3-Day Trabzon Itinerary from Trabzon Airport

Short answer: Keep arrival day close to Trabzon, reserve a full day for Sümela and Hamsiköy, and use the clearest remaining day for Uzungöl. Do not place a long mountain route on departure day.

Give each day a different pace

An easy arrival day

Keep arrival day light: after the airport handover, choose two nearby stops such as Hagia Sophia Mosque, Atatürk Mansion, Boztepe or Sera Lake. A delayed flight should not turn into a rushed mountain drive.

Mountain day and lake day

Reserve the second day for Sümela and Hamsiköy, then use the clearest remaining day for Uzungöl. Check official opening hours and the mountain forecast each evening, and leave the departure day free of long-distance sightseeing.

Does arrival day count as a full day?

Use the hours left after landing, baggage and vehicle handover. Two city stops on day one, Sümela and optionally Hamsiköy on day two, then Uzungöl on day three if there is no flight is one possible sequence.

What if the flight is on day three?

Move Uzungöl earlier. Keep the last day for a short city or coastal stop, reserving separate time for fuel, vehicle return and airport procedures.

Sources: Trabzon turizm noktaları - İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü

Day 1: Trabzon city and Sera Lake

After collecting the car, choose two nearby stops such as Hagia Sophia Mosque, Atatürk Mansion, Boztepe or Sera Lake. These places do not all need to be rushed into one afternoon. At Sera Lake, the official nature-park information lists walking, picnic, parking and children’s play facilities; confirm what is operating when you arrive.

Day 2: Sümela Monastery and Hamsiköy

Start with Sümela because official visiting hours and access arrangements shape the day. Continue to Hamsiköy for a village view and rice-pudding break only after allowing for parking, shuttle or walking time at the monastery.

Day 3: Uzungöl

Leave early, walk around the lake and decide on higher viewpoints only after checking visibility and road conditions. The provincial tourism office describes Uzungöl as a landslide-dammed lake surrounded by spruce forest; upper plateau roads are a separate driving decision.

Before you drive

• Check museum hours and the mountain forecast the evening before.
• Allow for summer and weekend traffic.
• Keep fuel, child-seat and luggage needs in the reservation.
• Leave a time buffer for airport return.

Sources and freshness

Destination facts are based on the official Trabzon Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism and the regional national-parks authority. Opening hours, road access and services can change; verify them for your travel date.

Frequently asked questions about this guide

Can Uzungöl and Sümela be visited on the same day?

It is possible but usually rushed. Separate days provide more daylight and flexibility for weather and traffic.

Which day should remain flexible?

Keep the clearest mountain day flexible for Uzungöl or Sümela and use rainy periods for central Trabzon.