A 1,600-year-old monastery glued to a cliff, hanging over a misty forest. Yeah, it's real. We'll hook you up with the best Sumela Monastery tours and all-inclusive Black Sea packages – no guesswork.
Hotels, transfers, guide and most meals in one booking – the easiest way to do Sumela, Uzungöl and Ayder. Compare on Viator and GetYourGuide and grab the best price.
Got a few days? This is the move. Multi-day packages bundle hotels, transport, guide and most meals, so you just show up and vibe. You'll hit Sumela Monastery, the postcard-perfect Uzungöl Lake, and the green highlands of Ayder.
Already got your hotel and rental car? Skip the package and grab just the tour. Day trips to Sumela, Uzungöl and Hamsiköy, private guided tours and airport transfers – all with hotel pickup.
Not going with a package? No problem – book your hotel room, rental car and tours separately and build your own trip.
Doing it your own way? Pick where to sleep and compare hotel prices in one search. Stay in Trabzon for easy day trips, in Maçka to be first at the monastery gates, or by the lake in Uzungöl.
Wanna roll at your own pace? Grab a rental car right at Trabzon Airport and hit Sumela, Uzungöl and Ayder whenever you want. Compare prices from all the big rental companies in one search.
Hand-picked all-inclusive packages from licensed local agencies in Trabzon – Sumela, Uzungöl, Ayder and more, with local guides who know every corner.
Hotels, transfers, guide and meals – booked straight with a trusted Trabzon agency.
Already got your hotel and rental car? Book just the tour – day trips and private guided tours with hotel pickup, no package needed.
Two must-sees in one day. Monastery in the morning, lake in the afternoon. Perfect if you only have one day in Trabzon.
Monastery + mountain views + Hamsiköy, the village famous for its rice pudding. Trust us, get the rice pudding.
Short on time? In and out in about half a day with pickup included. Usually the cheapest guided option.
Your schedule, your pace, just your crew. Great for families, couples and anyone who hates waiting on a group.
Landing at Trabzon Airport (TZX)? Get picked up and head straight to the monastery – no rental car stress.
Everything you need before you go – tickets, hours, getting there and what to wear.
The official e-ticket for international visitors runs about $23. The Museum Pass Türkiye works here too. Inside the park there's also a small shuttle fee to get you closer to the trail. Most tours include pickup; some also include the ticket – check the listing.
Open every day. Hours run longer in summer and shorter in winter (roughly 8 AM to early evening in summer, closing around 5 PM in winter). Last entry is about 30 minutes before closing. Hours can shift, so double-check before heading out.
May through October for the best weather. Go early in the morning to beat the crowds – and the valley fog makes for crazy-good photos.
The monastery sits about 45–50 km (around 30 miles) south of Trabzon in Altındere Valley National Park, near Maçka. Your options:
From the shuttle drop-off it's a short but steep uphill walk with stairs. Wear real shoes, bring water, and dress modestly – it's a religious site.
Why is there a monastery stuck to a cliff in the middle of nowhere? Here's the short version.
The legend: Around AD 386, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius I, two monks from Athens – Barnabas and Sophronios – are said to have found an icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave on this cliff. The icon, known as Panagia Sumela, was traditionally credited to St. Luke. They built a church right there to house it.
The glory days: The monastery was rebuilt several times. It got its biggest boost in the 14th century under Emperor Alexios III of the Empire of Trebizond, who – legend says – was saved from a storm by the Virgin Mary.
Abandoned: In 1923, after the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, the monks left and the monastery was abandoned. A fire around 1930 destroyed its wooden parts. The famous icon ended up at a new Panagia Soumela monastery in northern Greece.
Today: Sumela is a museum. It was added to UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List in 2000, closed in 2015 for major safety and restoration work, and reopened to visitors in 2019. Don't miss the Rock Church and its frescoes – they're the heart of the place.
Straight-up guides for planning your Sumela Monastery trip – no fluff.
Half-day, full-day, private or all-inclusive? We break down every type of Sumela Monastery tour from Trabzon so you pick the right one fast.
Tour, dolmuş, taxi or rental car – every way to get from Trabzon (and Trabzon Airport) to Sumela Monastery, with travel times and tips.
How much is the Sumela Monastery entrance fee, is the Museum Pass valid, and what are the summer and winter opening hours? All the 2026 info.
Day-by-day Black Sea Turkey itineraries built around Sumela Monastery – plus Uzungöl, Ayder and Hamsiköy. Do it yourself or book it as an all-inclusive package.
Trabzon city, Maçka or Uzungöl? Here's where to book your hotel for visiting Sumela Monastery – plus whether you should rent a car.
The legend of the icon, the Trebizond emperors, the 1923 abandonment and the restoration – the story of Sumela Monastery, explained simply.
Type your question about Sumela Monastery or tours – we'll give you a straight answer and our recommendation.
Sumela Monastery
