Spring is when Giresun wakes up. The winter snow begins to melt, the streams and waterfalls reach their fullest flow of the year, and the forest floor turns green. The high highlands are still snowy but the lower areas start to open. This is the season of the liveliest nature and the most abundant water, and it is far from the crowds; the summer rush has not yet begun.
What spring promises
Three things: water, green and calm. Fed by snowmelt, the waterfalls reach peak flow in April and May. The forest floor fills with fresh herbs and flowers. And most importantly, because the summer crowds have not yet arrived, both the roads and the businesses are relaxed.
April: waterfalls and forest herbs
April is the month of water. This is when water stops such as Kuzalan, Mavigöl and Göksu are at their most spectacular. It is also when melocan (the shoots of a thorny vine) appears in the forest; seen locally as a sign of spring, these tender shoots have a short season of only a few weeks. The fresh herbs gathered for kaygana also reach the table this month. The high highlands may still be closed, so the route should be built in the lower areas.
May: the Aksu Festival and the island
May is when the city stirs. The province's biggest event, the Aksu Festival, is usually held in the second half of May, and boat trips to Giresun Island come alive in this period. For anyone who wants to see the island, it is one of the best times of the year. The weather has warmed but the summer heat and crowds have not yet arrived.
June: the highlands are opening
In June the snow retreats and the high highlands open one by one. Around Paşakonağı the rhododendrons (azaleas) bloom in this period. The roads to Kümbet, Bektaş and Kulakkaya can be used comfortably from mid-June. The end of spring is really the start of the highland season.
Where to go
For spring, water and forest stand out. For waterfalls and turquoise water, the Kuzalan-Mavigöl-Göksu line; for fresh herbs and forest, the Yağlıdere and Espiye valleys; for the island and the festival, the city centre in May. For the high highlands, it is safer to wait for June.
A 2-day spring plan
Day 1: Morning at Kuzalan and Mavigöl, afternoon at the Göksu Travertines, evening a local meal in the city. This line is very striking when the water is at its fullest.
Day 2: If you are here in May, the Aksu Festival and an island tour; if not, Yedi Değirmenler and the Espiye valley, with Zeytinlik and the museum on the way back.
On the map
The stops carry seasonal notes; in spring the waterfalls and lower highlands stand out.
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