Rize is a verdant Black Sea city in northeastern Turkey, celebrated as the heartland of Turkish tea production. Terraced tea gardens cascade down steep hillsides to the sea, while the Kaçkar Mountains rise dramatically inland, offering world-class trekking, rafting in the Fırtına Valley, and highland plateaus dotted with traditional Hemşin architecture.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
ÇAYKUR Rize çay (various grades, especially 'Altın' and 'Özel Rize' premium blends)
Hemşin dağ balı (mountain honey) — wildflower or chestnut varieties
Hand-knitted woolen socks and gloves from Ayder craft stalls
Hemşin embroidered textile products
Wooden çay saeti (tea service set) — tulip-shaped glasses and double teapot
Local Hemşin butter (yağ) packaged for travel
Laz böreği pastry mix (for baking at home)
Rize-branded ceramic items from museum shop
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Pazar Salı Pazarı
Where: Pazar district (45 km east)
Rize Kapalı Çarşı
Where: City center