Samsun Travel Guide
Black Sea One of the largest and most developed cities in the region Samsun, tarihi köklerini M.Ö. 750 yılına kadar uzatmaktadır. Pers, Makedonya, Pontus, Rome, Bizans, Selçuklu ve Osmanlı İmparatorlukları gibi büyük medeniyetlere ev sahipliği yapan Samsun, her dönemde önemli bir liman kenti olmuştur. Bugün ise deniz ticareti, turizm ve doğal güzellikleriyle dikkat çekmektedir. Cumhuriyetimizin kurulduğu dönemdeki kritik rolünü yansıtan birçok müzeye sahip olan şehir, aynı zamanda mavi bayraklı plajlarıyla yaz turizminin vazgeçilmez noktalarından biridir. Kışın ise Akdağ Kayak Merkezi, kayak tutkunlarını ağırlamaktadır.
Covering an area of 1055 km², Samsun has a very lively and dynamic structure with a population of 1.336.000. With large educational institutions such as Ondokuz Mayıs University and Samsun University, the city, which also has a large student population, is always lively with its cultural and social activities. Along the coast of the city, there are various entertainment centers, hotels, shopping malls and restaurants serving delicious examples of Black Sea cuisine. Samsun, famous for its 17 districts and fertile agricultural lands, is one of the cities in Turkey that receives the most rainfall, but it attracts the attention of local and foreign tourists in every season of the year with its natural beauty and climate.
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When to Go to Samsun?
Samsun is under the influence of the Black Sea climate and is mild and pleasant for most of the year. For this reason, Samsun, a city that can be visited comfortably in all seasons, offers a hot climate in the summer and a mild climate in the winter. Rain can be effective in all seasons; the city is one of the regions with the highest rainfall in Turkey with an average annual rainfall of 676,5 mm. The annual average temperature is around 15 degrees. Due to the differences in climate between the Black Sea coastline and the inland areas, the coast and plateaus in the summer and the thermal springs and ski resorts in the winter attract the attention of tourists visiting the city.
How to get to Samsun?
Transportation to Samsun, İstanbul and Izmir are very easy to reach with direct flights from major cities. It is also possible to reach the city with connecting flights from other cities and many parts of the world. The flight time between Istanbul and Samsun is approximately 1,5 hours and Samsun Çarşamba Airport, which is 25 kilometers from the city center, has been serving passengers since 1998. You can reach the city center from the airport in 30 minutes by passenger shuttles, municipal buses and taxis. Samsun also has a wide and convenient highway network and the bus terminal is in the İlkadım district, only 10 minutes from the city center. Samsun is 736 km from Istanbul, 403 km from Ankara, 1089 km from Izmir and EskişehirIt is 651 km away. You can also travel to the city by direct bus services from many cities and districts of Turkey.
What to Eat in Samsun?
Samsun is famous for its unique rich cuisine and here, many flavors await you, from fish varieties to pide and butter dishes. Samsun pide, which has become the symbol of the city, is among the flavors you should try first. In addition, regional flavors such as Bafra pide, Terme pide, Katık böreği and Memecik are also among the flavors you should definitely try. In Samsun cuisine, where corn flour is frequently used, regional dishes such as corn bean soup served with fresh corn bread, haluçka, broad bean wrap, goose pilaf, büryan, anchovies in paper, mushroom pilaf and Katıklı bread also grace the tables. In the city, you can try these unique flavors at popular venues such as Zevahir Restaurant on Maçka Street, Öz Terme Pide Salonu on 19 Mayıs Cumhuriyet Street, Kavak Tirit Evi in Kavak Regional Park and Samsun Pidecisi on Aziziye Street.
Activities to Do in Samsun
Samsun is a city that offers many different activities to its visitors. If you want to enjoy the sea, Atakum Beach, one of the 13 blue flag beaches in the city, is quite popular with its crystal clear sea and the opportunities it offers. Other beaches include Fener, İnci, Körfez Yacht Harbor, and Golf Beach, which also offer enjoyable swimming experiences. For those interested in history, important museums such as Bandırma Ferry, Samsun City Museum, and Gazi Museum can be visited. If you are interested in health tourism, you can explore healing thermal facilities such as Havza Hot Springs or Kızgözü-Aslanağzı Hot Springs. For those looking for an experience intertwined with nature, you can take walks in areas with natural beauty such as Bayraktepe Nature Park, Şahinkaya Canyon, and Kabaceviz Waterfalls. In winter, Akdağ Ski Center is a perfect place for skiing and snowboarding. You can also enjoy the artificial ski slopes and picnic areas on Amazon Island, and for nature lovers, you can explore the Kızılırmak Delta Bird Paradise.
Samsun Night Life
Samsun has a dynamic nightlife because it is a city with a large student population and hosts tourists in all seasons. There are entertainment venues that appeal to every taste both in the city center and in the Atakum area. Istiklal Street, one of the liveliest places in the city center, has a wide range of options from cafes to Turkish folk bars and nightclubs with DJ performances. Atakum is especially famous for the various venues on Adnan Menderes Boulevard. Popular venues such as Garage Bar & Restaurant, Harlequin Night Club, Venn Club, Dino's Bar and Mavi Pub Cafe Bar can be visited to listen to live music and enjoy the beautiful views.
What to Buy from Samsun?
Samsun offers a pleasant experience for shoppers with its historical bazaars and local handicrafts. One of the most popular shopping spots in the city is the Yabancilar Bazaar located on Mecidiye Street and Hacı Mansur Street. Here you can find wooden decorative products, woolen fabrics, handmade baskets, rugs, boxwood spoons, souvenirs such as Bafra nokulu and kaymaklı Turkish delight, and local delicacies. İstiklal Street is one of the liveliest shopping streets of the city, attracting attention with its colorful stores. In addition, Lovelet Outlet located on Hacı Mansur Street, Piazza AVM on Çarşamba Street and Bulvar AVM Yaşam ve Alışveriş Merkezi on 9 Mayıs Boulevard are some of the largest shopping centers in Samsun.
Samsun Festivals and Fairs
Samsun offers visitors colorful and entertaining experiences by hosting various cultural events throughout the year. Here are some important festivals that add color to the city:
| Festival Name | Date | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| Samsun Youth Festival | Haziran | This festival, held every year in June, hosts Turkey's most popular artists and music groups and offers music lovers an unforgettable four days. |
| Kapıkaya Nature Sports Festival | Temmuz | The nature sports festival held in Kapıkaya in Bafra brings together nature enthusiasts with activities such as trekking, paragliding and rock climbing. |
| Samsun International Folk Dance Festival | July/August | It offers the opportunity to watch folk dances with dance groups from all over the world and learn about different cultures. |
| Akdag Culture and Art Events | August | This festival, held at Akdağ Ski Center, features a cultural feast with wrestling competitions, concerts, folk dances and local delicacies. |
| Vezirköprü Culture Art Nature and Tourism Festival | Summer months | An intense festival lasting four days with oil wrestling, nature walks, poetry readings and concerts accompanied by the natural beauties of Vezirköprü. |
| International Workers' Film Festival | Kasım | At this film festival held in Atakum, films with worker themes can be watched, and events are further enriched with seminars and workshops. |
These festivals are events that celebrate both the cultural diversity and the nature of Samsun. Each one offers participants different experiences and gives them the opportunity to get to know the city better.
Things to Consider / Important Information
- Since Samsun is a city that receives rainfall in all seasons, it is useful to take an umbrella, raincoat and water-resistant shoes with you when planning your trips.
- Samkart, which is used for intra-city transportation, can be obtained from many sales points and you can easily use all public transportation vehicles with this card. Also, to visit museums and historical sites in Samsun, Museumcard you need to obtain.
Transportation
In Samsun, urban transportation is provided by Samulaş A.Ş. buses with wide routes, BAFAŞ buses, light rail system and minibuses. These public transportation vehicles provide transportation to many important points such as Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun University, hospitals and official offices. There are stops in almost every neighborhood in the city and public transportation vehicles operate between 06:45 in the morning and 22:00. Light rail system trams operate from 06:00 in the morning to 23:00 at night to the Yurtlar, Rectorate, Tekkeköy and Belediye Evleri stations. In addition, cooperative and union minibuses can be used from Samsun Bus Terminal to reach 17 districts and villages of Samsun. There are taxi stands in the city center that are open 7/24. Samsun Çarşamba Airport is approximately 25 kilometers away and transportation can be provided by airport shuttles and municipal buses.
Samsun, with its historical and natural beauties, is one of the most attractive cities in the Black Sea Region, attracting the attention of all kinds of travelers. Offering both cultural and nature-oriented activities, the city promises an unforgettable holiday experience with its places to visit, rich cuisine, events and dynamic nightlife. If you want to explore the historical riches and natural beauties of Samsun in more detail, Samsun Travel Guide can guide you. Also, to learn more about the city's most popular destinations Places to Visit in Samsun Don't forget to review our article.
