Çarşamba

Day Trips

Amber light of dawn bathes the narrow stone streets as you step out for a stroll. The scent of freshly baked simit wafts from a neighborhood bakery, tempting every passerby. You settle on a bench with a çay and watch the city awaken around you.

Explore the restored Ottoman houses that line the winding alleys, noticing intricate wooden carvings and pastel-hued walls. Visit the venerable Saitpaşa Mosque to admire its domed interior and ornate calligraphy. A friendly shopkeeper invites you to sample locally made honeycomb before you continue on.

As lanterns flicker to life along the Mert River promenade, you follow the gentle path beside the water. You savor a warm pide at a cozy waterfront café while listening to soft strains of folk music drifting across the water. The reflection of city lights dancing on the river’s surface invites you to linger late into the night.

Step into the bustling Çarşamba market at dawn, where vendors shout their daily harvest of colorful vegetables and freshly baked börek. The aroma of smoky tea wafts through the stalls, drawing you toward a small glass shop. You haggle good-naturedly for heirloom tomatoes before moving on to a stall selling vibrant spices.

Join a family-run cooking workshop in a tiled courtyard, learning to roll dumplings for mantı under a patient grandmother’s guidance. The steam rises from each tiny parcel as it simmers in a fragrant yogurt sauce. Each bite reveals layers of savory meat, fermented yogurt, and tangy tomato essence that dance on your palate.

At a local lokanta, dim lanterns hang overhead as you spread your mezes across the wooden table. You sip chilled ayran while watching an impromptu backgammon match erupt in cheerful competition. The clatter of dice and the aroma of roasted eggplant signal a day well spent.

Find a quiet spot on a shaded bench by the Yeşilırmak River, where the water flows calmly over smooth pebbles. Early morning fishermen cast their lines into the glassy surface, creating ripples that shimmer in the sun. You breathe deeply, savoring the earthy scent of river moss and wildflowers.

Rent a paddleboat and drift downstream, the current carrying you beneath arching bridges covered in ivy. Kingfishers dart above the water, their bright plumage flashing against the blue sky. You pause to float in the gentle eddies, feeling weightless and free.

Spread a blanket on the riverbank and unpack a picnic of mezes, olives, and fresh bread. Candle lanterns flicker as dusk sets in, casting warm light over your feast. A group of local musicians arrives, filling the air with melodies played on bağlama and accordion.

Set out before sunrise for Altınkaya Dam, the road winding through pine-scented forests. When you arrive, the reservoir’s glassy surface reflects the pink morning sky, creating a mirror-like panorama. You snap photos of the enormous concrete arch as mist rises from the water.

Join a guided tour of the dam’s control rooms, walking among massive turbines that churn with the river’s power. The guide explains how water is channeled for irrigation across the province, the hum of machinery resonating in the tunnels. You feel the cool breeze that drifts through the service shafts, a welcome respite from the summer heat.

Set up a small camp on the shore of the reservoir, listening as water laps gently against the rocks. You grill freshly caught fish over a charcoal brazier, seasoning it with wild mountain herbs. Under a canopy of stars, you share stories around the flickering glow of your fire.

Lace up your hiking boots for a trail that follows the Yeşilırmak’s high cliffs, each step revealing new views of the winding river below. The forest canopy filters sunlight into dappled patterns, and the scent of pine needles drifts on the breeze. Occasional waterfalls cascade down mossy rocks, inviting you to pause and cool off in the spray.

Cross a centuries-old stone footbridge into a remote village, where shepherds in woolen cloaks greet you with smiles. They offer cups of salep and slices of freshly baked bread topped with homemade cheese. You listen as they share legends of the valley while sheep graze peacefully on terraced fields.

Return to Çarşamba as twilight descends, the city’s lamps flickering on one by one. You settle into a family-run kebab house, inhaling the smoky aroma of meat grilled over oak coals. Soft folk melodies drift through the air as you savor each tender, spiced bite.

Board an early minibus bound for Ordu, the Black Sea lapping beside you as green hills roll past the window. Arriving on Boztepe hill, you ride the sleek cable car to the summit, where sweeping views expand in every direction. You sip Turkish coffee from a wooden terrace, watching fishing boats drift across the horizon.

Stroll along Ordu’s pebble-lined boardwalk, buying fresh anchovies from fishers who display their haul on ice. A beachside vendor offers corn roasted in the cob, its sweet steam tempting you in the midday sun. You explore a small bazaar selling handwoven sweaters in bold, vibrant patterns.

Head back to Çarşamba as the sea breeze cools, stopping at a roadside tea garden nestled under plane trees. You join locals in softly lit benches, clinking tulip-shaped glasses of çay in a ritual of camaraderie. The distant sound of a saz orchestra drifts through the night as fishermen mend nets under lantern light.

Venture out to the emerald rice paddies that stretch to the horizon, water pooling at your feet as you step carefully between rows of young shoots. The air is alive with chirping frogs and the soft hum of insects. You meet a rice farmer who guides you through the planting process, letting the cool mud swirl around your ankles.

Help with the rhythmic motion of threshing rice, grains spilling onto tarps beneath a shady walnut tree. Women in colorful headscarves chat and laugh as they work, offering you sips of ayran and plates of rice-stuffed grape leaves. You marvel at their effortless teamwork and the centuries-old traditions that endure.

Dine under a wooden arbor draped in grapevines, perched on a raised platform overlooking the flooded fields. Lanterns glow softly around a table set with freshly harvested rice pilaf and local salads. You share stories with your gracious hosts, lulled by the gentle chorus of frogs and crickets.

Step aboard a traditional wooden gulet at the Çarşamba harbor, the sea breeze fragrant with salt and seaweed. Dolphins arc playfully beside the vessel as it glides over cobalt blue waves. You lean on the rail, absorbing the endless horizon dotted with distant coves.

Anchor in a hidden cove where the water is so clear you see schools of fish darting below the surface. You dive in for a refreshing swim before joining the crew on deck for a feast of grilled mackerel, fresh herbs, and lemon. Laughter and conversation flow as the sun warms your skin.

As dusk falls, the gulet hoists its sails and drifts back toward the harbor under a pastel sky. On deck, locals play davul and zurna, filling the air with rhythmic beats and melodies. You join in the dance, letting the music carry you into the night above the gently rocking deck.

Wander through the formal alleys of Atatürk Park, where rose beds line the paths and fountains burble softly. Jasmine climbs the trellises, scenting the morning air with floral sweetness. You pause on a bench to watch tai chi practitioners move gracefully beneath plane trees.

Step into the Ethnography Museum, its whitewashed walls cradling relics of the region’s past—handwoven kilims, ornate metalwork, and ancient manuscripts. A curator guides you through each exhibit, weaving stories of sultans, traders, and local heroes. You try your hand at the pottery wheel under the watchful eye of a master craftsman.

Head to the open-air amphitheater as lanterns flicker to life around the stone stage. A troupe of dancers clad in colorful costumes whirls to the beat of kemençe and clarinet, each step echoing centuries of tradition. You raise a toast of plum brandy under the glittering night sky.

Take one last stroll along the waterfront promenade, where fishing boats bob gently and morning light dances on rippling water. You discover a hidden antique shop tucked between cafes, its shelves lined with old maps and brass lanterns. Friendly shopkeepers bid you farewell as you select a small keepsake.

Hike up to a grassy viewpoint overlooking Çarşamba, the city unfolding below in a patchwork of rooftops and trees. You spread a blanket and sketch the panorama, sipping strong Turkish coffee from a flask. Each breath of hilltop air feels crisp and bittersweet.

For your final meal, dine at a family-run meyhane where tables groan with mezes, olives, and freshly baked pide. Lantern-lit boats drift by on the river beyond, their soft lamps mirrored in the water. You raise a glass to new friends and lasting memories, promising to return one day.