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Best Food in Trabzon (2026)
Begin your culinary tour with the legendary Akçaabat köfte, a spiced minced meat patty that is a regional icon. Head to Köşk Köfte Salonu at Cumhuriyet Cad. No: 12, Ak… 🍽️ Start with Akçaabat Köfte
Begin your culinary tour with the legendary Akçaabat köfte, a spiced minced meat patty that is a regional icon. Head to Köşk Köfte Salonu at Cumhuriyet Cad. No: 12, Akçaabat, about 30 minutes west of Trabzon center, where a generous portion costs around 150 TL. Pair it with piyaz (white bean salad) and ayran for the full experience.
🥟 Try the Iconic Kuymak
Kuymak, a creamy cornmeal and cheese dish, is a must-try comfort food. For an authentic version, visit Tarihi Kalkanoğlu Pilavcısı at Gazipaşa Cad. No: 10, Ortahisar, where it's served bubbling hot for about 120 TL. The dish is best enjoyed with a spoon and fresh bread to scoop up every bit.
🍢 Street Food at Ortahisar
Wander the streets around Ortahisar district for the best street food, especially the famous hamsi (anchovy) sandwiches during winter. Look for stalls near the Atatürk Pavilion, where a fresh hamsi sandwich costs around 80 TL. Also try the local roasted corn and chestnuts sold by vendors along the main promenade.
🍰 Sweet Endings with Künefe
For dessert, head to Künefeci Ahmet Usta at Uzun Sokak No: 5, near the central bazaar, where the crispy cheese-filled pastry is made to order. A single portion costs about 100 TL and is best paired with strong Turkish tea. The shop stays open until 11 PM, perfect for an evening treat.
☕ Coffee and Tea Culture
Take a break at Tarihi Kahveci at Kahramanmaraş Cad. No: 3, a historic coffeehouse serving traditional Turkish coffee for 60 TL. For tea, join locals at the Çay Bahçesi in the Boztepe neighborhood, offering panoramic views of the Black Sea. Both spots are ideal for people-watching and soaking in the local vibe.
🐟 Seafood by the Black Sea
Fresh fish is a highlight, and the best place is the Balıkçılar Çarşısı (Fish Market) near the port, where you can pick your catch and have it grilled at nearby restaurants. Expect to pay around 300 TL per person for a full meal with meze. Try the hamsi (anchovy) or levrek (sea bass) when in season.
💵 Budget and Price Tips
Most meals at casual lokantas (eateries) cost between 100 and 200 TL, while upscale restaurants may charge 400 TL or more. Street food is your best budget option, with items like simit and döner starting at 50 TL. Carry cash, as many small stalls and tea gardens do not accept credit cards.
🗺️ Where to Find Everything
The central neighborhoods of Ortahisar and Çarşıbaşı are the heart of Trabzon's food scene, with most restaurants and stalls within walking distance of the main square. For a more local experience, take a dolmuş (shared minibus) to Akçaabat or Vakfıkebir for regional specialties. Use the Trabzon city bus system, which runs until midnight, to hop between food spots.
solid list, the kalkanoğlu pick is spot on for kuymak, that place has been doing it forever. if u got time tho, skip the tourist hamsi sandwich near atatürk pavilion and head to the fish market at sunrise, the boats come in around 6am and the little stalls right there will fry up whatever they just caught, costs like half the guide price and tastes ten times better. also for tea, boztepe is nice but the real move is the çay bahçesi up near the fatih mosque, less crowded, same view, and the old guys there will happily chat about the weather for hours. and dont sleep on the akçaabat köfte from the tiny shops further down the main road past köşk, they all have their own spice blend and honestly some of them are better.
i'll back the kalkanoğlu pick too, that kuymak is the real deal. but honestly, the best meal i had in trabzon wasn't in a restaurant, it was the balık ekmek from a tiny cart right by the ferry terminal around dusk, they grill the anchovies right there and slap them on bread with some onion and sumac, think it set me back like 60 tl and i still dream about it. also, if u're going to akçaabat for köfte, do urself a favor and walk past the main strip to the side streets, there's a family-run spot called yalıköy sofrası, no sign in english, they do a köfte with a hint of cinnamon that's totally different from the tourist spots, and the guy running it will probably offer u a free tea and tell u about his uncle's fishing boat. one more thing, skip the patisserie ice cream and look for the old man with the copper cart near the bazaar who sells dondurma made from black mulberries, it's thicker and tangier and he's been doing it for like 40 years.
The guide is solid, especially the Köşk Köfte pick, that place is a classic. One thing I'd add is to skip the tourist spots near the main square and instead grab a table at a lokanta in the Çarşıbaşı backstreets for lunch, you'll get the same kuymak or a simple bean stew for half the price and it's where the shopkeepers actually eat. Also, if you're there in summer, don't miss the muhlama from a roadside stand on the way to Sümela, it's a bit more rustic than the restaurant versions but the cheese pull is unreal. For a sweet finish beyond künefe, try the local black mulberry ice cream from a patisserie on Uzun Sokak, it's a Trabzon specialty you won't find elsewhere.
3 Days in Trabzon: Itinerary 2026
Start your trip in the historic center around Meydan Park and the Ortahisar neighborhood. Visit the Trabzon Castle ruins and the 13th-century Hagia Sophia (now a mosque), whic… 🗺️ Day One: Old Town
Start your trip in the historic center around Meydan Park and the Ortahisar neighborhood. Visit the Trabzon Castle ruins and the 13th-century Hagia Sophia (now a mosque), which is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00 and costs 60 TRY. For lunch, head to Tarihi Kalkanoğlu Pilavcısı (Taksim Cad. No: 8) for their famous pilav with butter, a local staple since 1856. In the afternoon, wander through the bazaar streets near Gülbahar Hatun Mosque, where you can shop for silver and traditional textiles.
🚌 Getting Around
Trabzon's public buses (Trabzon Büyükşehir Belediyesi) cover most areas, with single rides costing around 15 TRY, but you'll need a Kentkart card (available at kiosks near Meydan). Taxis are plentiful and metered, with a base fare of 40 TRY plus 25 TRY per kilometer; always confirm the meter is on. For day trips to surrounding villages, minibuses (dolmuş) leave from the main otogar, with fares ranging from 30 to 80 TRY depending on distance.
🏞️ Day Two: Uzungöl
Dedicate your second day to the iconic Uzungöl lake, about 99 kilometers southeast of Trabzon city, a 2-hour drive by car or dolmuş (round-trip minibus costs around 150 TRY per person). Arrive by 9:00 to enjoy the calm morning reflections before the crowds. Walk the lakeside promenade, then hike up to the Seyir Tepesi viewpoint (entrance 50 TRY) for panoramic photos. For lunch, try the fresh trout at one of the lakeside restaurants, such as Uzungöl Restaurant, where a full meal costs 300 to 500 TRY.
🏰 Day Three: Sumela
On your final day, visit the cliff-hanging Sumela Monastery, located 47 kilometers south of Trabzon in the Altındere Valley National Park. The monastery is open from 8:00 to 19:00 in summer, with an entrance fee of 350 TRY, and you'll need to walk about 1.5 kilometers uphill from the car park (or take a shuttle for 50 TRY). Combine this with a stop at the nearby Karaca Cave (open 9:00 to 18:00, 100 TRY), known for its colorful stalactites. Return to Trabzon by late afternoon, allowing 1.5 hours for the drive back.
🍽️ Where to Eat
Beyond the tourist spots, try local favorites like Akçaabat köfte at Köşk Restaurant in Akçaabat (about 20 minutes west of the city), where a portion costs 250 TRY. For a sweet treat, visit the historic Tarihi Çarşı'da Şekerci (Sümer Sokak No: 5) for their famous kuymak and helva. Don't miss the chance to taste hamsi (anchovies) during the winter months, served grilled or in a pilaf at seaside restaurants along the Black Sea coast.
🌆 Evening Strolls
Evenings in Trabzon are best spent along the coastal promenade at Atatürk Alanı, where locals gather to watch the sunset over the Black Sea. For a livelier scene, head to the cafes and tea gardens around Meydan Park, where a glass of Turkish tea costs about 20 TRY. If you're up for a short drive, the Boztepe hill offers a panoramic view of the city and the sea, with a cable car (teleferik) running from 10:00 to 22:00, costing 60 TRY round-trip.
💡 Practical Tips
Book your accommodation in advance, especially in summer, as Trabzon fills up quickly with domestic tourists; expect to pay 1,500 to 3,000 TRY per night for a mid-range hotel. Carry cash, as many small shops and tea gardens don't accept credit cards. The weather can change rapidly, so pack a light rain jacket even in summer, and wear sturdy shoes for the monastery and cave visits.
the guide nailed the big spots but honestly u should skip the cable car to boztepe and just take a dolmuş or taxi up, it's like 10 mins and way cheaper, the view from the top at sunset is unreal. also if ur there on a friday night check out the fish market near the port, not the fancy restaurants but the little stands where locals eat hamsi fresh off the boats, u'll pay half of what the lakeside places charge and it's way more fun. for sumela, go as early as u can, like 8am, because the shuttle queue gets stupid long by 10 and u lose an hour just waiting. and bring cash for the tea gardens around meydan, half of them don't even have card machines, 20 lira for tea is fine but they'll charge u extra if u ask for a receipt lol.
yeah this guide is pretty spot on, but if you've got a spare morning, skip the city and take the dolmuş up to Sera Lake instead. it's only about 20 minutes from town, and the walk around the lake with the mountains behind it is way more chill than the chaos of Uzungöl, plus you can grab fresh gözleme from the little stalls near the entrance. also, for the hagia sophia, try to hit it right when it opens, the light through the windows is gorgeous and you'll have the place almost to yourself before the
solid guide, the pilav spot is legit but go for the chicken version not the plain butter one, it's what the locals actually order. also u mentioned akçaabat köfte but the real move is eating it at the tiny places along the coast road in akçaabat itself, not the big touristy köşk, look for the ones with plastic chairs outside, they're grilling right there and it's like 150 lira for a portion with bread and salad. for sumela, if u're not into the 1.5km walk, the shuttle is worth it but the walk is actually kinda nice through the forest, just bring water because there's no stalls until the top. one thing the guide missed: the trabzon museum in the old kostaki mansion is small but has some cool byzantine stuff and it's like 50 lira, good for a rainy hour. and honestly skip karaca cave if ur tight on time, it's cool but the drive from sumela adds like an hour each way and the stalactites look the same as any cave after a while. stick around for the evening call to prayer from the hagia sophia minaret, even if ur not religious it's a vibe with the sea behind it.