One of Turkey’s emerging destinations, the Black Sea region combines forests with tea plantations and walled coastal towns with architectural delights. The city of Safranbolu is a UNESCO world heritage site due to its many restored Ottoman buildings while the cities of Samsun, Amasra and Sinop offer warm traditional hospitality to their visitors.
The Sumela monastery is located close to the port city of Trabzon and is perched on a cliff face on Mount Mela, offering views of the surrounding countryside. The exterior frescoes have survived the harsh environmental conditions and are some of the best in Turkey.
Close to the border of Georgia is the town of Artvin, renowned for its tea production, which grows well in the wet climate.