Turkey is diverse and unpredictable, and each region has its own way of life and traditions. Mediterranean resorts are not at all like the Black Sea territories, so if you love this country and want to know it to the end, then you should definitely visit the cities located on the Black Sea coast. One of them is the port of Samsun: Turkey especially appreciates the metropolis, because it has played an important role in the history of the state. You can find out all the details about this city, as well as how to get to it, in our article.
General information
Samsun is a port city located in the central-northern part of Turkey on the Black Sea coast. As of 2017, its population is more than 1.3 million people. The megapolis covers an area of 9352 square kilometers. Although the city of Samsun is located on the sea coast, tourists visit it primarily for sightseeing purposes.
The first settlements on the territory of the modern metropolis appeared in the 3500th millennium BC. e. And in the 6th century BC. e. the Ionians built a city on these lands and gave it the name Amisos. Ancient sources say that this is where the famous Amazons once lived, in honor of which a cultural festival is held annually in Samsun. After the decline of Greek civilization, the city passed into the hands of the Romans, and then the Byzantines. In the 13th century, Amisos was taken over by the Seljuks, who soon renamed it Samsun.
Today, Samsun is an important port in Turkey, stretching more than 30 km along the Black Sea coast. It is a center of tobacco production, fishing and trade. Due to its rich history, Samsun boasts many attractions for which travelers come here.
It is noteworthy that Samsun has a fairly developed tourist infrastructure, so there are plenty of accommodation options and public catering establishments. What is worth seeing here and where to stay, we will tell you in detail below.
Attractions
Among the attractions of Samsun in Turkey, there are both cultural and natural sites. And the greatest interest is caused by:
Bandirma Vapuru Muzesi Ship Museum
The floating Museum in Samsun will tell you about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who together with his associates arrived in the port city in 1919 on the steamship Bandyrma Vapuru to lead the struggle for independence of the country. The ship went through a high-quality restoration, so it is displayed in excellent condition. Inside, you can see household items, the captain’s cabin, the hall of honor, the deck and Ataturk’s bedroom. The museum also features wax figures of Mustafa Kemal and his associates. Outside, the ship is surrounded by the National Resistance Park. In general, visiting the attraction will appeal to lovers of Turkish history and will be informative for ordinary people.
- The museum is open on weekdays from 8: 30 to 17: 00.
- The entrance fee for an adult is 7 TL, for children 3 TL.
- Address: Belediye Evleri Mh., 55080 Canik/Canik/Samsun, Turkey.
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Ataturk Park and Monument
The city of Samsun in Turkey is famous as the starting point from which Ataturk began his struggle for independence of the country. Therefore, in the metropolis you can find many attractions dedicated to this political figure. Another of them is Ataturk Park, a small green place with a bronze statue of Mustafa Kemal on horseback standing majestically in the center. The height of the sculpture without a pedestal is 4.75 meters, and with it-8.85 meters. It is noteworthy that the author of the monument was an Austrian sculptor who depicted the first president of Turkey with a strong-willed face and a swift look on a rearing stallion. The monument was officially opened in 1932 by the citizens of the country, thus expressing their love and respect for the national hero.
- The attraction is open to the public at any time completely free of charge.
- Address: Samsun Belediye Parki, Samsun, Turkey.
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Amazon Theme Park
This unusual place, where you can go down from the picturesque hills of Samsun on a ski lift, is a theme park dedicated to ancient female warriors. According to historical sources, many centuries ago, settlements of famous Amazons were located near the modern territory of the city. In the center of the park there is a huge statue of a warrior with a spear and shield: its height is 12.5 meters, width-4 meters, and weight – 6 tons. It is flanked by large sculptures of Anatolian lions 24 meters long and 11 meters high. Inside the animal statues, there are expositions of wax figures of Amazons, as well as military scenes from the life of these harsh women.
- The attraction is available at any time, but to visit museums, you need to take into account the opening hours – the exhibition is open daily from 9: 00 to 18: 00.
- The entrance fee is 7 TL for adults and 3 TL for children..
- Address: Samsun Batipark Amazon Adasi, Samsun, Turkey.
Sahinkaya Canyon
When viewing photos of Samsun in Turkey, you can often find pictures with breathtaking landscapes of mountains bordered at the foot by lake waters. This unique natural attraction is often visited as part of a Samsun sightseeing tour, but the canyon itself is located 100 km west of the metropolis. You can go on a trip through the gorge on board a boat, which is not difficult to find near the Sahinkaya Canyon itself. On the shores of the lake there are several cozy restaurants serving national and fish dishes.
- In general, you can buy a ticket for three types of boats from the attraction: a trip on the most budget will cost 40 TL, on the most expensive-100 TL.
- Boats depart daily from 10: 00 to 18: 00.
- Расположение: Çeltek, 55900 Vezirköprü/Samsun, Turkey.
Samsun Port
The city and port of Samsun in Turkey is located between the deltas of the Yeshilyrmak and Kyzylyrmak rivers, which flow into the Black Sea. Samsun Port is the largest port in Turkey in the Black Sea region. It is the only port on the Black Sea with a railway connection. It has a large rear area. This is the main destination for cargo departing from and heading to the Anatolian region. It mainly specializes in the export of tobacco and wool products, as well as agricultural products. The goods imported into the city are mostly refined petroleum products and industrial equipment. In total, the port handles more than 1.3 million tons of cargo annually, with a capacity of 11 million tons.
It is useful to know that the port of Samsun in Turkey has its own website — www.samsunport.com.tr/.
Vacation in Samsun
Although the port of Samsun is rarely ranked among the resort cities with an abundance of housing for every taste, there are many hotels of different categories in the metropolis that are ready to comfortably accommodate their guests. Mostly there are 3, 4 and 5 star hotels, but there are also a few apartments and a couple of guest houses. For example, the cost of staying in a three-star hotel in a double room in the summer months starts from $27 and varies in the range up to $55 per night. At the same time, the price of many offers includes breakfast. If you want to check into a higher star hotel, then get ready to pay $45-90 for a double room per night.
A holiday in Samsun in Turkey will delight you with a variety of cafes and restaurants, both with a national menu and European orientation. Among them you can find both budget eateries and chic establishments. So, a snack in an inexpensive cafe will cost about $4. But the cost of a three-course lunch for two in a medium-sized restaurant will be $14. You will certainly find a budget snack in well-known fast food outlets, where your check will not exceed $4-5. Popular drinks, on average, will cost the following amounts::
- Local beer 0.5 – $1.4
- Imported beer 0.33 – $2
- A cup of cappuccino – $1.3
- Pepsi 0.33 – $0.5
- Water 0.33 – $0.15
Among the most worthy establishments, visitors who have already visited Samsun noted::
- Batipark Karadeniz Balik Restaurant-fish restaurant with a view of the bay;
- Budget “Yağlamacı” — home-made Turkish cuisine, delicious desserts;
- Ve Doner-serve doner, kebab;
- Samsun Pidecisi-offer Turkish pide tortillas with different fillings;
- Peçko Fırın Atakum-specializes in breakfast, pizza is also available.
How to get to Samsun
There are several ways to get to Samsun, and the fastest way is by air. The nearest airport is Carsamba Airport, 23 km to the east. The air harbor serves both local and international flights.
The easiest way to get there is by plane from Istanbul. Turkish Airlines, Onur Air and Pegasus Airlines operate daily flights between Istanbul and Samsun. Tickets start at $28 and travel time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
You can get to the city from Carsamba Airport by BAFAŞ bus for $2. If this option is not suitable for you, a taxi or a pre-reserved transfer via the Internet is always available at your service.
There is an opportunity to get to Samsun from Istanbul and by intercity bus, but this option is practically no different in cost from air travel: ticket prices start from $28. At the same time, such a trip will take at least 11-12 hours. You can find out the bus departure location, schedule, and purchase travel tickets on the website flixbus.com.
Here are probably all the most affordable ways to get to the port city of Samsun, Turkey.
