The most common planning mistake in Giresun is looking at the distance on the map and underestimating the time. Sixty kilometres on a mountain road is not the same as sixty on the coast; the average speed drops to 35-40 km/h. The programmes below are built around this reality.
2 days: city and nearby nature
Day 1 · City
- Morning: Giresun Castle. No crowds early, the view is clear.
- Midday: A tradesmen's restaurant in the bazaar, pancar soup.
- Afternoon: Giresun Museum and the Zeytinlik neighbourhood. The two are within walking distance.
- Late afternoon: If the weather is right, the Giresun Island boat. If there is no trip, a walk along the coast.
Day 2 · Nature
- Early morning: Set out towards Kuzalan via Dereli.
- Late morning: The Göksu Travertines. You can go into the water, so bring a towel.
- Midday: Trout at one of the facilities in the valley.
- Afternoon: The Kuzalan Waterfall and Mavigöl.
Do not try to go up to a highland on a two-day plan. The highland road alone takes half a day and eats the whole second day.
3 days: add a highland
The first two days as above. The third day is given to a single highland.
Day 3 · Highland
- 08:00: Set out. Kümbet or Bektaş.
- Midday: Kuymak and breakfast in the highland.
- Afternoon: A walk nearby. Head back before the mist descends.
If you choose Sisdağı, set out even earlier; the mist closes the view in the afternoon.
4 days: Şebinkarahisar
For the fourth day the only sensible option is Şebinkarahisar. But do not go and return in a day: it takes 2.5-3 hours from the coast, and the time spent on the road ends the day.
Day 4 · Şebinkarahisar
- Şebinkarahisar Castle (on the rock, a tiring climb)
- Tamzara neighbourhood (urban conservation site, 18th-century mansions)
- The Fatih Mosque and the Kurşunlu Mosque
- The Atatürk House
- The Meryem Ana Monastery on the way
If possible, spend the night in Şebinkarahisar and return the next morning.
Time table
| Route | One way |
|---|---|
| Centre → Kuzalan / Göksu | 1 h 15 min |
| Centre → Kümbet Highland | 1 h 30 min |
| Centre → Bektaş Highland | 1 h 40 min |
| Centre → Sisdağı | 1 h 50 min |
| Centre → Şebinkarahisar | 2 h 45 min |
| Centre → Tirebolu | 45 min |
On the map
On the map you can see the stops district by district and build an ordered route for each day.
Open the guide