Trabzon is a vibrant Black Sea port city in northeastern Turkey, set between lush green mountains and the deep blue sea. Once the capital of the Byzantine Empire of Trebizond (1204–1461), the city retains extraordinary heritage—most famously the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon and Atatürk's mansion—while thriving today as a regional commercial hub. The surrounding highlands shelter alpine meadows, rushing rivers, and the iconic Sumela Monastery carved into a cliff face, making Trabzon a gateway for both history lovers and outdoor adventurers.
Trabzon has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) heavily influenced by the Black Sea and the Pontic Mountains behind the city. It is one of the wettest cities in Turkey, receiving around 800–900 mm of rain annually distributed throughout the year with no true dry season. Summers are warm and humid; winters are cool, rainy, and occasionally snowy at sea level. The highlands above 1,500 m receive heavy snow from November through April.
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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Spring (April–May), Summer (June–August), Autumn (September–October), Winter (November–March)
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
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- Month
- July
- Crowd level
- Very High
- Note
- Peak domestic tourism; Uzungöl and Sumela crowded
- Month
- August
- Crowd level
- Very High
- Note
- Continued peak; book accommodation well in advance
- Month
- May
- Crowd level
- Low
- Note
- Best value; Trabzonspor season still drawing fans
- Month
- June
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Note
- Increasing visitors; still manageable
- Month
- September
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Note
- Good balance of weather and crowds
- Month
- October
- Crowd level
- Low
- Note
- Excellent value; some rainy days
- Month
- January
- Crowd level
- Very Low
- Note
- Off-season; anchovy festival period
- Month
- December
- Crowd level
- Very Low
- Note
- Quiet; highland sites closed
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Trabzon Hamsi (Anchovy) Festival
Annual celebration of the anchovy season with fish-cooking competitions and local food events at the waterfront
Trabzonspor Home Matches
Home matches at Medical Park Stadium fill the city — accommodation sells out; check schedule at trabzonspor.org.tr
Uzungöl Nature Festival
Annual outdoor festival in Uzungöl valley with folk music, traditional food, and nature walks
Trabzon International Folk Dance Festival
International folk dance groups perform in the city; colourful event at the main square