hill southeast of town. Its foundation date was maybe 1424 AD, over an earlier Greek church. Armenians who had survived the modern massacres left after 1923 and the place fell derelict - the walls and bell tower have gone. The church contains frescoes and has been re-roofed but you're unlikely to find it open.

Kudrettin Mosque

St Philip Church

Built as St Philip Church in 1302 and extended into a cathedral in 1461. It was converted into a mosque circa 1665. In 1968 this was rebuilt, so what you see now is retro-Ottoman.

Kuştul Monastery

Ιερά Μονή του Αγίου Γεωργίου Περιστερεώτα

Founded in 752 AD, Saint George Peristereota Monastery is now just a few walls teetering on a crag, with cliffs and other pitfalls around: don't come in the fog and drizzle. From Esiroğlu on D885 follow the winding lane towards Şimşirli, but the final rough trail starts 2 km before the village.

Küçük Fatih Mosque

Built around the 12th / 13th century as St Akindynos Church, and converted into a mosque after the conquest of 1461. It's still in use.

Molla Siyah Mosque

Nakip Mosque

Built in the 11th-century as the Orthodox church of St Andreas or Andrew, and converted to a mosque after 1461. It's still in use.

Royal Sinema

The city's main cinema. Some films are western with Turkish subtitles.

Rubenis AVM

formerly Varlıbaş

A shopping mall with cinema just west of the walled old town.

Daily 10:00-22:00

Santa Maria Church

Santa Mariya Kilisesi

This is the only church in Trabzon that still has regular Roman Catholic masses. It was founded by Italian Capuchin monks expelled from Tbilisi in 1845, as part of a long anti-Catholic campaign by the Russian Tsars.

Science Museum

Özdemir Bayraktar Bilim Merkezi

Majoring on space and aerospace, with planetarium. M-F it may be booked out to school groups.

Tue-Fri 08:00-17:00, Sat Sun 09:00-18:00·Free

Sekiz Direkli Hamam

Eight-Column Hamam

Historic hamam to the west of the bazaar quarter. It has separate days for men and women.

Daily 07:00-00:00

St Anne's Church

Küçük Ayvası Kilise

Dinky little Greek Orthodox basilica from 6th / 7th century AD, one of the oldest buildings in the city. It fell out of use when the Greeks were deported and many frescos were painted over, but in 2021 / 22 it was all restored.

24 hours·Free

St John Exoteichos Church

Sotka Kilisesi

Former Greek Orthodox church founded in 1306 outside the city walls - exoteichos- but rebuilt in 1856 very much hemmed in by the city. It's now used as an annex to a primary school. The exterior is in good condition, no access to the interior, where the frescoes have been lost.

Sümela Monastery

A spectacular monastery hewn into a cliff. It was founded in the fourth century, with its heyday in Byzantine and early Ottoman times. It's been ruined and rebuilt several times, but fell derelict after its Greeks were deported. Many frescoes and mosaics have been vandalised, but more have been found in hidden chambers. Try to dodge the tour groups: from the parking lot you take a minibus shuttle up to the site, paying for both.

Daily 08:00-20:00·Foreigners €20 or MüzeKart

Tabakhane Mosque

Built in 1987 in retro style on the site of an earlier mosque.

Daily 09:00-17:00

Tavanli Mosque

Ottoman mosque, built in 1874 to replace a 16th century masjid but no longer in use.

Trabzon Art House

Art space and cultural centre in the former city governor's mansion.

Mon-Sat 10:00-21:00

Trabzonspor

Papara Park

They play soccer in Süper Lig, the top tier. They're Turkey's most successful team outside Istanbul and often qualify for European tournaments. As well as local support, they have big diaspora followings in Istanbul and Baku. The stadium (capacity 40,800) is named for Şenol Güneş (b 1952), former goalkeeper and manager of Trabzon and the Turkish national team. Trabzonspor women's team play at Mehmet Ali Yılmaz Stadium.

Vazelon Monastery

Founded in 270 AD as one of the first-ever Christian monasteries, now ruined and unsafe. Take the road off D885 towards Köprüyanı, then the track branching uphill from the first hairpin bend - this is only suitable for high-clearance 4WD, it's safer to hike the last 2 km.

Yenicuma Mosque

Church of Saint Eugenius

Built in the 13th century as a church dedicated to Saint Eugenius, the patron saint of the city. Eugenius was a martyr under the persecutions of Diocletian around 305 AD. His holy intercession supposedly saved the city from Turkish assault in 1224, but did nothing to halt the conquest by Mehmet in 1461. The church was thereafter converted to a mosque, which remains in use and is only open for prayer times.

Free