Bartın is a small Black Sea province in northwestern Turkey, known for its Ottoman wooden architecture, the historic coastal town of Amasra with its Genoese castle, the Bartın River winding through forests, and the long sandy stretch of İnkumu Beach. A compact and largely overlooked destination, Bartın rewards travellers seeking authentic Turkish provincial life, unspoiled Black Sea scenery, and traditional wood-carving crafts.
Bartın has no commercial airport. The main gateway is intercity coach from Istanbul (~6–7 hours) or Ankara (~4.5 hours), arriving at the Bartın otogar on Dış Çevre Yolu. A narrow-gauge railway connects Bartın to Zonguldak. Within the province, dolmuş (shared minibus) services connect the city to Amasra, İnkumu Beach, and district towns. Taxis are available in Bartın city and Amasra. Renting a car is the most practical way to reach waterfalls, canyon trails, and beaches beyond the dolmuş routes.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy intercity bus tickets online in advance for July–August; buses fill on summer weekends.
The Amasra dolmuş departs from platform 5 at the Bartın otogar; confirm the bay on arrival.
Last dolmuş from Amasra to Bartın is usually around 19:00–20:00 in summer; confirm locally to avoid being stranded.
Taxis to İnkumu Beach and the Ulugazi Canyon are the only practical options without a rental car.
Parking in Amasra is extremely limited in July–August; travel by dolmuş from Bartın to avoid the traffic jam.