Ünye is located in one of the most peaceful corners of the Black Sea, by the sea, at the point where blue and green meet. exploringIt is the district with the highest population. Even though I have been to the Black Sea region many times and visited Ordu, I have never been to Ünye. Realizing this deficiency, ÜNTİSAD (Unye Tourism Operators, Hoteliers, Restaurants, Cafes and Travel Agencies Association) invited us as speakers to the Sustainable Tourism Summit, which they organized for the first time with the support of Ünye Municipality, and we had a great opportunity to visit Ünye. The places we visited during our stay in Ünye, the flavors we tasted, what we learned about Ünye's culture and much more are waiting for you in this article, which serves as a Ünye travel guide, enjoy reading!
What You Will Find In This Article
About the History and Culture of Ünye
Ünye's history as a city dates back to BC. Although it dates back to the 8th century, excavations revealed that the first traces of human settlement in the region date back to B.C. It has been determined that it dates back to the 15th century.
Ünye is one of the rare settlements whose name has not changed throughout history. These names, such as Oinoie, Onea and Unieh, which remind us of Ünye, are derived from the Luwian word "Oinos", which means "vineyard, grape, wine" and means "wine region, wine-rich region". Today, Izabella grapes continue to be grown and grape juice produced in Ünye.
We can interpret the reason for Ünye's cultural richness as the fact that it has been dominated by many different tribes throughout history. Hittites, Scythians, Cimmerians, Khalibs, a local people, Greek colonies, Persians, Pontians, Romans, Eastern Romans and finally Turks dominated Ünye and its surroundings. Although the city changed hands between Chepni Turks and Greeks during the Seljuk period, it was definitely taken over by the Turks in the mid-1300s.
Ünye, which has been an important port and trade city since ancient times, was made a sanjak (province) for a short time during the Ottoman period. In the city, which was annexed to the Canik sanjak at the beginning of the 19th century, Treasurerzade Süleyman Pasha had one of the most magnificent palaces of the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia built.
After the War of 93, Ünye experienced intense Circassian and Georgian immigration. Today, a significant portion of the population consists of citizens with these ethnic origins. They lived in harmony with the Turks, Armenians and Greeks living in the region and contributed to the cultural richness of Ünye.
Thanks to the strategic importance of its port, Ünye produced its own war and trade ships, had a shipyard and became famous for its captains. Ünye is not just the captains; It is famous for its judges, calligraphers and statesmen.
Places to Visit in Ünye, the Peaceful Corner of the Black Sea
Many of the places to visit in Ünye are in the city center and within walking distance. You can find the “Ünye City Guide” booklet in municipal facilities and at the tourist information office in Cumhuriyet Square during the summer months. It is a very comprehensive guide with beautiful photographs. If you travel with it, you will have detailed information about the places you visit.
If you have two full days in Ünye and a car, you can easily visit all of the places on the map, the details of which I will give below.
You can see the places to visit, venues and accommodation options in Ünye on the Google Maps application below, and take a closer look by clicking on the map.
Republic Square
This is the square in the center of Ünye, where many public institutions and places to visit are located. The most suitable point to start your trip to Ünye. You will understand that you are in the center of the city as soon as you see the Ataturk Statue in the square.
Monument Plane Tree
In one corner of the square, you will see a grand plane tree that is 550 years old. The Ottomans planted a plane tree in the center of the settlements they annexed, and this magnificent monumental tree has been greeting everyone passing through Ünye ever since.
Coppersmith Bazaar
A small street to the east of the square is called Coppersmiths' Arasta, but there are very few coppersmiths left today. I hope that as more tourists come to Ünye, this area will become more lively. On this street, there is a shop belonging to Orhan Bey, where you can buy jewelry made of magnetic sand, one of the important values of Ünye. If he is in the shop, you will also have the chance to get a lot of information about magnetic sand.
Palace Bath
*The photo was taken from the Ünye Municipality website.
The bath, which was built as the bath of the Süleyman Pasha Palace, one of the most magnificent Ottoman palaces in Anatolia, was restored and put into service within the scope of the Culture Road project, the details of which you will find below.
Ruins of Suleiman Pasha Palace
Süleyman Pasha Palace, which currently has only parts of its walls, bath, fountain and pool in Ünye, was built by the Sanjak Bey Süleyman Pasha in the early 19th century by the best architects and masters of his time. It was the largest and most magnificent of the provincial palaces within the borders of the Ottoman Empire. The palace was completely destroyed in a fire in the mid-19th century.
However, after visiting Ünye in 1640, Evliya Çelebi mentioned a large castle by the sea. It is understood that there was a castle-like structure here before the Süleyman Pasha Palace.
Waterside Church
Ünye has hosted many people from different religions, languages and ethnic groups. The only church in Ünye that has survived to this day is the Yalı Church, which was built as a Greek Orthodox Church in the 19th century. The church, which had no congregation left after the population exchange, was first used as a transformer and then as a wedding hall. It was restored and opened to visitors in 2014. If it is closed when you go to the church, stop by the Yalı Neighborhood Mukhtar's Office, located right at the entrance, and they will open the church for you.
Let us not forget to mention that Mukhtar Seyhan İhtiyaroğlu is Ünye's only female neighborhood headman.
Living Cultural Heritage Museum – Museum Home
Since Ünye was a commercially active settlement, the city had many well-to-do merchants, craftsmen, captains and judges. Prominent people had magnificent mansions built for themselves. There are 130 mansions in Ünye. Some of these mansions have been restored and serve as museums, hotels, cafes and shops.
The first place I recommend you to see before you start visiting the mansions is the Living Cultural Heritage Museum, also known as the Museum House, prepared by Ünye Municipality.
While the ground floor serves as a living museum concept, the upper floor is designed as an ethnography museum. Downstairs, you can participate in activities such as the games we remember from our childhood, the spinning top, the Karagöz/Hacivat game. The mansion belonged to a captain, and you will find traces of the captain while visiting the upper floor.
Museum entrance is free, and museum staff accompany you during your museum visit.
Hüsrev Sabri Kadı Mansion
There is another beautiful mansion at the end of the hill where the Museum House is located. This place currently serves as a marriage office. On the top floor, there is a section decorated as a guest house.
Hüsrev Yürür Mansion (Pink Mansion)
Another mansion is the Hüsrev Yürür Mansion, also known as the Pink Mansion. This place serves as a cafe and art center, and you can visit the upper floor thanks to the exhibitions held on the weekends. The ground floor has been used as a cafe and it also has a beautiful garden.
Kadılar Hill
During the Ottoman period, Ünye was famous for its judges. Kadılar Hill emerged when the Kadıs built two-storey mansions with marble pillars and large courtyards on the same street. Today, this slope is one of the most beautiful streets of Ünye. If you come to Ünye, it is one of the places you must see.
Unye Pier
When you go to Ünye beach from Cumhuriyet Square, you will see the historical Ünye pier, most of which is now on land as the water recedes, on your right, and the new pier on your left. There is a beautiful view of Ünye from the pier, I recommend you to see it.
Ataturk Park
With a short walk east from the pier to the beach, you will reach Ataturk Park. The municipality has a social facility, cultural center and a large park area here.
Historical Burunucu Peninsula
*The photo was taken from the Ünye Municipality website.
When you continue towards Çamlık from Ünye center, Burunucu Peninsula comes after Yalı District. Historical buildings located on the seafront on the peninsula have been restored and are waiting to be opened to tourism.
Turkish-Japanese Friendship and Ertuğrul Frigate Martyrs Monument
*The photo was taken from the Ünye Municipality website.
Turkish-Japanese Friendship and Ertuğrul Frigate Martyrs Monument was built in 16 in memory of the Turkish sailors who were martyred on the Ertuğrul Frigate, which was caught in a typhoon off the coast of Kushimoto after leaving Japan's Yokohama Port on September 1890, 2014, and crashed into the rocks and sank. This monument is the first and only monument built in Turkey in memory of the Ertuğrul Frigate Martyrs.
Camlik Recreation Area
Çamlık is a wonderful recreation area for the forest on the seaside, just 2-3 kilometers from the city center. With its walking and jogging paths, picnic areas and cafes, it is also a great place for those who want to spend time with their family or do sports alone. If you have time, it would be great to take a long walk here.
Hagia Nicholas Church Ruins
*The photo was taken from the Ünye Municipality website.
At the end of the walking path of the Çamlık recreation area, you will reach a small peninsula where the St. Nicholas Church is located. Although only the remains of the outer wall remain from the church, it is evidence that St. Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, did his first work here.
Cakirtepe
If you want to see Ünye from above and have something to eat and drink while enjoying the view of the city, you should visit Çakırtepe. You can choose whatever you want from restaurants and tea gardens overlooking the view. It is possible to reach it by minibuses departing from the city center.
Asarkaya Urban Forest
*Photo taken from Ünye Municipality website.
When I said, "I'm in Ünye," everyone said, "You should go to Asarkaya." It is a very nice area for those who want to see Ünye from a different perspective, watch the view, have a picnic or walk. You can taste the famous Ünye pita at an affordable price at the municipality-run Panaroma Cafe.
You can reach the city center by minibuses.
Unye Castle
Ünye Castle is a castle like an eagle's nest overlooking the city. The restoration of the castle, located 7 kilometers from the city center, is about to be completed and will be opened to visitors very soon. Currently, there is no public transportation to the castle, you can reach it by private vehicle.
One of the interesting aspects of the castle is the corridors inside. When the work is completed, these corridors will be accessible by elevator, and it is thought that the city can be reached from the upper part of the castle through these corridors. Remains of a bath and a fountain were found in the castle, which was used for defense purposes.
To get to the top of the castle, you need to climb long and steep stairs. I do not recommend it to those with health problems, but when you reach the top, a magnificent 360-degree view awaits you.
Tomb of Yunus Emre
Although it is not known exactly where and when he lived, Yunus Emre has mausoleums in many cities in our country, one of them is in Ünye.
Tozkoparan Cave Rock Tomb
*Photo taken from Ünye Municipality website.
On the way to the equestrian facilities in the east of Ünye, you will see the Tozkoparan Cave Rock Tomb on the left of the road at the 5th kilometer. The tombs in the cave date back to B.C. It is dated between 5-7 thousand years ago. It is one of the best indicators of how old Ünye's history is.
Ünye Municipality Equestrian Facilities – Horse Farm
The horse farm and sports facilities, located 7 kilometers from Ünye city center, are operated by Ünye Municipality. Here you can ride a horse, leave it for care if you have a horse, participate in activities such as zipline, giant swing, or sit in the cage and watch the horses. It is a nice facility, especially for families with children.
There are definitely other places to visit and see in Ünye, we fit this much into our short trip and were very pleased with what we saw.
Unye Culture Road
In 2016, a Ünye Cultural Road project was carried out in Ünye, which included many of the places I listed above, and it was a very nice idea. The route was determined in 2014 and the places on the route were restored and opened to tourism by 2016. Most of these places have information boards on their doors about their history. I couldn't find the physical map while walking around Ünye, but when I returned, I found it on the Ünye Municipality's website. Very simply, it is a nice route that can be used more actively if they draw lines on the pavements with red paint (or whatever color you want) and make the route visible.
*Photo taken from Ünye Municipality website.
Below you can find the list of places to visit on the Ünye Culture Road project route;
- Waterside Church
- Double Staircase Mansion
- Sebile Hanım Mansion
- Paşabahçe Mansion
- Palace Bath
- Suleyman Pasha Palace and Walls
- Palace Mosque
- Historical Plane Tree
- Museum House
- Hüseyin Sabri Kadı Mansion
- Kadılar Hill
- Old Bath
- Viewpoint
- Bakırcılar Arastasi
- Double Hammam
- Kefeli Khan
- Central Bazaar
- Orta Mosque
- Meeting the Sea
Only in 7 Countries in the World, Only in Turkey: Magnetic Sand
One of the most important values of Ünye is magnetic sand, which is found only in seven countries in the world and only in Ünye in Turkey. Moreover, it is said that the best quality magnetic sand in the world is in Ünye. Magnetic sand is formed by the combination of 20 different minerals and thus produces energy at a very high frequency. It is said that this energy is a cure for many ailments.
Orhan Bey, who has a shop called "Ünye Kumu Artistic Jewelry" in Bakırcılar Bazaar, makes jewelry from magnetic sand. When you wear these jewelry constantly, it activates the thymus gland, which regulates the human body's immune system; It is said that it creates cyclone energy and removes negative energy, attracts more positive energy to the body, reduces stress and regulates the immune system. (Attention! It is definitely not recommended for those using pacemakers.). If you want to get more information, on Instagram Magnetic Sand You can review your account.
What to Eat in Ünye?
I don't know when Ünye will become a city of gastronomy, but we managed to gain three kilos in two days and return. Although everyone knows these places for their pitas and fish dishes, many local dishes are made in Ünye and you can taste local dishes at the restaurant of Ünye Women's Cooperative.
Below I leave the list of delicious dishes we tasted in Ünye;
- Various kinds of pitas
- Anchovy, bonito, horse mackerel
- Beetroot (cabbage) soup
- Roasted pickled cherries
- Dried phyllo dessert with hazelnuts
- Pickled Beans Fries
- Melevcen (thorn tip) roasted
- Dry phyllo pastry with minced meat
- Baked Sütlücen (I loved this)
- Sütlücen meatballs (hash browns)
- Corn bread
- dried dates
- pepper salt
- pepper salt toast
- Cherry jam
- wild strawberry jam
- tangerine jam
- Raspberry and cherry fruit pulp
- Ünye Turkish delight (a type of cookie)
- Izabella grape and juice
- and of course hazelnuts, hazelnut paste…
Dried phyllo dessert with hazelnuts
Melevcen (thorn tip) roasted
Baked Sütlücen
There are many flavors in Ünye that are suitable for both gluttons like us and vegans. You best go and taste it for yourself!
Unye Venues
I am listing below, along with my comments, the places where we tasted various Ünye delicacies and had a pleasant time during our stay in Ünye;
Çakırtepe – The Atagarden
The place is very stylish and decent in terms of ambience, the view is beautiful, but after the pitas we ate in the following places, we came to the conclusion that although the presentation of the pitas here was successful, their taste was not very good.
The Coffee Factory
Our choice to drink coffee in Ünye was The Coffee Factory. Not only is the coffee delicious, but an old mansion has been restored, the building is beautifully preserved, and the decoration is enjoyable. It's usually crowded in the evenings, but during the day it's quieter, a perfect place to use a computer and work.
motto
It is a beautiful, large and spacious place with its location on the beach, right next to the pier. A special menu consisting of local delicacies was prepared for us here, everything we ate was very delicious, normally it has a rich menu from breakfast to burgers, meat and fish dishes.
Camlik Cafe
This is a place run by the municipality inside Çamlık Park. We took a tea/coffee break, but the place is very nice and there are still dessert and food options. Since it is a municipal operation, its prices are reasonable.
Asarkaya – Panorama Cafe & Restaurant
Ünye Municipality has a business in Asarkaya, which is one of the most beautiful spots where the view of Ünye can be watched. It is a place that can be preferred for its view with a rich menu and affordable prices.
Hüsrev Yürür Mansion
One of the restored mansions in the city center serves as a cafe. There is a tea, coffee and dessert menu. We went here just to look, we didn't sit down.
Ünye Women's Cooperative
If you want to taste the local dishes specific to Ünye and even take them home, this is the address to go. They serve on the ground floor of Taka Restaurant on the beach. Be sure to stop by to taste the various delicacies prepared by the women of Ünye with their own hands!
Where to Stay in Ünye?
There are many accommodation options in Ünye. If you choose seaside accommodation, it would be a good idea to make sure that it has beaches with magnetic sand.
For accommodation options in Ünye;
- Yalihan Hotel: If you are looking for a modest, clean hotel with a sea view in the city center, you can choose this hotel, where we stayed.
- Atik Hotel: If you want a boutique, stylish hotel by the sea, you can choose this place. Even if you do not stay at the hotel, you can benefit from the restaurant.
- Yaniklar Apart Hotel: If you want to stay in a health tourism concept in magnetic sand beds, this may be your choice.
- Sebile Hanım Mansion: If you want to stay in one of the historical mansions while you are in Ünye, you can choose this place.
- Ramada: If you are looking for a place by the sea with the comfort of a chain hotel, there is that too.
- Çınarsuyu Nature Park camp and bungalow: If you want to stay by the sea a little outside the city center, you can camp in Çınarsuyu Nature Park or stay in bungalows.
Don't Leave Without Visiting Ünye
I can't help but write about the things you must experience when you go to Ünye.
- Without getting buried in the sand on magnetic sand beaches (we couldn't do it, hopefully in the summer), without buying jewelry made of magnetic sand from the shop in Bakırcılar Bazaar,
- Before tasting local delicacies at Ünye Women's Cooperative,
- Without seeing Ünye Castle and its corridors,
- Without taking a photo on Kalamış Hill,
- Spinning a top at the Living Cultural Heritage Museum,
- Without buying the delicious hazelnuts,
- Without taking a long walk in Çamlık,
- Before watching the beautiful view of the city at Çakırtepe or Asarkaya,
- Without eating Ünye pita,
- Without taking a tour of the Central Bazaar,
- Do not return from Ünye without seeing the mansions that carry the splendor of the old days to today!
Thanks
Even though our trip to Ünye was short, it was very enjoyable, we would like to go again during the hazelnut harvest.
To the ÜNTİSAD Association, which invited us and hosted us wonderfully, to the president of the association, Ms. Öznur Özkan Güdek, who was always with us and talked about Ünye with love, and to the vice-president, Mr. Osman Duvar; To Ünye Municipality and mayor Hüseyin Tavlı; Endless thanks to dear Özcan Çamyar, one of my oldest followers/readers, and his sweet wife Sedef, for hosting us.
