Piraziz

Day Trips

Settle into a cozy guesthouse overlooking lush hazelnut orchards and meet local farmers who share their harvesting techniques. The air is fragrant with the scent of fresh earth as you pick ripe nuts straight from the trees. By mid‐morning, learn how hazelnuts are sorted and processed for export.

Enjoy a rustic lunch of homemade pide and çay under a shaded walnut tree by the orchard’s edge. A local guide leads you through terraced fields, explaining sustainable farming methods passed down through generations. Finish with a tasting of regional honey and fresh fruit cultivated on nearby plots.

Watch the sun dip over the Black Sea as you stroll along Piraziz’s quiet shoreline, picking up smooth pebbles and driftwood. Dine at a family‐run fish restaurant where the catch of the day is simply grilled and served with lemon and olive oil. Under a star-speckled sky, unwind with a glass of boza or local fruit compote on your guesthouse terrace.

Rise early to explore the seaside promenade where fishermen mend nets and prepare their boats for the day. Pass by small cafés offering simit and freshly brewed Turkish coffee with a view of gentle waves. Breathe in the salty breeze as the harbor awakens.

Head to the town square’s open market to browse stalls of dried fruits, spices, and handmade textiles. Sip on ayran while sampling gözleme stuffed with cheese, spinach or potato from a street vendor. Chat with friendly vendors and learn about traditional crafts like weaving and wood carving.

Join locals at a waterfront tea garden for sunset çay and baklava, watching colorful fishing boats drifting home. Savor a seafood mezze platter featuring anchovies, octopus salad and stuffed mussels. Later, listen to the rhythmic lull of the sea as you stroll back to your accommodation.

Depart before dawn in a 4x4 for the misty trails that wind up to Tohumluk Plateau. Arrive at sunrise as the valley below fills with golden light, and sip hot tea with shepherds who tend their flocks here. Capture panoramic photos of rolling hills dotted with wildflowers.

Descend to a nearby mountain hamlet for a hearty lunch of kuymak (cornmeal and local cheese) served in a wood-fired lodge. Wander narrow stone streets lined with rustic houses, greeting children chasing chickens in the courtyard. Learn about age-old beekeeping practices from a family whose apiary sits on a cliffside.

Return to Piraziz for a soothing Turkish bath in a historic hammam, complete with exfoliating kese and olive oil massage. Relax in steam rooms scented with pine and eucalyptus, melting away any travel fatigue. End the night with a late-night stroll under lanterns along the harborfront.

Journey to a hillside tea garden where row upon row of vibrant green bushes stretch toward the horizon. Harvest tea leaves alongside local pickers, then watch them wither and dry in the garden’s small processing hut. Sample fresh çay brewed over an open flame.

Explore a bustling inland market in a neighboring town, brimming with local cheeses, olives, and mountain honey. Savor a lunch of şakşuka and stuffed grape leaves at a shaded stall run by three generations of the same family. Pick up handmade soap and embroidered linens as souvenirs.

Return to Piraziz for an intimate folk music performance on the waterfront, accompanied by kemençe and davul. Sip on rosehip tea and enjoy honey-drizzled kaymak served on pearwood platters. End the evening dancing with locals or simply soaking in the seaside ambiance.

Spend a leisurely morning on a secluded Black Sea beach where gentle waves lap against dark pebbles. Stretch out on a towel under a rented umbrella, listening to the rhythmic surf. Local vendors pass by selling freshly caught squid grilled on portable braziers.

Embark on a coastal kayak excursion, paddling past hidden coves and sea caves carved into basalt cliffs. Stop on a tiny beach for a picnic of fresh fruit, olives, and thick yogurt in a scenic grotto. Watch seabirds wheel overhead as you drift on calm waters.

Gather around a beach bonfire arranged by your guide, sipping warm boza and roasting chestnuts. Share stories with fellow travelers while the fire’s glow dances on the water. Drift off to the sound of crackling embers and distant waves.

Visit Piraziz’s old bazaar district to see Seljuk-era mosques adorned with intricate wood carvings and Ottoman inscriptions. Join the imam for a brief tour, learning about architectural features and local religious customs. Sip on cool sherbet before exploring nearby madrasa ruins.

Drive to a hillside village where stone houses cling to terraced slopes amid cherry orchards. Meet a local family and learn to prepare village specialties like cabbage dolması and cornbread baked in a wood-fired oven. Wander the village lanes and watch children play under ancient plane trees.

Attend a sunset prayer call echoing across the valley, then dine in a restored caravanserai turned tavern. Feast on lamb stew slow-cooked with herbs and served with fresh pide. Enjoy warm hospitality and traditional stories shared around candlelit tables.

Set out on a guided hike along mountain trails that offer sweeping views of the Black Sea coastline. Trek past grazing goats and emerald woodlands where you might spot wild blackberry vines. Pause at a lookout point to enjoy apple tea brewed over a portable stove.

Reach a remote hilltop village where elders weave rugs dyed with natural plant pigments. Share a communal meal of pilav and karalahana soup in a sunny courtyard. Learn rug-weaving techniques and try your hand at threading the loom.

Descend by lantern-lit path as dusk settles over the forest canopy. Stop at a rustic farmhouse for dinner of grilled trout fresh from a mountain stream. Unwind by the fireplace swapping tales of the day’s adventure.

Cross into neighboring Giresun to explore its ancient fortress perched on a rocky peninsula. Climb fortified ramparts for panoramic views of the Black Sea and Piraziz’s shoreline below. Discover hidden cisterns and watchtowers that once protected traders.

Stroll through Giresun’s old quarter, visiting the small archaeological museum displaying Roman and Byzantine artifacts. Try local specialties like muhlama (cheesy cornmeal) at a café overlooking the sea. Pick up handmade hazelnut chocolates and regional preserves in artisan shops.

Return to Piraziz for dinner at a seaside meyhane, enjoying grilled calamari and meze platters. Toast with rakı and dance to live folk music by the water’s edge. Cap the night with a moonlit walk along the pier.

Board a traditional wooden fishing boat at dawn and set out into the Black Sea with a veteran fisherman. Learn knotting techniques and cast lines for anchovies, sardines, and mackerel. Feel the thrill of your first catch as it darts beneath the surface.

Dock at a tiny cove for a fish-fresh barbecue prepared over an open grill on the beach. Dip into crystalline waters to cool off before exploring nearby tidal pools. Share stories with your skipper while sipping freshly brewed çay.

Return to port and have your catch expertly prepared at a waterfront restaurant, paired with fresh salad and pickled vegetables. Enjoy live, improvisational Black Sea folk singing as you dine under string lights. Stroll back to your lodging with the gentle clink of boat masts in the breeze.

Travel inland to Karadere Canyon and embark on a guided nature walk along the river’s edge. Cross wooden footbridges and listen to the soothing rush of water through basalt gorges. Spot endemic wildflowers and butterflies in this pristine ecosystem.

Enjoy a picnic lunch on sun-warmed rocks beneath a glimmering waterfall. Cool off with a swim in natural pools carved into smooth stone beds. Learn from your guide about the canyon’s geology and local flora used in traditional medicine.

Climb a nearby bluff for a spectacular canyon-framed sunset, painting the sky in fiery hues. Sip pomegranate juice and snack on roasted chestnuts as night falls. Return to Piraziz by moonlight, arriving just in time for a final seaside dinner of marinated anchovies and crisp salad.