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Day trip from Trabzon to Uzungöl, the lake village jewel of Turkey (Türkiye)
Updated: Jun 16
South of the city of Trabzon you will find the 'long lake' that is Uzungöl, nestled in a gorgeous lush mountain valley and surrounded by a cabin style village not all to different to those synonymous with ski resorts.
Snow (depending on the time of year), cafes, traditional restaurants and wonderful views await you in Uzungöl and if you are traveling in the Black Sea region then we would definitely recommend a visit. We visited in early April and it was fairly quiet with fellow tourists few and far between, alongside a melting snow that dazzled in the sun to add even more beauty to the scene.
Read on for more on our day out in Uzungöl including the food we tried, a really cool local knife store, our accommodation in the city of Trabzon and the tour we took to get here.
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About Uzungöl
Uzungöl is a picturesque mountain lake situated south of the city of Trabzon in the Black Sea region of Türkiye. We had a fantastic time and it reminded Jenn a lot of ski resorts in Canada! Visiting here is totally affordable and is certainly worth a visit if ever you are in the area. Uzungöl is also the name of the village on the lake's coast.
The lake was formed by a landslide and it is famous for its natural environment; the high rise sloping mountains and dense surrounding forests add almost as much allure to the experience as the lake itself.
In recent years a tourist boom has led to many hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops cropping up in the village. The government has also invested in local roads and infrastructure to improve accessibility.
Interested yet? Keep reading for how to get here, the best time to visit, things to do and a rundown of our accommodation. Oh and did we mention the knife / sword store? That too!
How to travel to Uzungöl
The first thing to note is that most of what you will see online when referencing Trabzon City is indeed Uzungöl Lake. However this lake is actually 100km - a 90 minute drive - away from the city. So if you are booking accommodation it is important to bear this in mind. We were a little caught out by this although it worked out nicely for us in the end as we took a tour there courtesy of our hotel.
You will find plenty of tour operators in the main shopping hub of Trabzon, most of whom will likely offer a package deal which will stop at some local confectionary and souvenir stores. Our tour included a stop at Akif Usta Bıçakçılık, a famous knife store which we will talk about later.
Our tour was provided by Zağnos Tours International and we would recommend them based on our experience. Find out more information about their tours and services here.
If a tour is not for you, car hire is also available in Trabzon and the prices are fairly reasonable. We did not get one but from research Rental Cars seem to be a good company to work with. Check them out here.
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Uzungöl weather - the best time to visit
July is the hottest time of the year in Uzungöl, with temperatures as high as 38 degrees Celsius (100F). The driest month is February and the rainy season runs between May and August. At over 1000ft above sea level the air is fresh and cool for most of the year.
We really enjoyed the climate here; even with the snow the temperature was decent and it did not feel that cold. It definitely felt very fresh and crisp though! Snow tends to start falling from November but by April the melt will begin and in our opinion this is the perfect time as it adds to the magic of this place without feeling too uncomfortable.
June - September - The summer months
April & May - Avoid the heat
August - The most rainfall
November - March - Winter months
How much time (and money) you need in Uzungöl
Ultimately you will not need a great deal of cash in Uzungöl. Walking the lake is free, as is its famous Instagram photo op observation deck. The lake is of course the star attraction and you are able to walk around it via a dedicated and well maintained pathway. There are many shops, stalls, coffee stops and restaurants to tempt you, plus there is a swing affording incredible views from above the lake for 10 lira.
We were here for around 3 hours as part of the tour and we felt this was plenty of time; we stopped for a bite to eat and a coffee within that. We spent around $10 (USD) on the food; we did not purchase anything from the stores on this occasion.
The local food & things to do in Uzungöl
There are a fair few things to do in Uzungöl if you want to add more to your experience of this iconic lake. Here are our picks, including the famous Mıhlama / Kuymak cheese!
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Food - Kuymak / Mıhlama Cheese & Menemen
No trip to Uzungöl would be complete without trying Mıhlama cheese, a breakfast favorite in Türkiye's Black Sea region. Its primary ingredients are cornmeal and cheese which is melted and served with bread.
Leon loves cheese but is not a fan of Mıhlama. Jenn liked it though! She could not finish it all however, we have to say it was just a tad too much. We also ordered Menemen which has become a favorite of ours ever since we first tried it in Istanbul. Menemen is a mix of onions, peppers, tomatoes and eggs and it is absolutely delicious. You will find it wherever you go in Türkiye, with the inclusion of onions a great national debate!
There are plenty of other options to try here and of course we would strongly recommend a traditional Turkish Breakfast if you are yet to try one. They are simply put, amazing!
We also stopped off at this very cool zen-like coffee store after walking the lake perimeter. The coffee was excellent, as was Leon's Salep. This rich, creamy, milky drink is a Turkish winter favorite and is always served with cinnamon on top. It almost tastes like rice pudding! You simply must try it; this warm beverage is a game changer!
Shopping in Uzungöl
There are plenty of souvenir shops and trinket stores here and no doubt more will continue to open as the tourism in this area grows. It is always great to invest in the local economy too! Most of the stores are small and crammed full of goods. We always enjoy browsing through them, honestly you never quite know what you might find.
Uzungöl Mosque
We did not go inside but this Mosque has two striking minarets that are typical of a Turkish skyline. It is a nice feature of Uzungöl and you cannot miss it as you drive up to the lake. You are able to go inside but be aware that if you are not a Muslim you will not be given access after the call to prayer.
Uzungöl Swing
The swing is at the top of the hill and you are able to drive and park there if you do not fancy climbing the stairs. We did not try it but it does look like a lot of fun. Let us know what you think if you give (or haven given) it a go!
At time of writing the cost for this is 10TL, which is around 50 cents.
Uzungöl Lake Observation Deck
Again at the top of the hill, this is perhaps the best thing you can do in Uzungöl as it is the perfect vantage point to take in the epic beauty of the lake and its surrounding mountains. It is completely free and offers you that perfect social media shot!
The Hapsiyas Bridge
This bridge is on the way to Uzungöl and is sometimes referred to as 'the Tiled Bridge' in reference to the terracotta tiles on its roof. It was built in 1935 and has been granted the status of 'monumental piece'. Definitely a neat little stop off!
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Turkish Tea & Knife store in Trabzon
As part of our tour we stopped off at two pretty cool places on the way to the lake. The first was the İkiçay Tea Factory, although unfortunately the factory was closed for maintenance.
We still got to try some tea and watch a pretty cool traditional Turkish dance. Of course we grabbed a bag to take home too and we have to say the quality was excellent! If you are a lover of tea, be sure to stop by. For more information check out their website here.
Our other stop was at Akif Usta Bıçakçılık, a popular knife store with a beautiful shop front and some pretty cool stock. They have a range of other items too, including chinaware and a host of trinkets and souvenirs. But the main offer is the knives and swords (yes swords), including a fairly large (and heavy) one that Leon was lucky enough to hold! Check out their website here.
Accommodation in Trabzon
We spent 2 nights at the 3-star Deryaman Hotel Trabzon which is located in the heart of the city. It is just a short 5 minute walk from the major shopping district and about 20 minutes from the Black Sea coast.
The room was great and we had a very nice stay here. The bed was comfy and the bathroom was clean and well serviced. Coffee / tea is included (which we always look for) and the room was a good size. The hotel itself is neatly decorated both in the hallways and room and there is a nice modern elevator too. Breakfast was included in our price and just as with all the breakfasts we have ever had in Türkiye, it does not disappoint at Deryaman.
The hotel restaurant is on the top floor and is enclosed so you should not expect to find views of the city there. But it is well presented and is open all day; even outside of mealtimes. It could easily be a nice place to relax or work outside of your room.
We picked this spot mainly for its proximity to local amenities and on that front it ticks every box. There is a vast array of restaurants, bars and food stores that are easily found by just crossing the main road in front of the hotel entranceway.
There were no issues with the concierge and the check-in process was smooth. They do accept cards and there is no deposit required, although be prepared to be asked for cash as it does seem to be the most encouraged method of payment. When we booked our tour to Uzungöl the card machine was mysteriously 'updating' and so I had to nip out to the ATM. On that note finding an ATM was oddly a little difficult given the amount of stores there are in the main shopping area. Tap here for directions to the ATM we used.
Map of Uzungöl & Trabzon
Tap the map below to check out some of the local restaurants and places to see in Uzungöl.
This is the route we took from the city if Trabzon. As mentioned we were on a tour but if you are travelling privately the drive is still relatively straightforward and you get to see plenty of the coast on the way.
Explore Uzungöl on YouTube
Join us for our day tour as we take you on our day tour from Trabzon. Watch and see the parts that the blog post doesn't show!
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Our Uzungöl experience rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
We had a really wonderful day here overall, wandering around the lake and enjoying some of the local amenities. We would most certainly recommend a visit if you are in the area, or looking for things to do if you are staying in Trabzon like we did. It is not quite as spectacular as the likes of Lake Louise or Lake Moraine in Canada but it did remind us of them for sure. Give it a go... you will not be disappointed.
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