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A mysterious journey to the jewel of the Black Sea, Giresun!

With its picturesque landscapes competing with postcard images, warm-hearted people giving you a feeling of familiarity as if you've known them for a long time, and a peaceful atmosphere promising happiness to those tired of city life, Giresun is one of the most beautiful corners of the Black Sea region...

This time, we have prepared an enjoyable guide for those who have not yet seen Giresun, which, compared to other cities in the Black Sea region, opens the door to an unforgettable experience for its visitors with its relatively calm atmosphere!

If you're one of them and want to immerse yourself in the greenery of Giresun in the near future, don't forget to take a look at our article before hitting the road!

Places to Visit for Those Who Want to Explore Giresun Like a Local:

Giresun, which welcomes its visitors with the most beautiful shades of green throughout the year thanks to its abundant rainfall, offers many places to explore and discover. However, you should definitely start your exploration with the sprawling plateaus! After finding peace in the air of plateaus where you can indulge in greenery, you are ready to wander around the most special corners of Giresun like a local. So, if you're wondering where to visit in Giresun, we've gathered them all for you.

Kümbet Plateau: The first place you should see when you come to Giresun is definitely Kümbet Plateau. Located in the Dereli district of Giresun, Kümbet Plateau is at an altitude of 1640 meters. If you visit Giresun in the summer months, you can reach Kümbet Plateau by minibusses from the Dereli district. However, finding minibusses to the plateau can be difficult in winter due to harsh weather conditions. If you want to visit the plateau in winter and witness the snowy view covering the plateau, you can choose tours organized by local agencies.

Göl Yanı Plateau: A small lake, incredibly green and clean air... If what you're looking for is to find peace away from the stress of the city, Göl Yanı Plateau awaits you with all its beauty. One of the indispensable plateaus among Giresun plateaus, Göl Yanı Plateau is located in the Yağlıdere district, approximately 40 km away from the city center. The plateau, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, gets quite crowded in the summer months. If you prefer a quiet visit, don't forget that the best time to visit the plateau is in the spring.

Giresun Museum: After your plateau explorations, if you want to take a journey through the history of Giresun, you can visit Giresun Museum, also known as Gogora Church. Built as an Orthodox church in the 18th century, the building now hosts many artifacts unearthed from the Giresun region, dating back to the ancient Bronze Age. You can admire these special artifacts and embark on an extraordinary journey through the rich history of Giresun.

Giresun Castle: Now we're taking you to a wonderful place where you can watch Giresun from a bird's eye view. Thought to have been built by Farnakes, the son of Pontus King Mithridates, before the Common Era, Giresun Castle consists of two separate castles, inner and outer. Although very few remnants remain from the famous structure, it is worth seeing for its magnificent view. Let's not forget to mention that the tomb of Topal Osman Ağa, who took on the duty of protecting Atatürk, is located here.

Giresun Island: Being one of the two islands of the Black Sea, Giresun Island is also the only inhabitable island in the Black Sea. If you're planning to visit Giresun in the summer months, you must visit this magnificent island. If you're wondering how to get to the island, Giresun Island, where boat trips are organized, awaits you at the end of a 30-minute journey. If you want to experience the island atmosphere, just hop on one of these boats.

Tirebolu Castle: Since you've come all the way to Giresun, it's a must to visit Tirebolu, considered the homeland of tea and hazelnuts. You can feel yourself in the center of tranquility with its air and charming atmosphere. The place you must see in Tirebolu is definitely Tirebolu Castle! You must climb to the castle, which fascinates with its view, and enjoy the scenery.

Unmissable Flavors of Giresun Cuisine: Since Giresun is located in the heart of a rich cuisine on the Black Sea shores, it's worth considering gaining a few pounds. Because Giresun restaurants await you with very rich and ambitious tables. We can say that cabbage is in the leading role of Giresun cuisine. Therefore, we recommend trying cabbage soup, dish, and dolma made with cabbage before leaving Giresun.

You can also indulge in fish in Giresun, as in many cities on the Black Sea coast. If you like anchovies, you must try anchovy dishes such as fried, steamed, and even pilaf from the cool waters of the Black Sea. Let's also note that you can find the freshest appetizers and fish, especially in fish restaurants in Tirebolu.

We believe that there is no one who has not heard of Görele pita. Therefore, it is a must to taste Görele pita before returning without going to Giresun. We have no doubt that you will love the pita made with special butter from the Black Sea. Let's not forget that you are in the land where hazelnuts are special. You must try hazelnut kadayıf, a special dessert of Giresun. Let's also mention that the best Tel Kadayıfçı Mustafa Patar makes this special dessert.

How to Get to Giresun?

"We've talked a lot about Giresun, now let’s discuss how you can get there. You can reach Giresun either by air or by road. Given the approximate distance of 934 km between Istanbul and Giresun, traveling by air might be more comfortable for you. If you use the Ordu Giresun Airport located within the borders of Ordu, you can reduce a 12-hour car journey to just 1.5 hours. However, if you still choose to go by car, you can reach Giresun by following the route through Sakarya, Bolu, Tosya, and Samsun.

Traveling from Ankara to Giresun by road takes about 7.5 hours. You can reach Giresun, which is 600 km away from Ankara, by following the route through Çorum and Samsun. Remember, you can easily find buses to Giresun from both Istanbul and Ankara at certain times of the year.

So, when is the best time to fully enjoy exploring Giresun?

Like many cities in the Black Sea region, Giresun receives rainfall nearly all year round due to its climatic conditions. If you want to thoroughly explore the city and immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature on the plateaus, you should definitely visit Giresun during the summer months. However, it’s worth mentioning that the city also offers incredible vistas in winter, especially with the snow-covered plateaus. Therefore, you can encounter different beauties in Giresun throughout all four seasons. Before setting off, don’t forget to pack a suitcase suitable for the weather conditions. Regardless of when you visit, make sure to bring a raincoat and comfortable walking shoes!

Entertainment and Festival Time in Giresun

Generally, Giresun has a calm atmosphere, and its nightlife isn’t very lively. In the evenings, there are a few cafes and restaurants where live music sessions popular with the locals are held. Besides these, some fish restaurants offer fun music nights. If you wish, you can spend an enjoyable evening at these fish restaurants on the coast by reserving in advance.

While Giresun’s nightlife may not be very vibrant, the city is quite ambitious when it comes to festivals. Several festivals are held at certain times of the year. Here’s a list of festivals where you can join the warm conversations and lively horon dances among the people of Giresun.

But don’t forget to check the festival schedule before you go!