Sinop
Sinop is a city in the Black Sea region of Turkey.
Sinop is a charming Black Sea port town with excellent views. You can easily spend a day here wandering around the town, restaurants and sea front, although you could also easily see everything in half a day.
Understand
Sinop is a resort town on the Black Sea. It's a popular holiday spot for Turkish students. During summertime, the resort is very crowded and full of young men and ladies.
Get in
There is a daily Turkish Airlines morning flight to Istanbul (IST) Airport.
- 1 Sinop Airport.
Long-distance buses is also an popular alternative for reaching Sinop. There are connections from most major cities in Turkey, especially during summer.
- 2 Sinop bus station (Sinop Otogarı).
Get around
Sinop is easily navigable by foot. Parking is likely to be difficult in the summer.
See
Sinop has impressive fortifications running through much of the town. The walls stand at 3 m thick and up to 30 m high, with 7 large towers.
- 1 Sinop Fortress, ☏ +903682613023. It was built in the 7th century BC when the city was refounded as a Greek colony from the city of Miletus. It was extended and repaired several times in its history by Persians, the Kingdom of Pontus, Romans, Byzantines and Genoese. The fortress took its main form during the reign of Pontus King Mithradates Eupator in 72 BC. A prison inside was operational until December 1997. The fortress prison is open to the public for sightseeing purposes. There are plans to convert the facilities in the inner fortress into a cultural complex with a maritime and a justice museum.
- 2 Statue of Diogenes. The Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinop (a.k.a. Diogenes the Cynic) holds a lamp, supposedly looking for an honest man, and is followed by a dog - he admired canine honesty.
- 3 Sinop Archaeological Museum, Kefevi Mahallesi Okullar Caddesi, 2. Built in land donated by the city municipality in 1968, which incorporated excavations of a Seljuk Empire-era tomb and the ruins of a Serapeum.
- 4 Alaaddin Mosque. A 13th-century mosque of Seljuk architecture named after its endower Sultan Alaaddin Kayqubad I (1188–1237).
- 5 Pervane Medrese. A former Islamic religious school, which was closed down after the proclamation of the Republic. The 13th-century building was used as a depot for archaeological artifacts and ethnographic items from 1932 on, and served as a museum between 1941 and 1970. It hosts souvenir shops today.
- Pasha Bastion (Turkish: Paşa Tabyası) is a half-moon coastal bastion, a semi-circular fortification, southeast of Sinop Peninsula. It was constructed to protect the city against attacks coming from the Black Sea during the Russo-Turkish War, Crimean War (1853–1856). It features an artillery battery of eleven cannons, an arsenal and basement. Today, it is used as a place for refreshments premise.
- Historic Water Tunnel (Turkish: Tarihi Su Kanalı) is an ancient underground water supply channel situated at Sülüklü Göl (literally: Lake of Leeches). Dug in rock, it is about 230 m (750 ft) long and has a clearance of 1.5 m (4.9 ft). There is a 20–30 m (66–98 ft) high cylindrical ventilation shaft of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) diameter.
- Serapeum (in the southwestern corner of the yard of Sinop Archaeological Museum). A ruined temple dedicated to the combined Hellenistic-Ancient Egyptian deity Serapis.
- 6 Balatlar Church (Balatlar Kilisesi). is a ruined church from the Byzantine Empire period. It is partly preserved as only the chapel vault is in undamaged condition while other parts of the church have no roof any more. Fresco paintings on the chapel's ceiling and on the nave walls are still intact.
- 7 Hamsilos Nature Park (Hamsilos Tabiat Parkı) (14 km northwest, off the road to Cape İnceburun). An area with a dense pine forest surrounding Hamsilos Bay, popularly known as the only fjord of Turkey due to its form deeply penetrating into land, but isn't technically one as it wasn't formed by glacier action.
- 8 Cape İnceburun (23 km northwest; follow the signposts for Hamsilos and then İnceburun). A breezy cape with an 1863-built lighthouse. Offers the novelty of standing on the northernmost point of Anatolia and not much else.
Do
Buy
Grilled fish at one of the small restaurants.
Eat
Get up early and visit one of the local bakeries for a fresh loaf of Ekmek (a sourdough bread). Served hot and sometimes with butter and honey - It is a treat for the taste buds. A warm cup of tea goes well with this treat.
There is a large number of informal open-air cafes along the harbor serving deliciously fresh fish.
Drink
One of the fortified towers has turned into a cafe/bar, and is a great place to get a drink. It also has a good night scene. The Mavi Esinti Cafe is on the seafront and has a free Wifi connection.
- 1 Kale Burç Cafe Bar, Bülent Ecevit Caddesi (on top of Sinop Tower (the First Tower from the sea)). The best bar in Sinop with live shows.
Sleep
Early booking is highly recommended if you travel in summer season.
- [dead link] Yilmaz Aile Pansiyonu, Kurtulus Caddesi, close to the port. A budget place - 20 TL for a basic double (summer 2005), shared bathroom, reasonably clean. In August 2012: the price is 30 TL for a basic double room. Bathroom and toilet are smelly. The general cleaning is not enough. No wifi.
Go next
A direct bus leaves Sinop at 20:00, and arrives in Trabzon at 06:00, and continues on to Rize.
| Routes through Sinop |
Akçakoca ← Amasra ← İnebolu (  S) ← |
W  E |
→ Kızılırmak Delta Bird Reserve → Samsun |