Places to Visit in Sinop and Sinop Travel Guide

West Blacksea Undoubtedly one of the best stops of our trip. Sinop it happened. I call Sinop the most Mediterranean city of the Black Sea. It is one of the must-see cities in the Black Sea with its modern, smiling people and many places to see. Sinop places to visit, what to buy in Sinop, what to eat in Sinop, where to eat, where to stay in Sinop answers to your questions and much more Sinop travel guide This article is waiting for you, have a pleasant reading!

Short Brief About Sinop

Sinop is the marginal city of the Black Sea Region in my opinion. If you ask why it is marginal, when you go to Sinop, you feel like you went to a city on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, not in the Black Sea Region. Compared to other Black Sea cities, Sinop is one of the cities where production and industry is low and we call it a city of civil servants and even retired people. Therefore, people are generally relaxed and happy.

According to the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), Sinop was the province with the highest happiness level in Turkey in 2014, 2016 and 2017. They determined the sources of happiness in order of importance as follows:

• We have plenty of sea, seafood, forest and natural beauties.
• Our population is low, we do not have traffic problems, our air is clean, our stress is low.
• We are in a city where retired and old people can live.
• We eat organic with seafood and natural products
• Life is cheap, livelihood is low, we are self-sufficient
• We are far from big cities
• We have social and cultural opportunities to relieve stress.

The reasons for happiness are also beautiful, aren't they?

According to 2018 data, Sinop also shows the feature of being the province with the highest middle-aged population and elderly population. As the age progresses, the expectation from life decreases, do people become happier?

Well, isn't it a great contradiction that the first place that comes to mind when the name of this happy city is mentioned is the "Historical Sinop Prison"?

Western Black Sea excursion route and cost My article about you may also be of use to you, check it out!

"Don't Overshadow, I Don't Want Another Ihsan"

Almost everyone has heard this saying of Diogenes, although he does not know who the myth is, he must have used it. The Greek Philosopher Diogenes was born in Sinop, lived in a barrel and attracted the attention of the Macedonian King Alexander the Great, who loved philosophy. Alexander wanted to help the famous philosopher and said, "Do you have any request from me, what do you wish from me?" He asked, and Diogenes's answer was, "Don't overshadow, I don't want any other benevolence". Here, the grandchildren of Diogenes, who challenged Alexander the Great, live happily in Sinop today.

On the way to Sinop, many questions in my mind, on the Black Sea coastal road, the fierce Black Sea on one side and the green hills on the other side accompanied us. We arrived at Martı Campground, where we will be staying late in the evening.

Places to Visit in Sinop

The list of places to visit in Sinop in this article includes places both in the city and outside the city. I visited similar places when I went to Sinop at different times. The list below is the sum of two trips. In both visits, I traveled by car, so especially to places outside the city, "Is there public transport?" If you're asking, I don't know. The fastest and most practical method is to travel by car.

Come on then, we're starting to tour Sinop!

Most of the places to see in Sinop city center are within walking distance. We start our tour of Sinop from the Historical Sinop Prison, which is located at the entrance of the city. We left our car in the open parking lot opposite the prison, we paid 10 TL for the whole day. It may not be that price in normal times, all the prices have increased a little when the holiday time is gone.

Historical Sinop Prison, Sinop Center

The historical Sinop Prison was first used as a castle, then a dungeon and then a prison. It now serves as a museum. If you have a Museum Card, you can enter for free. 7 TL entrance fee if you do not have a Museum Card.

The historical Sinop Prison is actually a castle built by the sea. This is a huge area of ​​11 square meters surrounded by 13.000 bastions. This land was first used as a castle, then a dungeon, and then a prison since 1887. With its seaside location, shipbuilding was also done in the castle.

The prison also draws attention with its wards that can accommodate 50 people and its separate sections for women and children. Unfortunately, the reason why the prison is famous is that many famous artists and writers have spent time here. The most popular among them is Sabahattin Ali. He wrote the lines "Mad waves outside, come and lick the walls, these sounds distract me, never mind heart, never mind" while he was in Sinop Prison. The room where Sabahattin Ali slept is open to visitors on the 3rd floor of the left block. While the poems composed by Sabahattin Ali are broadcast over the loudspeaker at the entrance of the block, many of his poems adorn the walls.

There are also many movies and TV series shot in the prison. A few of them are still decorated. The ward where the TV series “Behind Barriers” was shot is the most visited places in the prison, together with Sabahattin Ali's room.

Films Shot in Historical Sinop Prison:

• A Bandit Does Not Rule The World
• Sorry
• Our Story

TV Series Filmed in Historical Sinop Prison:

• Dog
• Between the Railings
• Captive City Tears
• Tatar Ramazan

There are many parts to visit in the prison such as viewing rooms, Turkish bath, dungeon, cells, juvenile detention center. In addition, there are signs in the garden and indoors with some anecdotes, which caught my attention. I suggest you spare a few hours to visit the historical Sinop Prison, you can't get out right away.

Diogenes Statue, Sinop Merkez

At the beginning of the article, we talked about the philosopher Diogenes from Sinop, who lived in a barrel. The statue of Diogenes, which is depicted with its barrel, greets those who come to Sinop with the city walls behind it, across the Historical Prison at the entrance of Sinop. After greeting Diogenes, you can continue on your way to Sinop bazaar.

Sinop Bazaar

If you take the Diogenes statue behind you and continue walking on the main street, you will enter the Sinop bazaar. This place is quite tidy with newly built landscaping. Due to only one lane and one-way traffic flow, there is a bit of traffic congestion during the holiday season, I don't think there is such a problem except for the holidays.

Shops of many brands, cafes and restaurants welcome you in the bazaar. This activity continues until the Government Square. If you take the bazaar behind you and turn right from the Government Square, you go down towards Sinop Harbor and Lovers Street, which is a nice alternative to spend time by the sea.

Aladdin Complex and Mosque, Sinop Central

The Alaaddin Kulliye and Mosque, which you will encounter with its high walls on the street side, in the very center of the Sinop bazaar, was built by Alaaddin Keykubat after the Seljuks conquered Sinop, and takes its name from him. It draws attention with its architecture reminiscent of Arab mosques and Seljuk embroideries.

Pervane Madrasa, Sinop Merkez

If you come out of the back door of the Alaaddin Mosque, you will come across a building with high walls, and that building is the Pervane Madrasa. The Pervane Madrasa was built by the Seljuk vizier Muinuddin Süleyman Pervane when the Seljuks conquered the city for the second time.

Today, Pervane Madrasa is used as a bazaar where handicrafts and handicrafts are sold. There is also a restaurant and a cafe inside. The restaurant is a place where you can eat local food.

When you enter the bazaar, the shop on the right is the shop of retired teacher Hicran lady. He embroiders the patterns on his grandmother's clothes with his own hands. You can buy gifts or something to wear yourself here. He is very pleasant to talk to, you can learn something about the history and culture of Sinop while talking.

Sinop Archeology Museum, Sinop Central

Since Sinop is home to many civilizations such as Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk, you can find artifacts found in this region at the Sinop Archeology Museum. The Archaeological Museum also overlooks Government Square. You can visit the museum for free with a Müzekart, or for 7 TL if you don't have a Müzekart.

Sea Martyrs Monument, Sinop Merkez

The Sea Martyrs Monument is located in the garden of the Archeology Museum. This monument was built at the burial place of the sailors who lost their lives in the raid of the Russian Navy on Sinop in 1853. While visiting the Archeology Museum, do not forget to stop by here and commemorate the martyrs of the sea.

Ethnography Museum, Sinop Central

Ethnography Museum is a beautiful mansion where you can see Sinop culture. The building, whose ground floor is made of stone and upper floors of wood, is also a good example of Sinop architecture. Entry is also free.

Hal Sinop Meeting Center, Sinop Merkez

This is a place where the old hall building has been brought to city life. The inscription “open to all ideas” on its door suits Sinop perfectly. It is located at the beginning of the bazaar, you can stop by here after Diogenes.

Sinop Castle, Sinop Center

Sinop Castle welcomes you with its walls from the city entrance. The castle walls are 2050 meters. The castle walls, which were built to protect the city with a height of 25 meters and a width of 3 meters, date back to BC. It was made in the 7th century. Strabo named these walls “Sinop sea walls”. After passing the historical Sinop Prison, you encounter the first walls, and when you go down to the harbor, you have the opportunity to see the walls up close.

Balatlar Church, Sinop Central

The place known as the Balatlar Church among the people is actually an excavation site. In addition to the church, the remains of other buildings such as baths and bazaars were also found.

Lovers Street, Sinop Central

The wide street on the Sinop coastline was named Lovers Street. The street with cafes and restaurants on one side and the other side is quite crowded with those who go for a walk, especially in the evening. Don't forget to eat Sinop Ravioli at the ravioli on the street.

Şahin Hill, Sinop Center

Şahin Tepesi is the recommended place to watch Sinop from above. The first time I went to Sinop, it went up the hill, but I didn't add it to my route on my second visit because I wasn't impressed with the scenery. If you say "I still want to look", you have to leave by car.

Sinop Port

Sinop Harbor is one of the lively spots in Sinop. While there are not many places with alcohol on Lovers Street, when you come towards the port, the places that I guess were old fishermen's shelters have turned into restaurants with alcohol. In the evening, you may want to watch the sunset and have a drink here.

In addition, you can take a tour around Sinop with boat tours departing right next to the port, and you can enjoy both the city and the sea from the sea.

Inceburun Lighthouse

İnceburun Lighthouse is a very special place as it is located at the northernmost tip of Anatolia. The lighthouse can be reached by a road of approximately 20 kilometers from the city center of Sinop.

The family living in the lighthouse opened a small cafe here, where you can find tea, coffee and pancakes. You cannot enter the lighthouse, but you can watch the wonderful view from the walking paths around it. I guess there is no transportation other than coming here by private car.

While coming to İnceburun by car, we saw that the trees were cut in heaps on very large lands. There are signs in the form of "industrial tree felling" in the felled areas. In the news, it was written that this tree was cut for the nuclear power plant planned to be built in İnceburun. If it really is, the situation is deplorable… It is said that the number of trees cut down exceeds 650 thousand. article on this topic there's .

Hamsilos Bay and Nature Park

Hamsilos Nature Park, which also includes Hamsilos Bay, is one of Sinop's natural beauties and is very popular. More than 80% of the tourists visiting Sinop also visit here. This is a nature map created by the sea extending like a tongue towards the land. The forest wealth around it also supports this beauty. When I first came to Sinop, the sources I read wrote that this place had the characteristics of a fjord, but on my second visit, I learned that this natural formation is called the ria coastal type. Drying of the river bed, rising sea level or soil depressions can cause this coastal type to form.

After a short geography lesson, let's go back to Hamsilos Bay. The entrance to the bay, which is 14 kilometers from Sinop, comes across after a few kilometers after passing Akliman Bay. There are parking areas where you can leave your car, there is a toilet and a prayer room at the entrance. The entrance here is free. There is a very short walking distance from the entrance to the place where you will see the bay, it is 100 meters at most. Pergolas and walking paths were built around the bay, and I was very happy that it was very neat and clean, because when I first came here, it was both very untidy and full of garbage. I must say that great progress has been made.

Hamsilos Bay was used as a shelter for ships and a place of protection for pirates in history.

There is also a 2-kilometer path from Hamsilos Bay to the part where the recess you see in the photo above is. You can take a walk by eating blackberries in a forest of 2 kilometers going, 2 kilometers returning a total of 4 kilometers. We walked 500-600 meters on the path and came back, it is an easy route to walk, but don't forget to take walking shoes and water with you.

Also, when the name of this place is a bay, don't think of it as a beach or a place to swim. The shore of the bay consists of steep cliffs. You can take a walk or picnic here. You can choose Akliman to swim in the sea.

Akliman Nature Park and Recreation Area

Akliman Nature Park is located on the Hamsilos road, 9 kilometers from Sinop. Akliman Bay is a very quiet bay due to its geographical location, and therefore it has become a frequented place for fishermen, and over time it has become a frequented place for picnickers.

As there is a promenade with a paid entrance, there are areas where you can both swim and have a picnic free of charge. When we went during the holiday, we did not stop because it was very crowded.

It is possible to visit the Sinop city center and the places in the vicinity above in the same day. If you have extra days, continue reading my suggestions below.

Erfelek Tatlıca Waterfalls, Erfelek

If you come to Sinop, you should take the Erfelek Tatlıca Waterfalls among the must-see places. We are talking about a place where 28 waterfalls flow, be prepared to walk a little and get wet.

Located 47 kilometers from the city center of Sinop, where the waterfalls are located, there is a large promenade area, so there are many people who come to picnic.

There is an entrance fee to the ruins called Erfelek Tatlıca Team Waterfalls. If you come by car, a fee is charged per vehicle. We left our vehicle a little ahead and entered on foot, the entrance fee of 5 TL per person.

The biggest waterfall you see when you first enter the ruins, and as you continue on the path that starts next to that waterfall, you encounter many waterfalls, large and small. After a point, the path gets quite difficult, so it's best to go as far as you can and return at the point where you don't find it safe.

There were also a few places where you could drink tea and eat pancakes on the pathway when I came years ago. On our last visit, we decided not to walk because of the crowd, I don't know if there has been a change.

If you want to walk to the waterfalls, I suggest you make a plan to spend at least 3-4 hours here.

Basalt Rocks Natural Monument, Boyabat

When I shared a photo of the basalt cliffs on Iceland's famous Reynisfjara coast during our Iceland trip in September 2018, one of my followers said, "There is the same thing in Sinop, come and see". Since that day, I have had to see the basalt rocks in Boyabat in the back of my mind. In August 2019, my dream came true.

Boyabat Basalt Rocks Natural Monument is located in a valley 15 kilometers from the center of Boyabat, and is divided into two parts as the Big Basalt Valley and the Small Basalt Valley.

The basalt rocks, consisting of columns with 30-40-4 corners at a height of 5-6 meters, create a magnificent view. Unfortunately, this place was operated as a quarry before it was taken under protection, and most of these rocks, which are rare in the world, were blown up. It doesn't make sense, does it? Fortunately, someone realized the value here, it is now under protection.

Nature park entrance is free. Pathways and signposts are well laid out. There is a 1-1,5 kilometer hiking trail up to the waterfall at the end of the great basalt valley. Since there are no facilities inside, be sure to take water with you, especially if you went in a hot time like us.

Very little water was dripping from the waterfall when we went, the water here was flowing stronger at the end of spring and beginning of summer.

There are viewing terraces, picnic tables and a training area on the track. Basalt Cliffs are one of the must-see places in this region. An amazing natural wonder!

Boyabat Castle, Boyabat

If you come all the way to Boyabat, don't miss the Boyabat Castle. BC7. It is possible to see the traces of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman in the castle dated to the XNUMXth century. With the restoration, its walls are quite solid and Boyabat can be seen from many points in the center.

Where is Sinop, How to Go?

Sinop is located almost in the middle of the Black Sea region. Located at the northernmost tip of Anatolia, this beautiful city is one of the rare cities where you can enjoy both the sunrise and the sunset, because one side faces east and the other side faces west thanks to its geographical location.

The distance between Sinop and Istanbul is approximately 680 kilometers, you can reach it in 8 hours with your own vehicle. If you want to go by bus, it takes 11-12 hours and ticket prices are around 130 TL. There is also an airport in Sinop. If you want, you can also come from Istanbul by plane. There are 2 flights a day, both THY and Pegasus fly and the flight time is 1 hour and 15 minutes.

What to Buy in Sinop?

“What to buy from Sinop?” if you say; Due to its location, Sinop is a city that has always been intertwined with shipping. However, nowadays, model ships made of wood rather than nautical are famous. If you go to Sinop, there are many shops in the back street of the port that make these wooden ships, the smallest one starts from 8 TL, the prices vary according to the size and model.

Apart from these ships, you can find many hand-woven or hand-embroidered clothes both in the bazaar, in the Pervane Madrasa, and in the Hanımeli Bazaar next to the Sinop Castle.

What to Eat and Where to Eat in Sinop?

What to eat in Sinop? There is a very clear answer to the question: Sinop Ravioli. Apart from ravioli, Sinop Simidi, Nokul and pide are also famous dishes that we can find in Sinop.

Sinop Ravioli

The people of Kayseri or other cities famous for their ravioli, sorry, my favorite ravioli is Sinop ravioli. You can find ravioli in many places in the city center of Sinop.

As for my suggestions for places to eat Sinop ravioli; The most famous are the restaurant serving local dishes at the entrance of the Pervane Madrasa, and the Mantici Hala and Teyzenin Yeri on the Lovers Street.

Aunt Manti and Teyze are two restaurants next to each other. As their name suggests, they are in competition. Those who love ravioli are divided into two as halal and aunty sellers. I went to Aunt's Place without hesitation on my second visit, as I preferred my aunt on my first visit and liked it very much.

At Teyzenin Yeri, you can watch the bright women opening the ravioli in the window. You can ask for ravioli with yogurt or walnuts. When it has walnuts, crushed walnuts are placed on it as in the photo below. I mixed it up because I love both. The price of this plate is 25 TL.

Asks

It is also home to plenty of pide makers since it is close to Sinop, Bafra and Samsun. If you say you can't go all the way to Bafra, and I think if you have time, definitely go, you can also stop by the pide shops in Sinop. If you don't feel cold and go to Bafra, I will recommend Ali Pide.

If you want to drink something alcoholic and eat fish in the evening in Sinop, Barınak Kafe is the most recommended place in the harbor. Cem's Kitchen, which has just opened next to the shelter cafe, is a modern place where you can find pub food.

Where to Stay in Sinop?

He was a guest of Sinop Antik Hotel when I first came to Sinop. It has many advantages such as being close to the city center and having its own beach. If you want to stay at a hotel when you go to Sinop, it is a place I would definitely recommend.

This time, we stayed at the Martı Campground, which is located between the Airport and Akliman, 4-5 kilometers from the center of Sinop. It is very nice as a camping area, it has facilities such as electricity, shower, kitchen, there is a very long beach in front of it. However, it is quite expensive for a camping area, 65 TL per person to stay with your own tent. We agreed on 100TL for two people, but it was still too much. Due to the holiday, prices may be extra high.

We decided to stay at the hotel for one night in Sinop, but of course, I couldn't find a place in the Antik Hotel where I stayed before during the feast. We stayed at Ufuk Apart Pansiyon, which is within walking distance of the Karakum beach, which is 2-3 kilometers from the center of Sinop. We paid 185 TL for two people room + breakfast. The room and restaurant section are extremely clean, the employees are concerned, I can say that it is a very good option for its price.

Of course, there are many hostel and hotel options in Sinop, I wanted to share my own experiences.

Best Time to Go to Sinop

I went to Sinop twice, once in June and once in August. The weather was beautiful in both. Although my first trip was the beginning of June, I was able to swim in the sea. In fact, we didn't even take a swimsuit/bikini with us in case the weather was cold, we took it from Sinop and enjoyed the sea at that time. When we went in August, although the weather was very clear, it was quite windy. But it could be pure luck. If you want to swim in Sinop, you can enjoy the sea between June and September.

If I go to Sinop again, I would love to go in spring or autumn. I really want to see this nature especially in autumn when the colors start to change. If your goal is not to swim but to be in touch with nature, spring months may be more suitable.

If you are going to see the Boyabat Basalt Rocks Natural Monument, the spring or early summer months when the water is stronger will be appropriate. When we went to see it in August, there was almost no water flowing from the waterfall, I'm sure it would be much more beautiful to see the water flowing from there.

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