Sumela MonasteryWhere Is Sumela Monastery? Map, Location & Directions
Sumela Monastery on the map
Sumela Monastery (Sümela Manastırı) is on Turkey's Black Sea coast region, inland from the city of Trabzon. It is built into a sheer rock face above the Altındere stream, inside Altındere Valley National Park.
- Country: Turkey
- Province: Trabzon
- District: Maçka
- National park: Altındere Valley National Park
- Mountain: Karadağ (Mount Mela)
- Altitude: about 1,200 m (≈3,900 ft)
- Coordinates: 40.690° N, 39.658° E
How far is Sumela Monastery from…
| From | Distance | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Trabzon city centre | about 45–50 km | about 1 hour |
| Trabzon Airport (TZX) | about 50–55 km | about 1 hour 15 min |
| Maçka town | about 17 km | about 25 min |
| Uzungöl | – | about 2 hours |
Coming from abroad? Most travellers fly to Istanbul and take a domestic flight of about 2 hours to Trabzon Airport (TZX).
Directions in short
- From Trabzon, take the D885 road south towards Maçka and Gümüşhane.
- In Maçka, follow the brown signs for Sümela into Altındere Valley.
- Drive along the valley to the national park entrance and the car park.
- From the car park, take the shuttle or walk up the forest path to the monastery (20–30 min).
All options – tour, dolmuş, taxi and rental car – are explained step by step in our guide to getting from Trabzon to Sumela Monastery.
Driving yourself? Pick up a rental car at Trabzon Airport:
No car? A tour with hotel pickup in Trabzon is the easiest way:
FAQ
Where is Sumela Monastery located?
In Altındere Valley National Park in the Maçka district of Trabzon Province, north-east Turkey, on the cliffs of Mount Karadağ at about 1,200 m.
How far is Sumela Monastery from Trabzon?
About 45–50 km south of Trabzon city centre, around 1 hour by car.
What are the coordinates of Sumela Monastery?
About 40.690° N, 39.658° E.
Which airport is closest to Sumela Monastery?
Trabzon Airport (TZX), about 1 hour 15 minutes away by car.
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