A breathtaking monastery built into a cliff in the Pontic Mountains. You can drive or take a tour from Trabzon — the road offers beautiful forest scenery all the way.

Alexey Tugin

Level 9 Local Expert

We traveled by car from Russia to Turkey, on the way back we stopped for the night in Trabzon, decided to look on the Internet what you can see in the surrounding area and it was just the cherry on the cake after a long journey and many historical sites of Istanbul. After seeing the monastery of Smela and experiencing life in that place, it becomes even uneasy how strong the people of those times were! Now for more details: The Sumela Monastery is a real gem hidden in the mountains of northern Turkey on the Black Sea coast. Located on the steep slope of Mount Mela in Trabzon province, this ancient Orthodox monastery impresses with its incredible location and rich history. The first thing that takes your breath away is the location itself. The monastery is literally carved into the rock at an altitude of about 1,200 meters above sea level, with stunning views of the Altyndere Valley. The road to the monastery is an adventure in itself, requiring a small climb, but the effort is fully justified if you walk. For everyone else, buses are not expensive at all, 20 liras or 0.5 $, if there is not much time on the bus. Further: Founded in the 4th century, the Siumela Monastery preserves many historical layers, from Byzantine frescoes to elements of Ottoman architecture. The preserved wall paintings inside the rock church are particularly impressive, some of which date back to the 13th century. After extensive restoration, the monastery became even more accessible to visitors. Nevertheless, I recommend arriving early in the morning to avoid the crowds of tourists and enjoy the special atmosphere of this place in silence. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes and a camera - the views here are simply incredible at any time of the year, although the monastery looks especially beautiful against the background of greenery in summer or among autumn colors if you go down to the temple (located just below, in front of the shops to the left) from there, there is a great panorama of the monastery in the rock. Visiting the Siumela Monastery is not just an excursion, but a real immersion in the history, culture and natural beauty of the region. Definitely worth including in your travel itinerary in Turkey. The cost of visiting the monastery was $35, which is 10 times cheaper for Turkish citizens. There's plenty to drink and snack on top.

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Daria

Level 10 Local Expert

An interesting place in the mountains (1200m). Recently renovated, entrance is paid. There is also a paid lift by minibus from the parking lot. There is a cafe with good coffee and souvenirs. Beautiful ancient mosaic on the walls. Wonderful view of the mountains. You can get from Trabzon in 50 minutes and $100 round trip with a 2h wait.

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Sumela Monastery

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