see

Ordu, which was ruled by the Cimmerians, Persians, Macedonians, Pontus, Romans and Byzantines since 7th century BCE, and finally came under the rule of the Turks, is one of the most popular cities of the Black Sea with its thousands of years of history, cultural richness and natural beauty.

Ordu promises its visitors extremely pleasant times with its historical buildings, local cuisine, handicrafts and natural beauties in addition to the kilometers-long coastline.

The places you should definitely see when you go to Ordu can be listed as follows:

Boztepe

Boztepe is one of the oldest settlements in Ordu province where houses are scattered on its slopes. It is 450 meters above sea level. It is possible to reach here by a 6 km road from the city center or by cable car if you wish. You will be awarded with a fascinating view of Ordu, the blue of the Black Sea and the horizon from Boztepe. There are also food, beverage and recreational facilities and picnic areas in Boztepe.

Kurul Castle

The castle is an ancient settlement, 13 km from the city center, within the borders of the village of Bayadı, a protected archaeological and natural site. During the excavations initiated in 2010, temple and castle walls dating back 2300 years were found. A marble Cybele Statue was unearthed in 2016 during the excavations. The statue in question draws attention as it is the first in-situ (in its original place) example of cybele sculptures dating to the Hellenistic period.  

Eskipazar (Bayramlı) Mosque and Baths

The mosque, located in Eskipazar, the second settlement of Ordu, is thought to be built by Hacıemiroğulları in the 1380s. The window shutters and pulpit of the mosque are among the best examples of wood carving and are exhibited in Ankara Ethnography Museum. Next to the mosque there is a large hamam with a dome made of rubble stone on the outside and smooth hewn stone inside and a small square bath, thought to be built in the 15-16th centuries.

Laleli Çivisiz Mosque

The mosque, located in the center of İkizce, was built during the Tulip Period. The lumber used in the mosque, which is completely made of wood, is valonia oak, which is resistant to the elements. The door of the mosque is decorated with tulip motifs.

Bolaman Castle Hazinedaroğlu Mansion

There is a small basilica-planned chapel inside the castle in Fatsa district, Bolaman locality. Hazinedaroğlu Mansion (Hazinedaroğlu Konağı) is a wooden mansion built within the inner castle in the 18th century. It is one of the most important examples of civil architecture in the region.

Ünye Castle

The castle in Ünye district of Ordu is 2500 years old. At the entrance of the castle, there is a Tetrastyle rock tomb, 3 meters in width and 2 meters in height. There is an eagle statue in relief on each of the three points of the triangular thickness of the tomb.

Paşaoğlu Mansion Ethnography Museum

The mansion, which has extremely rich stone workmanship among the registered works of art in Ordu, was built by Paşaoğlu Hüseyin Efendi in 1896. Along with 663 archaeological and 1574 ethnographic artifacts, there is a collection of 4361 artifacts in total, consisting of 2090 coins and 34 seals in the museum.

Ünye Museum House

The building has the characteristics of 16th century classical Ottoman architecture. The house was built of wood on a stone floor.

Taşbaşı Cultural Center (Old Prison-Church)

The church, located in Taşbaşı district of Ordu city center, was built entirely of cut stone in 1853 and has survived until today to a great extent. The church, which has a basilica-like structure, has been used as a cultural center since 2000.

Yason Cape Peninsula and Yason Church

Yason Cape, which is one of the places worth seeing with its natural beauty, is located on the Samsun-Ordu highway in Perşembe district. The church, built in 1869, became one of the most important tourism attraction centers of Ordu with its location by the sea after it was restored and landscaped according to its original form and opened to visitors. This is the only peninsula with a church along the Black Sea coast. It is mentioned in the Argonauts myth.

Plateaus

Ordu is one of the regions where the transhumance tradition continues. Each of the many plateaus and hundreds of nomad groups in the region has its own characteristics. Çambaşı, Argın, Perşembe, Düzoba, Korgan, Keyfalan, Yeşilce and Topçam plateaus of Ordu are among the most festive and touristic plateaus of the Black Sea. Festivals are organized and local markets are established on these plateaus.

Çambaşı Plateau

This is one of the most important plateaus of the Black Sea Region. It is 1850 meters above sea level. Regular minibus services are available between the city and the plateau. There are also trout restaurants and accommodation facilities. The plateau is suitable for both summer and winter tourism. "Çambaşı Winter Sports and Ski Center (Çarşamba Kış Sporları ve Kayak Merkezi)” was commissioned in 2017 for sports activities in Çambaşı Plateau (Çambaşı Yaylası).

Perşembe Plateau

The altitude of the plateau in Aybastı district is around 1500 meters. Traditional oil wrestling and highland festivals which have been ongoing for a thousand years are held every year in July. It is an ideal place for relaxation, picnics, safari and paragliding. There is also a small lake.

Keyfalan Plateau

The plateau is located at an altitude of 1,200 meters. Three nomad groups populate the plateau, which is located on the slopes of Kara Tepe, in open areas covered with grass among pine forests. It stands out among other plateaus with its traditional highland architecture. Keyfalan Plateau (Keyfalan Yaylası), offering unlimited opportunities for hiking, picnicking and relaxing in addition to its clean air, healthy waters and natural products, has a very favorable environment for human health.

Ulugöl Nature Park

It is a crater lake located 17 km from Gölköy district center. The lake has a diameter of 250 meters. The lake is surrounded by forests. The area is suitable for camping. There are bungalows for accommodation.

Ünye Yalı Church

The church was built by Greeks living in the region during the second half of the 19th century. The church was restored as a Culture and Art Center with a restoration project carried out in 2015.

Ünye Saray Bath

The bath house was made of stones extracted from Ünye by Armenian stone masters in the 1800s. The bath is named Saray (Palace) Bath because Süleyman Pasha commissioned the building of this bath for the use of the palace people and guests. It is rectangular-shaped on the outside. The bath consists of cold, warm and hot sections and is still used as a bathhouse today.

Gaga Lake

Gaga Lake (Gaga Gölü), located 10 km northeast of Fatsa district, was formed as a result of a landslide in the region. The depth of the lake, which covers an area of 60 decares, varies between 10-15 meters and there is a small islet in the center. This lake, surrounded by greenery, among hazelnut groves, hosts many plant and animal species. The lake, where 4 different fish species live, has been taken under protection as a natural protected area.

Sıtkıcan and Menekşe Street

On this avenue and street in Taşbaşı neighborhood, where the historical Taşbaşı Church (Taşbaşı Kilisesi) is located, you can see the best examples of the historical houses that reflect the characteristics of Armenian, Greek and Ottoman architecture, which were built in the Ottoman period and have been restored today.

Gölköy Castle

Located in Gölköy district, the historical castle was built with a single door and on a wide area. It was built on a hill dominating the district, suitable for observation and defense.

The Beaches

Çaka Beach (Çaka Plajı), which is one of the untouched corners of Perşembe district, is near Hoynat Island (Hoynat Adası). It is one of the rare beaches that has not been affected by ecological pollution much. On Efirli Beach (Efirli Plajı), which is one of the most important holiday destinations of Ordu; public holiday camp sites serve visitors with food and beverage facilities and music and entertainment venues during the summer period.

Gülyalı district is also a district rich in beaches. Restaurants, changing cabins and gazebos await their visitors both in summer and winter. There are many hotels, motels, pensions and camping areas on Uzunkum Beach (Uzunkum Plajı) in Ünye district. It is believed by the locals that the magnetic black sand on Uzunkum beach is good for some rheumatic diseases, skin diseases and stress.

Kabakdağı Village

The village is 9 km away from Fatsa. It is one of the villages that is involved in eco-tourism work together with organic agriculture. The village, which was established by migrants from Batumi after the 1877 Ottoman - Russian War, has more than 100 local dishes. It has also been successful in producing organic honey, eggs, dairy products, vegetables and fruits. The village stands out in tourism with its rich vegetation, trekking tracks, local folk dances unique to the village.

Yoroz City Forest & Observation Terrace

One of Ordu’s iconic landmarks, Yoroz Urban Forest offers an impressive vantage point where the city and the Black Sea can be seen at the same time. Forest walking trails and a viewing terrace create an enjoyable route for those who want to spend time immersed in nature. Reaching the summit reveals a panoramic scene that brings Ordu’s lush greenery and its coastline together in a single frame.

Ablak Stone Viewing Terrace

Perched on a rugged rock formation, Ablak Taşı Viewing Terrace is one of Ordu’s striking natural viewpoints. Offering a sweeping field of view over the valley and surrounding mountain silhouettes, the terrace is especially appealing for photography during sunrise and sunset. Its quiet, understated atmosphere makes it an ideal stop for those seeking a serene pause in nature.