Samsun is a city in the Central Karadeniz region of Turkey.
It is the largest city on the Turkish Black Sea coast.
Samsun has a special place in the republican history of Turkey, as this is where the republic's founder, Kemal Atatürk, set foot to start the War of Independence in 1919.
Samsun is a long sprawling city which extends along the coast between the Kızılırmak ("Red River") delta to the west and the east the Yeşilırmak ("Green River") delta.
In the city center and close to the seashore is the city's main square, Cumhuriyet Meydanı, north and south of which are Kazımpaşa Caddesi and Cumhuriyet Caddesi.
The city is growing fast: land has been reclaimed from the sea and many more apartment blocks and shopping malls are being built. Industry is tending to move (or be moved) east, further away from the city center and towards the airport.
Samsun has a humid subtropical climate, like most of the eastern Black Sea coast of Turkey.
Spring temperatures can vary by over 10 degrees from one day to the next. Summers are warm and humid, and the average maximum temperature is around 27 °C (81 °F) in August. Winters are cool and damp, and the lowest average minimum temperature is around 3 °C (37 °F) in January.
Precipitation is heaviest in late autumn and early winter. Snow sometimes occurs between the months of December and March, but never more than a few centimeters of snow falls in the city, and temperatures below the freezing point rarely last more than a couple of days.
The water temperature, as in the whole Turkish Black Sea coast, is always cool, fluctuating between 8–20 °C (46–68 °F) throughout the year.
- Replica of SS Bandırma. This is the replica of the ferry that took Kemal Atatürk from Istanbul to the port of Samsun. Inside, there is a collection of photographs of Atatürk and his comrades. You can also watch a short film.
- Atatürk and his comrades, 19 Mayis Blv. Walking from the bottom of 19 Mayis Blv towards the sea you can see life size models of historical figures; and Atatürk and his comrades alighting from another, partial, replica of the Bandırma at the sea front.
- Amisos Hill. offers a sea view, Hellenistic era tombs, and cafes in pleasant grounds.
- Kızılırmak Delta. this is the delta plain of Turkey's longest river (1355 km source to sea), Kızılırmak (literally "red river", due to its colour). The delta is great for birdwatching (320 species of birds call there home) and for fishing. Cooler than the city as there is usually a fresh breeze. The main bird watching tower has a cafe below, where you may find dairy products from the local buffaloes.
- Mosque.
- Mosque.
- Göğceli Mosque, Terme Caddesi (Cemil Şensoy Cd.) (Çay Mahallesi in Çarşamba, a town a little further east (~30 km), inside Göğceli cemetery, (Göğçeli Mezarlığı). One of the rare wooden mosques in Turkey, this one dates back to 1206, and its construction does not involve even a single nail (all wooden plates were inserted through each other).
- Bedestan, Namık Kemal Cd.
- Gazi Museum, Gazi Cd., in Mecidiye (Center. A witness to Atatürk's activities while in Samsun. The collection includes some clothes and personal paraphernalia, purportedly belonging to him. It also includes a number of old photographs and maps.
- Archaeology and Ethnographic Museum, 19 Mayıs Blv No:5, (near Cumhuriyet Center. Dedicated to local history and artifacts, including the golden Amisos Treasure.
- City Museum, Fuar Cd., Kale Mh.. So new, the tobacco still smells good.
Gazi Museum, Gazi Cd., in Mecidiye (Center. A witness to Atatürk's activities while in Samsun. The collection includes some clothes and personal paraphernalia, purportedly belonging to him. It also includes a number of old photographs and maps.
Archaeology and Ethnographic Museum, 19 Mayıs Blv No:5, (near Cumhuriyet Center. Dedicated to local history and artifacts, including the golden Amisos Treasure.
City Museum, Fuar Cd., Kale Mh.. So new, the tobacco still smells good.
Replica of SS Bandırma. This is the replica of the ferry that took Kemal Atatürk from Istanbul to the port of Samsun. Inside, there is a collection of photographs of Atatürk and his comrades. You can also watch a short film.
Atatürk and his comrades, 19 Mayis Blv. Walking from the bottom of 19 Mayis Blv towards the sea you can see life size models of historical figures; and Atatürk and his comrades alighting from another, partial, replica of the Bandırma at the sea front.
Amisos Hill. offers a sea view, Hellenistic era tombs, and cafes in pleasant grounds.
Kızılırmak Delta. this is the delta plain of Turkey's longest river (1355 km source to sea), Kızılırmak (literally "red river", due to its colour). The delta is great for birdwatching (320 species of birds call there home) and for fishing. Cooler than the city as there is usually a fresh breeze. The main bird watching tower has a cafe below, where you may find dairy products from the local buffaloes.
Mosque.
Mosque.
Göğceli Mosque, Terme Caddesi (Cemil Şensoy Cd.) (Çay Mahallesi in Çarşamba, a town a little further east (~30 km), inside Göğceli cemetery, (Göğçeli Mezarlığı). One of the rare wooden mosques in Turkey, this one dates back to 1206, and its construction does not involve even a single nail (all wooden plates were inserted through each other).
Bedestan, Namık Kemal Cd.
- Sea front — Good for walking or cycling, or you can take a ride in a horse drawn carriage.
- Boat trip. A trip along the coast which takes 2 hours, on a boat named Samsunum ("my Samsun").
- Beaches:
Atakum Beach is long, free and sandy and has nice cafes across the small road from the beach. However there is little shade and children and weak swimmers should beware of the variable depth, especially when there are waves.
Fener Beach is women only, has a small daily charge and is suitable for small children in that the water is shallow, it has shade and showers and is sheltered from waves. It is open 08:00-18:00 in summer. Access by public transport involves crossing a busy road, so unless you are staying at the Sheraton you may prefer to take a taxi if you have small children.
Bandırma Beach was closed for renovation as of 2014.
- Talk to the locals. For a city of half a million there are very few foreigners: so most people will be happy to chat if you want to. Try the sea front, parks or outdoor cafes. No need to feel lonely if you are travelling on your own: just ask one of the many English language schools if their students need any conversation practice - especially if you are a native English speaker they will welcome you with open arms.
In summer locals love to barbeque in the big parks and drink tea from samovars.
- Atatürk Park. Small and shady: with the famous statue.
- East Park. There are a lot of trees, basketball and football areas and a lot of cafes. From here you could walk up the River Mert.
- West Park. Big, with plenty of kitsch. Also by the sea but the trees have not had much time to grow yet. Has cable car to Amisos Hill.
- Çakırlar Korusu. Small nature reserve with boardwalks over wetland forested with ash and elm. Picnic and sports area, restaurant and toilets. Free.
Atatürk Park. Small and shady: with the famous statue.
East Park. There are a lot of trees, basketball and football areas and a lot of cafes. From here you could walk up the River Mert.
West Park. Big, with plenty of kitsch. Also by the sea but the trees have not had much time to grow yet. Has cable car to Amisos Hill.
Çakırlar Korusu. Small nature reserve with boardwalks over wetland forested with ash and elm. Picnic and sports area, restaurant and toilets. Free.
- Arts. If you are interested in arts, you will find a thing or two that you might like. There is a very large and interesting opera building with very cheap weekly shows.
Arts. If you are interested in arts, you will find a thing or two that you might like. There is a very large and interesting opera building with very cheap weekly shows.
- Go Karting. There is a go kart course in Batıpark (West Park)
- Fishing. The Black Sea is rich in fish varieties.
- Horseriding. There is a course in town.
- Paintball. There is a paintball ground in the locality known as Körfez, somewhat far from city centre.
- Wakeboarding. In summer water skiiers are towed around by an overhead circuit, near Dogupark (East Park)
Go Karting. There is a go kart course in Batıpark (West Park)
Fishing. The Black Sea is rich in fish varieties.
Horseriding. There is a course in town.
Paintball. There is a paintball ground in the locality known as Körfez, somewhat far from city centre.
Wakeboarding. In summer water skiiers are towed around by an overhead circuit, near Dogupark (East Park)
Sea front — Good for walking or cycling, or you can take a ride in a horse drawn carriage.
Boat trip. A trip along the coast which takes 2 hours, on a boat named Samsunum ("my Samsun").
Beaches:
Talk to the locals. For a city of half a million there are very few foreigners: so most people will be happy to chat if you want to. Try the sea front, parks or outdoor cafes. No need to feel lonely if you are travelling on your own: just ask one of the many English language schools if their students need any conversation practice - especially if you are a native English speaker they will welcome you with open arms.
- Festivals. Two festivals are celebrated annually in the city. Some competitions are held during the Bike Festival. On the other hand, concerts of popular singers are to be found during the Festival of OMÜ (Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi). Both festivals are usually celebrated around the end of June.
Festivals. Two festivals are celebrated annually in the city. Some competitions are held during the Bike Festival. On the other hand, concerts of popular singers are to be found during the Festival of OMÜ (Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi). Both festivals are usually celebrated around the end of June.
If you are a walker or cyclist heading onwards towards villages with fierce unruly dogs you can buy pepper spray in hunting shops here: let us know if it works.
There are plenty of modern hospitals if you need a quicker or cheaper op than you can get at home. Many doctors and dentists are women if that is important for you, but not all have good English.
Pide is one of Samsun's delicious 'events' and has four different types available Kapalı, peynirli-yumurtalı (cheese&egg), pastırmalı-yumurtalı (spicy bacon&egg) and sucuklu-yumurtalı (Turkish wurst&egg) although there are some further varieties also possible such as spinach, and kavurmalı.
The local people all eat pide every Sunday almost ritualistically.
These pides are totally unique to the city, so don't expect to find them anywhere else.
Fried anchovies are delicious in winter.
Tea: always but not only after anchovies. If you find the tea too strong then "çay açık olsun" is the phrase you need.
If arriving by air internationally (direct, or via Istanbul and you have not yet cleared customs) you will need to walk across to the terminal on your right to collect your baggage, and buy duty-free alcohol if you wish.
- Ozanlar Saz Evi. Tiny teashop where you can drink tea or Turkish coffee, and on weekend evenings listen to the musicians jamming under the picture of local saz player made good Orhan Gencebay
Ozanlar Saz Evi. Tiny teashop where you can drink tea or Turkish coffee, and on weekend evenings listen to the musicians jamming under the picture of local saz player made good Orhan Gencebay
- Wi-Fi at the airport is slower than the local tortoises.
- Amasya. — to the south is a pleasant riverside city with whitewashed houses and plenty of other historic attractions.
- Bogazkale. A town close to Hattuşaş, which was once the capital of Hittite Empire, indigenous people of Anatolian highlands
- Ordu. On the way to more popular cities and sites of eternally rainy and green Eastern Black Sea
- Sinop. An ancient fortified port city jutting out on a peninsula into Turkey's northernmost tip
- Sivas. An important city in Turkish history, today relatively small, but with a lovely Madresa complex, and a gateway to Central Anatolia.
- Trabzon, Trabzon Province. (3½ hours by car, 6 hours by bus. — with its seaside view badly ruined by the Black Sea Highway, is still an important historical city, that is great fun to explore. The main city of the northeast has a lot to offer a visitor, and is the place to stay when traveling to the stunning Sümela Monastery. Take a tour to Lake Uzungöl
- Tokat.
Amasya. — to the south is a pleasant riverside city with whitewashed houses and plenty of other historic attractions.
Bogazkale. A town close to Hattuşaş, which was once the capital of Hittite Empire, indigenous people of Anatolian highlands
Ordu. On the way to more popular cities and sites of eternally rainy and green [[Eastern Karadeniz|Eastern Black Sea]]
Sinop. An ancient fortified port city jutting out on a peninsula into Turkey's northernmost tip
Sivas. An important city in Turkish history, today relatively small, but with a lovely Madresa complex, and a gateway to [[Central Anatolia]].
Trabzon, Trabzon Province. (3½ hours by car, 6 hours by bus. — with its seaside view badly ruined by the Black Sea Highway, is still an important historical city, that is great fun to explore. The main city of the northeast has a lot to offer a visitor, and is the place to stay when traveling to the stunning Sümela Monastery. Take a tour to Lake Uzungöl
Tokat.