Artvin is a rugged mountain province in northeastern Turkey, bordered by Georgia to the east and the Black Sea coast to the north. The province shelters a remarkable concentration of medieval Georgian Orthodox churches and monasteries hidden in forested valleys, alongside the Çoruh River — one of the world's fastest-flowing rivers and a world-class whitewater rafting destination. Dense chestnut and pine forests cloak the slopes of the Kaçkar and Karçal mountain ranges, while high plateaus offer cool summer escapes and pastoral landscapes that have changed little in centuries.
Artvin has one of the wettest climates in Turkey, influenced by Black Sea humidity and mountain topography. The coast (Hopa) receives 2000+ mm of rain annually, while the Çoruh valley floor near Artvin city is drier and warmer. Altitudes range from 0 m at Hopa to 3937 m at Kaçkar peak. Temperatures vary dramatically with elevation — Artvin city (580 m) reaches 30°C in July, while plateau areas at 2000 m stay below 20°C. Winters bring heavy snow above 1200 m and road closures on high passes.
Best time to visit
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
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The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
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Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- Items
- Period
- June (Kafkasör Festival week)
- Level
- High
- Notes
- Accommodation books out; roads busy. Book well in advance.
- Period
- July–August
- Level
- Moderate-High
- Notes
- Plateau and outdoor season; domestic Turkish tourists predominate.
- Period
- May and September–October
- Level
- Low-Moderate
- Notes
- Best balance of good weather and manageable crowds.
- Period
- November–April
- Level
- Very Low
- Notes
- Few tourists; many rural services closed or reduced.
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Turkey's most famous traditional wrestling festival held on Kafkasör Plateau, 5 km from Artvin city. Free access to plateau. Nearby accommodation books out weeks in advance.
Folk music, dance performances, and local food stalls in Artvin city centre during festival week.
Anchovy season from the Black Sea begins; Hopa restaurants and markets fill with fresh hamsi. Lively waterfront atmosphere.