By plane
The most practical way is Ordu-Giresun Airport. Built on landfill over the sea, it is the first airport of its kind in Turkey. It is close to both provinces.
The airport is about 25 kilometres from the centre of Giresun, 30-35 minutes by car. The options:
- Havaş / shuttle: Runs according to flight times, the most economical way.
- Taxi: Fast but expensive.
- Car rental: The most sensible choice if you plan to visit the highland and nature stops. Reaching the highlands by public transport is very hard.
If you are planning to explore Giresun, seriously consider renting a car. Most of the 63 stops in the guide are not practically reachable by public transport.
By bus
Giresun has bus connections with all the big cities along the coast road. Approximate times:
| From | Time |
|---|---|
| Istanbul | 13-15 hours |
| Ankara | 9-10 hours |
| Samsun | 3.5 hours |
| Trabzon | 2.5 hours |
| Ordu | 1 hour |
By car
Travel along the Black Sea Coastal Road is comfortable and scenic. After Samsun, the sea stays on your left the whole way.
Things to watch for:
- The coast road is in good condition, but once you turn inland (to the highlands, Şebinkarahisar) the road narrows and becomes winding.
- In wet weather visibility drops sharply on the mountain roads.
- In winter, chains may be needed on the interior roads.
Getting around the city
The centre is compact. The castle, the museum, Zeytinlik and the coast are within walking distance of each other. Only Zeytinlik and the castle are uphill; comfortable shoes are needed.
There are shared minibuses for travel between the districts, but services to the highland and nature stops are either non-existent or very infrequent. For these points a private vehicle is needed.
On the map
Most of the 63 stops are not practical to reach by public transport; a car opens them up.
Open the guide