Top 5 Places to See in Samsun

Samsun is the largest city on Turkey’s Black Sea coast, and it holds a special place in Turkish history. On 19 May 1919, Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk) landed here and began the national movement that led to the Turkish Republic. Every 19 May the whole country celebrates it, and Samsun most of all.

Most foreign visitors skip the Black Sea, which is exactly why it’s worth a trip: green hills, a long seafront, low prices and very few crowds. The first three sights are within walking distance of each other in the center.

1. Bandırma Ship Museum

The SS Bandırma was the small, old steamer that carried Mustafa Kemal and his companions from Istanbul to Samsun in 1919. The original was scrapped, so the museum is a full-size replica, with wax figures showing the journey and the people on board.

Around it, the National Struggle Open-Air Museum (Milli Mücadele Açık Hava Müzesi) tells the story of the War of Independence with statues and displays.

Tip: Visit before the Gazi Museum. It sets the scene for everything else in the city.

More info

• Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour, including the open-air museum.
• Tickets: Small entry fee.
• Getting there: On the seafront east of the center. Take the tram along the coast, or walk about 15 minutes from Cumhuriyet Square.
• Nearby: İlkadım Monument (marking where Atatürk first stepped ashore), the seafront parks, the city center.
• Good to know: It gets very busy around 19 May, when the city holds ceremonies and events. Any other time of year it’s quiet.

2. Onur Anıtı (Honor Monument)

Samsun’s symbol is this bronze statue of Atatürk on a rearing horse, made by the Austrian sculptor Heinrich Krippel and unveiled in 1932. It’s one of the best-known Atatürk monuments in Turkey, and its image appears on souvenirs and postcards all over the city.

Tip: Come in the evening, when the monument is lit up and the park around it fills with families.

More info

• Time needed: 15–20 minutes.
• Tickets: Free.
• Getting there: In the park by Cumhuriyet Square in the city center, on the tram line.
• Nearby: Gazi Museum (a few minutes’ walk), the Bandırma Ship Museum, Samsun City Museum (Kent Müzesi).
• Good to know: It’s a national monument, so treat it respectfully: no climbing on the base.

3. Gazi Museum

When Mustafa Kemal arrived in 1919 he stayed at the Mıntıka Palas hotel, and from here he began organizing the resistance. The building is now the Gazi Museum, with his room, personal belongings, photos and documents from those first weeks.

Tip: It’s small, so combine it with the monument and the ship museum for a half-day walk through the history of 1919.

More info

• Time needed: 30–45 minutes.
• Tickets: Small entry fee.
• Getting there: In the city center, a few minutes’ walk from Cumhuriyet Square and the Onur Anıtı.
• Nearby: Onur Anıtı, Samsun City Museum, the Saathane Square shopping streets.
• Good to know: Most labels are in Turkish, so a translation app helps.

4. Amisos Hill

Samsun was the ancient Greek city of Amisos, and on the hill above the coast you can see restored tumuli (burial mounds) from the Hellenistic period. Gold jewelry found in these tombs, known as the Amisos treasure, is one of the highlights of the Samsun Museum.

The real draw, though, is the ride up: a cable car climbs from the seafront park to the top, where cafés look out over the city and the Black Sea.

Tip: Go up an hour before sunset, then walk down or take the cable car back as the city lights come on.

More info

• Time needed: 1–1.5 hours, including the cable car.
• Tickets: The cable car is paid. Entry to the tomb area may have a small separate fee.
• Getting there: The cable car leaves from Batıpark on the seafront, west of the center. Take the tram to the Batıpark area.
• Nearby: Batıpark, the Atakum seafront and beaches, the Samsun Museum (where the Amisos treasure is displayed).
• Good to know: Check the weather first. The view is the reason to go, and Black Sea clouds can roll in fast.

5. Kızılırmak Delta Bird Sanctuary

Where the Kızılırmak, Turkey’s longest river, meets the Black Sea, it forms a huge delta of lakes, reed beds and flooded forest. It’s a protected wetland and one of the most important bird areas in the region, with hundreds of species recorded. Herds of semi-wild horses graze the meadows too.

Tip: Go early in the morning, when the birds are most active. Bring binoculars, or rent a bike or a buggy at the visitor center to cover more ground.

More info

• Time needed: Half a day.
• Tickets: Free to enter.
• Getting there: Near Bafra, about 50 km northwest of Samsun: around an hour by car. Public transport only reaches Bafra, so drive or take a taxi from there.
• Nearby: Bafra town (famous for Bafra pide), the Black Sea beaches along the delta.
• Good to know: Spring and autumn are best for migrating birds. In summer, bring insect repellent.

What to eat

Don’t leave without trying Bafra pide: long, thin, boat-shaped flatbread filled with minced meat or cheese, from the town of Bafra nearby. Along the coast, the fish restaurants serve fresh hamsi (Black Sea anchovies) in winter.

Getting around: a tram runs along the coast, linking Atakum, Batıpark, the center and the Bandırma Ship Museum. Samsun-Çarşamba Airport is about 30 minutes east of the city.