Samsun Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Samsun

Samsun is a major port city situated on the northern coast of Turkey along the Black Sea. Serving as the capital of Samsun Province, this urban center is widely recognized as the location where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived aboard the SS Bandırma in May 1919 to establish the Turkish national movement and begin the Turkish War of Independence. Today, the city functions as an economic, educational, and commercial hub for the Central Black Sea region.

The layout of Samsun encompasses modern commercial centers, high-rise housing, and industrial zones. To the west of the city center lies the suburb of Atakum, a residential municipality popular with professionals and home to the main campus of Ondokuz Mayıs University. Travel across the urban area is facilitated by a 36.5-kilometer light rail tram network that links the university district directly to the Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadium in Tekkeköy.

The region possesses a long history dating back to antiquity. Early human presence is documented by Paleolithic artifacts discovered in the Tekkeköy Caves, which are preserved alongside items from ancient settlements like Dündartepe in the Samsun Archaeology Museum. Originally founded by Ionian settlers from Miletus under the name Amisos, the city came under Persian, Athenian, Pontic, Roman, Seljuk, and Ottoman rule over successive centuries. Historical landmarks include ancient burial tumuli located at Amisos Hill.

Visitors to Samsun can explore various civic and recreational features. The city hosts an opera house, major healthcare facilities, and notable architectural landmarks such as the Sheraton Hotel Samsun and the Gökdelen Towers. Commercial activity centers around multiple retail destinations, including the large Piazza Samsun shopping mall. Sports venues are highlighted by a 30,000-seat stadium in Tekkeköy, which serves as the venue for the Samsunspor football club.

Samsun is connected to national and international transport infrastructure. Air travel is supported by Samsun-Çarşamba Airport, situated 23 kilometers east of the city center, offering flight routes to Istanbul and Ankara along with international destinations in Germany and Iraq. The city is also accessible via regional highways and long-standing rail lines connecting to interior cities like Sivas and Ankara.