Black Sea Coast

While many visitors flock south to the Mediterranean or west to the Aegean, Turks know the Black Sea (Karadeniz) is equally deserving. Surprisingly lush and subtropical, its coastal cities are backed by terraced tea plantations fading into a mountainous hinterland. After Amasra's seaside-holiday vibe and Trabzon's big-city buzz, you can relax in pint-size fishing villages, or head inland to alpine yaylalar (mountain pastures). The spectacular coastline also makes for a scenic route across Turkey to other parts of Anatolia.