Hagia Sophia in Trabzon was built as a Byzantine church in the 13th century under the Empire of Trebizond. It stands on a hill above the Black Sea. It is known for its well preserved frescoes and carved reliefs, including one showing Adam and Eve. It became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest and was used as a museum before being reconverted.

Sumela Monastery clings to a sheer cliff about 300 metres above the Altındere valley near Trabzon. According to tradition it was founded in the 4th century, and the present buildings mostly date from later periods. Its rock church is covered with colourful frescoes. The monastery was abandoned in 1923 and reopened after restoration in 2021.

Uzungöl is a mountain lake in Çaykara, Trabzon, at about 1,100 metres. It formed when a landslide blocked a stream. Wooden houses, a mosque with a slender minaret and pine forests surround the lake under steep green mountains. It is a popular place for walks, fresh trout and the cool mountain air in summer.

The Ayder Plateau lies in the Kaçkar Mountains above Çamlıhemşin in Rize, at about 1,350 metres. Green meadows and pine forests surround wooden chalets, and waterfalls fall from the slopes. It is known for its hot springs and the local Hemşin culture. Summer festivals bring music and dancing, and trails lead up into the high mountains.