One of the most distinctive buildings of the bazaar area, the Bedestan is a 16th-century covered market hall – though, from its heavy octagonal uppers, you might imagine that it was conceived as a temple or church. Inside, the banal souvenir stores of the ground floor seem initially disappointing, but you'll thank yourself for persisting and climbing on up to the memorable top-floor cafe.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.48 MILES
Standing in walled gardens amid symphonies of birdsong, 4km west of centre, is this fine 13th-century church-turned-mosque retaining some carved reliefs…
23.18 MILES
The extensive ruins of Sumela Monastery, founded by Greeks in the 4th century, cling improbably to a sheer cliff, high above evergreen forests. This is…
-
0.33 MILES
One of Trabzon's most charming corners, this little park falls within the fortress walls of Ortahısar. It is ringed by fine old buildings including a…
-
2.37 MILES
This three-storey, blindingly white late-19th-century mansion has fine views and lovely formal gardens. Built for a wealthy Greek banking family in the…
-
22.39 MILES
One of the classic viewpoints of the main monastery complex is just behind this tiny stone chapel, now used as a little projection room for an Turkish…
-
0.03 MILES
Recently restored with intricate ceiling paintings and back-lit panels in the spired minbar (pulpit), Çarşı Camii was till recently the largest mosque in…
-
0.5 MILES
Sultan Selim I the Grim, the Ottoman conqueror of Syria and Egypt (and known as Yavuz, or 'The Great' to the Turkish), built this mosque southwest of the…
-
0.32 MILES
Originally known by the rather breathless name of the 'Church of the Golden-Headed Virgin Mary', this mosque started out as a church, possibly built by…
Nearby Trabzon attractions
0.03 MILES
Recently restored with intricate ceiling paintings and back-lit panels in the spired minbar (pulpit), Çarşı Camii was till recently the largest mosque in…
0.04 MILES
Typical of the Ottoman caravanserais of its time (1533), Taş Han was built in two storeys around an open courtyard. Today most of the spaces inside are…
0.04 MILES
This single-domed han (caravanserai), built in the 18th century, is fronted by a cute little 1807 mosque. It gives its name to Çarşı's best-preserved…
0.19 MILES
This small 1883 mosque is fronted by a pair of spindly columns, supporting arches that partly mask a fine calligraphic inscription above the door.
0.21 MILES
Classic in style with some fine carvings on its frontage, the Tannery District's current mosque actually only dates to the 1980s, but there were earlier…
0.22 MILES
Crossing the 'Tannery Bridge' from Trabzon's main commercial centre, allows you a first glimpse of the once massive walls of the Ottoman citadel.
0.24 MILES
A restored old house and backyard, perched on a fortress bastion above the Tabakhane Bridge, hosts a little museum that's all in Turkish but worth a five…