What is Trabzon like in winter?
Trabzon's winter is shaped by the Black Sea. The city sits on the coast with the mountains rising steeply behind it, so the weather changes sharply with altitude. Long-term records from the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) for the Trabzon station, covering 1927 to 2025, give a clear picture of the coast:
| Month | Average temperature | Average high | Average low | Average rainy days | Average monthly rainfall | Average daily sunshine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 9.6 °C | 13.1 °C | 6.8 °C | 11.9 | 85.3 mm | 2.7 hours |
| January | 7.6 °C | 10.9 °C | 4.8 °C | 11.8 | 82.8 mm | 2.7 hours |
| February | 7.3 °C | 10.8 °C | 4.5 °C | 11.6 | 64.2 mm | 3.3 hours |
Source: MGM, Trabzon province statistics, 1927–2025.
Three things follow from this table. First, average lows stay above freezing on the coast, so a winter city day is more about rain and grey skies than ice. Second, you get only two to three hours of sunshine a day on average in December and January, which makes the days feel short; start early. Third, snow in the city is possible but irregular. MGM's record for the station is 115 cm of snow on 15 January 1950, a reminder that when a cold wave arrives it can arrive in earnest, but most winter days in the centre are simply cool and damp.
Things to do in Trabzon in winter
A winter city day works well because most of Trabzon's best-known sights are compact and some are indoors.
- Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) Mosque: built as a church between 1250 and 1260 in the time of the Empire of Trebizond, and used as a mosque again since 2013. It stands near the coast, about 3 km from the main square, and its frescoes are worth time indoors on a grey day. Visit outside prayer times and dress accordingly.
- Atatürk Pavilion (Atatürk Köşkü): a summer house built for a Trabzon banker, set in a pine garden at Soğuksu above the city and open as a museum since 1943. The garden is lovely even in the rain.
- Trabzon Museum (Kostaki Mansion): a good indoor stop on a rainy day.
- Uzun Sokak and the Meydan: the main pedestrian street and square for tea, a long lunch and people-watching.
- Boztepe: the hill above the city, with tea gardens and wide views over the harbour and coastline. On a clear winter evening the city lights come on below you; our Trabzon branch is in the same neighbourhood.
We have covered these in more depth, with a two-day route, in our Trabzon travel guide.
Hamsi season
Winter is anchovy (hamsi) season on the Black Sea. In Türkiye's commercial fishing calendar, the season for purse-seine and trawl boats runs from 1 September to 15 April, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry names hamsi as the leading catch. In Trabzon you will find it fried, baked with cornmeal or in a pilaf. For breakfast, try kuymak, the cheese and cornmeal dish that Trabzon has registered as a geographical indication.
Uzungöl in winter: what to expect
Uzungöl lies in Çaykara district, about 99 km from Trabzon and 19 km beyond the town of Çaykara, according to the Culture Portal and the Trabzon Governorship. The lake was declared a nature park in 1989. In summer it is green and busy; in winter, when the snow comes, it becomes a quiet, snow-covered valley that few summer visitors ever see.
Does it snow in Uzungöl, and when?
There is no fixed date. Snow comes early in some years and late in others, and depth varies a lot. To give an idea, the local newspaper Çaykara Gündem reported in January 2022 that there was 60–70 cm of snow at the lake and more than a metre on the higher Glazomat ridge. If snow is the reason for your trip, check the MGM forecast for Çaykara and local news a few days before you go, and keep your plan flexible.
The road to Uzungöl in winter
From Trabzon you follow the coast road east, turn inland at Of towards Çaykara, and drive the last 19 km up the valley to the lake. Local press reports that the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality and Highways teams work to keep the main road open in winter and salt the bends, but heavy snowfall can still close or slow the road for a time.
- Check before you leave: call the Highways hotline 159 or read the daily road conditions bulletin on the Highways (KGM) website.
- Equip the car: winter tyres and a set of snow chains that you have tried fitting at least once. Highways winter advice also lists a tow rope and wheel chocks among the things to keep in the car.
- Leave early, come back in daylight: winter days are short, and the valley road is narrow and winding. Plan to be heading back to Trabzon in the early afternoon.
- Renting a car? Ask the rental company about winter tyres and chains when you book, not at the counter.
- Not driving? Day tours from Trabzon to Uzungöl are an option; winter availability varies, so confirm that the tour runs and when it returns.
The Uzungöl Winter Festival
The first Uzungöl Winter Festival took place on 23–25 January 2026, organised with the support of the Trabzon Governorship, the Metropolitan Municipality and local institutions. According to the news agency DHA, the programme included snow games, traditional games, activities for children, horon (the Black Sea circle dance) in the concert area and a procession around the lake in local dress re-enacting the traditional Kalandar celebration. Whether and when the festival will be repeated had not been announced when we updated this guide. If you are planning around it, follow the announcements of the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality and Çaykara Municipality.
What to do at the lake in winter
- Walk the lakeshore path in the morning, before the day-trippers arrive. The snow is cleanest and the light is softest then.
- Look down from above: viewpoints on the slopes give the classic postcard view, but the roads up are steep and narrow. In snow, ask locally before driving up.
- Warm up slowly: tea by the lake, a hot lunch, then the drive back down while it is still light.
For Uzungöl in the other seasons, including the high pastures and the Seven Lakes, see our Uzungöl travel guide.
A winter day from Trabzon to Uzungöl, step by step
The key to a winter day at Uzungöl is using the daylight well. This sequence gives the order rather than clock times; adapt it to your own pace.
- The evening before: check the road, put the chains and spare socks in the car, charge your phone, and book your hammam or massage for after you get back.
- Leave at first light: the coast road is quieter early. After you turn inland at Of the road climbs, and on a snowy day the snow usually deepens as you go up.
- First hour at the lake: park and walk the shore. The best light for photos is usually early, while there are few footprints in the snow.
- A warm break: tea and a hot soup or lunch by the lake. Change wet socks and gloves here.
- The way back: head down the valley in the early afternoon. Once the sun goes, shaded bends can ice over.
- Evening: back in Trabzon, change into dry clothes first, then the hammam, sauna or a massage.
Trabzon and Uzungöl in winter with children
- Break up the drive: the road to Uzungöl can feel long for children; stop along the way.
- Spare clothes: snow play and staying dry don't mix, so keep a dry set for each child in the car.
- Slippery ground: paths and steps by the lake can be slippery in snow; hold small children's hands.
- An indoor back-up: if the weather turns, a museum and tea on Boztepe make a good alternative day.
- Spa and age: if you plan to use the hammam, sauna or pool with children, ask the branch about age and usage rules before you go; they can vary by branch.
Our Uzungöl branch in winter: seasonal and closed
We want to be clear about this, because it matters for your plans. Our Flora Uzungöl branch, inside the Flora Uzungöl Resort Hotel, works seasonally. It is closed for the winter season, so please do not plan a hammam or massage there on a winter visit. Check its page for the reopening.
In winter, the simplest plan is to base yourself in Trabzon and end your day at our Radisson Blu Trabzon branch, which is open all year.
Where to warm up after a winter day in Trabzon
Our Trabzon branch is inside the Radisson Blu Hotel Trabzon in Boztepe, close to the city centre. You don't need to be a hotel guest. Here is what you will find there:
- A tiled Turkish hammam, separate for women and men, with the hot marble, scrub and foam ritual.
- Sauna and steam room for a slower warm-up.
- An indoor pool, as well as an outdoor pool.
- Massage rooms, a couples' massage room and a VIP room.
- A fitness centre with cardio machines, free weights and resistance machines, plus group classes such as yoga, pilates, zumba and aerobics led by instructors.
Our therapists come from Thailand and Bali, and English is spoken at the branch. For a female or male therapist, please call the branch to ask. Opening hours and the WhatsApp line are on the branch page; we have no online booking system, so message the branch directly or use our booking page. Hammam rituals and massage styles are listed on our Turkish bath and massage pages.
Going from cold to hot
After a day in the snow, take the change of temperature gently. Give your body a few minutes in a warm room before you go into the hottest areas, drink water, and step out if you feel dizzy. Harvard Health Publishing advises staying no longer than 15–20 minutes in a sauna and not using one after drinking alcohol; on a first visit, a shorter round is enough. If you are pregnant or have a heart or blood pressure condition, talk to your doctor before using a sauna, steam room or hot hammam. Not sure which heat suits you? Our sauna, steam room and hammam comparison explains the differences.
Also open all winter on the Black Sea coast
If your route continues west along the coast, our Radisson Blu Ordu branch is also open all year, with a Finnish sauna, a Turkish hammam and an indoor pool. All our Black Sea branches are on our Black Sea spa page.
Sümela and Zigana in winter
Sümela Monastery
Sümela, set into a cliff at about 1,300 m in the Altındere Valley National Park, is 47 km from Trabzon. The official museum listing shows it open every day; when we checked in October 2026 it listed 08:00–17:00, with the ticket office closing at 16:30. Hours can change with the season and the weather, so check the museum page on the day. In winter the valley road and the walking path can be wet or icy; wear boots with grip and allow extra time. Do not try to fit Sümela and Uzungöl into one winter day: they are in different directions, and the light runs out quickly.
Zigana for skiing and sledging
If you want slopes rather than a lake, the Zigana Winter Sports and Tourism Centre is on Zigana Mountain in Torul district, Gümüşhane, at around 2,100 m. Anadolu Agency describes it as 60 km from Trabzon Airport and 40 km from Gümüşhane, with ski and sledge runs and its own accommodation. Snow conditions differ a lot from year to year, so check that the runs are open before you go.
Sample winter plans
| Plan | What it looks like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Two days, city and lake | Day 1: Hagia Sophia, Atatürk Pavilion, Uzun Sokak, sunset on Boztepe, evening hammam. Day 2: early start to Uzungöl, lake walk, lunch, back in Trabzon before dark, sauna or massage | A first winter visit |
| Three days, slow | Add Sümela on a separate morning, with an afternoon of museum and café time in the city | Couples and families |
| Snow day | Zigana or Uzungöl depending on where the snow is best, then a warm evening in Trabzon | Snow lovers with a car |
Whichever plan you choose, book your hammam or massage during the day rather than at the last minute, especially at weekends.
Winter packing list
- Boots that are waterproof and have good grip, plus a spare pair of socks.
- Layers: a thermal base layer, a warm mid layer and a waterproof outer jacket. The coast is damp; the mountains are cold.
- Hat, gloves and scarf for Uzungöl and Zigana.
- Sunglasses for snow glare on clear days.
- A swimsuit if you want to use an indoor pool. At our branches a robe, slippers and towels are provided.
- A power bank: cold drains phone batteries faster, and you will want maps on the mountain road.
