Overview
Perched on Turkey's Black Sea coast, Trabzon is a world away from the country's better-known Aegean and Mediterranean resorts. Once a key stop on the Silk Road, this atmospheric city blends Byzantine and Ottoman history with dramatic green hills, misty tea plantations and easy access to some of Turkey's most spectacular mountain scenery. For UK travellers looking for something different from the usual beach break, cheap flights to Trabzon open the door to monasteries carved into cliff faces, alpine lakes and a lively local food scene built around Black Sea specialities like hamsi (anchovy) and corn bread.
Best time to fly to Trabzon
Trabzon has a noticeably wetter, cooler climate than southern Turkey, so timing your trip matters. Late spring through early autumn (May to September) brings the warmest, driest weather and is the best time to fly to Trabzon if you want to explore Sümela Monastery, Uzungöl or the surrounding highlands comfortably. July and August are the busiest and often priciest months, so travellers happy to visit in June or September can usually find better value, as shown in the When to book chart above. Winters are mild by UK standards but wet, with the highlands seeing snow.
Airlines and routes
There are currently no year-round direct flights from the UK to Trabzon, so most journeys connect through Istanbul. Turkish Airlines runs frequent flights from London Heathrow and several other UK airports into Istanbul Airport, with onward domestic connections to Trabzon (TZX) taking around 1 hour 40 minutes. Pegasus Airlines offers a budget-friendly alternative via its Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen hub, also connecting on to Trabzon. Depending on the layover, total journey time from the UK is typically 7 to 10 hours. Booking the whole itinerary together usually gives more protection if the first leg runs late — compare options using the price charts on this page.
Things to do in Trabzon
Trabzon rewards travellers willing to venture beyond the city centre, with some of Turkey's most photogenic sights within a short drive.
- Sümela Monastery: A Byzantine-era monastery dramatically built into a sheer cliff face in the Altındere Valley, around 45 minutes from the city.
- Uzungöl: A tranquil highland lake surrounded by forested mountains, popular for walking, photography and lakeside tea.
- Trabzon Hagia Sophia: A beautifully preserved 13th-century Byzantine church-turned-museum with vivid original frescoes.
- Atatürk's Villa: An elegant white mansion set in gardens above the city, offering good views over Trabzon and the coast.
- Boztepe Hill: The best vantage point for sunset views across Trabzon and the Black Sea, and a popular spot with locals.
At Trabzon Airport (TZX)
Trabzon Airport sits right on the coast around 6km east of the city centre, making transfers quick. Taxis are readily available outside arrivals and take around 15 minutes to reach the centre. Public buses and dolmuş (shared minibuses) also run into town and are the cheapest option, while many hotels can arrange a private transfer in advance. If you're heading straight for Uzungöl or Sümela, it's worth pre-booking a transfer or hiring a car, as public transport to these sites is limited.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Trabzon
- Book connecting flights around 2 to 4 months ahead for the best combination of choice and price, as shown in the chart above.
- Flying midweek, especially Tuesday or Wednesday, is often cheaper than weekend departures.
- Keep your dates flexible where possible — shifting by even a day or two around your preferred travel window can uncover better fares.
- Compare Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines side by side, as their Istanbul connection times and fares to Trabzon can vary significantly.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa to enter Turkey, most easily arranged in advance as an e-Visa through the official government website before travelling — don't leave this until arrival. The currency is the Turkish Lira (TRY); cards are widely accepted in Trabzon's hotels and restaurants, though it's handy to carry some cash for markets, taxis and rural areas. No special vaccinations are required for UK travellers, but it's sensible to have routine cover and travel insurance in place, particularly given the mountainous terrain around Uzungöl and Sümela.
