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Between Georgia’s palm-fringed promenades and Türkiye’s misty mountains lies one of the most atmospheric routes in the region. The Black Sea coast is where forest meets sea, where the air smells of salt and tea, and where every bend in the road leads to another waterfall or fishing village.
This journey—tracing Batumi, Trabzon, and Rize—is for travelers who crave lush landscapes, hearty Turkish cuisine, and the slow rhythm of seaside life. Whether you’re planning via the Türkiye travel guide or exploring how to find cheap flights, this route connects you to some of the most authentic corners of the region.
Batumi’s Beaches, Mountains & Casinos
With cheap flights to Batumi via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen or Ankara, you can land right where the Black Sea begins to shimmer beneath subtropical light. The airport sits just 15 minutes from downtown—making it one of the easiest gateways to cross-border adventures between Georgia and Türkiye.
Start your day walking or cycling along Batumi Boulevard, its palm trees whispering beside the waves. The Alphabet Tower and Ali and Nino Statue bring a touch of modern art to the skyline, while the Batumi Piazza fills with live jazz at dusk.
For a slower pace, the Batumi Botanical Garden sprawls above the sea—a fragrant maze of magnolia, bamboo, and citrus. As you wander the terraces, the air feels heavy with humidity and jasmine.
By night, Batumi becomes a city of lights. Rooftop bars glow over the bay, and casinos pulse with music. For dinner, try Adjaruli khachapuri, Georgia’s iconic bread boat filled with molten cheese and an egg cracked on top—best enjoyed with a view of the Black Sea horizon.
Outside the city, drive an hour inland to Mtirala National Park, one of Europe’s most humid rainforests. Trails wind past waterfalls, chestnut trees, and hidden lakes. The air is dense and fresh, and you can spot wild horses grazing on misty slopes. Another great outing is Makhuntseti Waterfall, where locals picnic by the roaring spray and cross the Queen Tamar Bridge, built from ancient stone arches.
Trabzon’s Hagia Sophia, Sumela Monastery & Tea Culture
With cheap flights to Trabzon available daily from Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, this historic port city is your perfect next stop. Pegasus Airlines’ routes make it easy to combine coastal adventures with inland culture—just check the baggage allowance page or upgrade package options for multi-city trips.
Start your morning with a visit to the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon, a 13th-century church adorned with vivid frescoes. Its quiet garden overlooks the sea, offering a tranquil contrast to the bustle of the city below.
But the real jewel of Trabzon lies deeper in the Pontic Mountains—the breathtaking Sumela Monastery. Built into a cliff 1,200 meters above the Altındere Valley, the monastery dates back to the 4th century. To get there, drive through pine forests and mountain passes until the structure appears, impossibly suspended in mist. The climb to the monastery is short but steep—every step revealing another layer of frescoes, arches, and mountain air.
Back in Trabzon, follow the scent of roasted hazelnuts and butter toward the Trabzon Bazaar. Try kuymak, a molten mix of cornmeal and cheese, or fresh anchovies fried in corn flour. Locals sip tea on the promenade, talking football and fishing as ferries glide by.
If you’re connecting via Pegasus, cheap flights to Rize (Artvin Airport) make it easy to reach Türkiye’s tea capital. The descent alone is worth the trip—green hills unfold below like a living tapestry.
In Rize, life revolves around the teacup. The Çaykur Tea Garden and Ziraat Botanical Garden offer sweeping views of the coast and terraced slopes. Sit under a gazebo, sip local black tea, and watch fog drift across the valley—it’s a ritual as much as a drink.
Stroll through the Rize Castle viewpoint, overlooking the harbor, then wander into the small but fascinating Rize Tea Museum to see how Türkiye’s national beverage has been cultivated for generations.
For an unforgettable day trip, head to the Fırtına Valley, one of Türkiye’s most dramatic landscapes. Old Ottoman bridges arch over roaring rivers, and wooden chalets cling to hillsides. Continue up to the Ayder Plateau, where waterfalls tumble down emerald slopes and families gather for trout lunches cooked over open fires.
If you crave adventure, rafting on the Fırtına River or paragliding over Kaçkar Mountains National Park offers a taste of extreme sports with postcard-perfect views.
How to Travel Between the Cities
Pegasus Airlines connects these destinations with flexible airline flights tickets and convenient links through Istanbul. You can fly directly to Batumi or Trabzon, then continue east to Rize by road.
The E70 coastal highway is one of Türkiye’s most scenic drives, weaving between sea and mountains. Expect frequent tea breaks in fishing villages like Hopa, Arhavi, and Of, where locals offer you steaming glasses before you even ask.
✈️ See [The Smart Traveler’s Toolkit: Booking, Baggage & Beyond] or [Flight Hacks: How to Plan a Multi-Stop Trip with Pegasus] to streamline your route.
Black Sea Cuisine: Anchovies & More
In the Black Sea region, food is simple, local, and deeply tied to the landscape. Every table holds hamsi—anchovies caught that morning—alongside muhlama, karalahana çorbası, and warm corn bread baked in clay ovens.
In Batumi, Georgian dishes like ajapsandali (smoky eggplant stew) and lobio (spiced beans) dominate, while in Trabzon and Rize, seafood reigns supreme. Sweet endings are just as important: laz böreği (custard-filled pastry) and pekmezli sütlaç (molasses rice pudding) are local favorites.
Pair your meal with tea, of course—or, if you’re traveling between stops, enjoy a light in-flight snack from Pegasus Cafe before landing at your next coastal city.
Rolling with the Waves: Why the Black Sea Steals Hearts
Between Batumi’s neon-lit skyline, Trabzon’s cliffside monasteries, and Rize’s misty plantations, the Black Sea offers more than a trip—it offers a feeling. It’s the hush of rain on a tea leaf, the smell of butter and fish from a harbor kitchen, and the laughter of strangers who insist you share their table.
When your journey ends, you’ll leave with the rhythm of the waves still echoing in your mind—and a promise to return to the coast where mountain mist meets the sea.
