Artvin

Artvin is a mountainous province in Turkey's Eastern Karadeniz (Eastern Black Sea) region, bordering Georgia to the northeast. Its capital, also called Artvin, sits at roughly 600 metres elevation in a dramatic river valley carved by the Çoruh River, about 30 km inland from the Black Sea coast. The province is defined by steep forested slopes, alpine meadows, and a string of river gorges that make it one of Turkey's most scenically wild corners.

The region has a layered history: part of the medieval Kingdom of Georgia, absorbed into the Ottoman Empire after the fall of Trabzon in 1460, then ceded repeatedly between Ottoman and Russian control in the 19th century before returning to Turkey after World War I. That Georgian-Ottoman-Russian heritage is still visible in castles, mosques, and stone churches scattered through the valleys.

For travellers, Artvin's draw is its mountain landscape — hiking, white-water kayaking on the Çoruh, skiing in winter, and the July Kafkasör bullfighting festival. The lush highland pastures above the town support a dairy tradition whose cheeses and butter are prized across the Black Sea coast.

Late May through mid-October is the main window. June and September offer warm days (20–28 °C in the valleys) with fewer crowds than the peak July–August period. July brings the Kafkasör Caucasian Bullfighting Fiesta, the province's signature event, centred on the Çamlık area southwest of Artvin town. Winters are cold and snowy — good for skiing at modest local slopes, but many mountain roads close or become hazardous. Spring (April–May) can be wet; the mountains draw heavy rainfall, which keeps the pastures green but makes some trails muddy.

Artvin province is spread across steep river valleys, so distances are short as the crow flies but slow by road. The D010 coast road connects Hopa to the rest of the Black Sea shore and climbs inland to Artvin town; the D950 runs south from Artvin toward Erzurum and Diyarbakır; and the D965 heads west through the mountains toward Kars. Minibuses (dolmuş) link the provincial capital with its district towns — Borçka (30 min), Arhavi (45 min), Şavşat (1.5 hr), Yusufeli (1.5 hr) — but services thin out on weekends. There is no railway. Hiring a car is strongly recommended for exploring beyond the main valley.

• Artvin — the provincial capital, perched on a hillside with a ruined castle, historic mosques, and access to mountain sports on nearby Genya peak
• Hopa — the coastal gateway to the province, close to the Georgian border at Sarp and a jumping-off point for Batumi
• Borçka — gateway to the Karagöl-Sahara National Park and its glacial lakes, surrounded by dense forest
• Arhavi — a small riverside town with Ottoman-era stone houses and access to the Mençuna waterfall
• Şavşat — a highland town near the Georgian border with medieval churches and a cooler climate
• Yusufeli — a rafting hub on the Çoruh River, set in a deep valley with terraced tea and hazelnut gardens
• Ardanuç — a quiet inland town with a Genoese-era fortress and pastoral scenery
• Murgul — a small mining town in the hills, known for copper and scenic drives
• Kemalpaşa — a coastal settlement near Hopa with a subtropical microclimate
• Karagöl-Sahara National Park — a protected area of glacial lakes, spruce forest, and high alpine meadows above Borçka
• Hatila Valley National Park — a forested river valley south of Artvin town with hiking trails and rich birdlife

Artvin's cuisine reflects its dairy-farming highlands. Local cheeses — especially tulum peyniri (aged goat's-milk cheese) and fresh butter — are the pride of the province and appear in nearly every meal. Muhlama (a stretchy cornmeal-and-cheese dish similar to Trabzon's kuymak) is a breakfast staple. Pide and grilled meats are standard, but look for hamsi (Black Sea anchovy) dishes in the coastal towns. The Çoruh valley produces modest amounts of tea and honey. In Artvin town, eating places line Cumhuriyet Caddesi and the parallel İnönü Caddesi; a few restaurants sit across the river from the bus station, reachable by footbridge. Vegetarian options are limited but improving.

• Kafkasör Bullfighting Fiesta (July) — the province's best-known event; Caucasian bulls compete in Çamlık, southwest of Artvin town, accompanied by folk music and dancing
• International Artvin Kafkasör Festival — cultural performances, concerts, and local craft displays held alongside the bullfighting events
• Hopa Cherry Festival (June) — celebrates the coastal town's cherry harvest with tastings, music, and markets
• Local crafts include felt-making, wooden utensils, and the distinctive Black Sea kemençe (fiddle) tradition shared with neighbouring Rize and Trabzon

1. Hike to Genya peak — the mountain immediately south of Artvin town offers the most accessible day hike, with panoramic views over the Çoruh valley
2. White-water rafting on the Çoruh — one of Turkey's premier rafting rivers, with rapids ranging from Class II to IV, best in spring and early summer near Yusufeli
3. Visit Karagöl-Sahara National Park — take the road above Borçka to the glacial lakes, walk the forest trails, and picnic on the alpine meadows
4. Attend the Kafkasör festival — experience the unique Caucasian bullfighting tradition, folk dances, and highland atmosphere in July
5. Drive the Artvin–Kars mountain road — a dramatic cross-country route through high passes, forests, and remote villages, connecting the Black Sea to eastern Anatolia