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Two historic stops in Vezirköprü: A mosque endowed in 1495 and a stone-built madrasa
Two Ottoman-era buildings close to each other in central Vezirköprü shed light on the district's history: Taceddin Paşa Mosque, known for its 1495 endowment deed, and Fazıl Ahmet Paşa Madrasa, built between 1661 and 1676. Both structures can be visited today in their restored state.
A 3.5-kilometre natural wonder in Vezirköprü: Boat tour time at Şahinkaya Canyon
Carved by the Kızılırmak River through the rock, Şahinkaya Canyon lies roughly 17 kilometres from the centre of Vezirköprü. Granted nature park status in 2015, the canyon is known for its boat tours and nature walks.
A bird sanctuary in Bafra: Observation towers in the Ramsar-protected Kızılırmak Delta
Where the Kızılırmak River meets the Black Sea, the delta it has formed holds one of Turkey's most significant wetland ecosystems. The bird sanctuary section, about 18 kilometres from the centre of Bafra, is protected under the Ramsar Convention.
Riding the cable car to Amisos Hill in Samsun: Royal tombs and a panoramic view
Amisos, the ancient city built on Toraman Hill in Samsun's İlkadım district, holds tombs believed to belong to Pontic kings. A cable car departing from Batı Park reaches the hilltop, where Samsun's coastline and harbor unfold below.
A ship replica on Samsun's shore: Tracing 1919 at the Bandırma Ferry Museum
Anchored on the Doğupark waterfront in Samsun's Canik district, this ship is a full-scale replica of the Bandırma Ferry that carried Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to Samsun on 19 May 1919. Open as a museum since 2003, it can be visited together with the surrounding Turkish War of Independence Open-Air Museum.
Three stops on the Atakum coast: a 10-kilometre path, two Blue Flag beaches
One of Samsun's liveliest recreation areas, Atakum Beach stretches west of the city centre along about 10 kilometres of walking and cycling paths. Along the strip, İnci Beach and Çatalçam Beach stand out as two favourite stops for swimming during the summer season.
A legend on 2,500 square metres in Samsun: the story of Amazon Village
According to ancient Greek mythology, the Amazons, a nation of warrior women, were believed to have lived in the Thermodon basin near Samsun, today's Terme River. Inspired by this legend, Amazon Village now welcomes visitors as an open-air museum on a small island within Batı Park in the İlkadım district.
Three flavours to try in Samsun: a certified flatbread, a simit and fried anchovies
Samsun's cuisine is known for three flavours that stay on every visitor's list: the geographically indicated Bafra flatbread, the equally certified Samsun simit, and hamsi tava, made from the Black Sea's signature fish. All three are part of daily life here, from breakfast tables to fish restaurants.
Traces of the Old Stone Age in Tekkeköy: the Black Sea region's known oldest settlement
The caves and rock shelters in Samsun's Tekkeköy district hold the earliest known signs of settlement in the Black Sea region, with human habitation there traced back to the Old Stone Age. The valley was placed under protection in 1977 and opened to visitors in the summer of 2013.
Three stops between Ladik and Havza: a lake, thermal springs and a ski resort on one route
In inland Samsun, three stops between the districts of Ladik and Havza can be visited in a single day: the 870-hectare Lake Ladik, Akdağ Ski Resort with a peak at 2,062 metres, and Havza Thermal Springs, where the water reaches 53 degrees Celsius. All three lie within 65 to 81 kilometres of central Samsun and are close to one another.