Turkey—bridging Europe and Asia—has been shaped by Hittites, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. In Istanbul, centuries stack gracefully: domes, minarets, and spice-scented bazaars sit beside modern galleries and rooftop restaurants. On the Black Sea coast, hills drip with tea gardens and forests tumble into valleys threaded with stone bridges.

In a week, you’ll savor Istanbul’s headline sights—Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, and the Grand Bazaar—then fly to Trabzon to explore Sümela Monastery, Uzungöl’s alpine lake, and village kitchens known for buttery “kuymak.” The contrast is the point: imperial splendor one day, misty mountain culture the next.

Practical notes: dress modestly for mosques (shoulders/knees covered), carry a scarf, and expect card-friendly payments in cities. Taxis are affordable; ferries are iconic. Tip ~10% at restaurants. For flights, compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; if you’re flying to or from Europe, also check Omio.

Istanbul

Istanbul is a masterclass in living history: a city where a call to prayer floats over Roman cisterns, and ferries knit Europe and Asia together every few minutes. Spend your days walking between empires, your evenings lingering over meze with Bosphorus views.

• Top sights: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace and Harem, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Galata Tower, and a Bosphorus cruise.
• Neighborhoods to savor: Sultanahmet for monuments, Karaköy and Galata for cafes and baklava, Kadıköy for meyhane culture and modern Turkish cuisine, Ortaköy for waterfront waffles and kumpir.
• What to eat: simit and Turkish tea, smoky lamb kebabs, grilled bluefish in season, buttery Black Sea “kuymak,” and Ottoman-inspired fine dining.

Where to stay (curated picks): waterfront grandeur at Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, resort-style views at Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul, boutique heritage at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, or social traveler favorite Cheers Hostel. Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Istanbul or apartment-style options on VRBO: Istanbul.

Getting in: International flights land at Istanbul Airport (IST). Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com, and if you’re flying from Europe, also check Omio. Taxi to Sultanahmet takes ~45–60 minutes (~$25–35, traffic-dependent).

Day 1: Arrival, First Tastes of the Old City

Afternoon: Arrive in Istanbul and settle in. Take a gentle orientation walk around Sultanahmet Square to see Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque from outside; note prayer times if you plan to enter later.

Evening: Early dinner at Hamdi in Eminönü for pistachio kebabs and a terrace view over the Golden Horn. For dessert, try baklava at Karaköy Güllüoğlu—order a warm “fıstıklı şöbiyet” and a glass of tea.

Day 2: Topkapı, Cisterns, and a Golden Horn Sunset

Morning: Coffee at Mandabatmaz off Istiklal (famously thick Turkish coffee), then tour Topkapı Palace and the Harem. Wander Gülhane Park’s plane trees afterward.

Afternoon: Explore the Basilica Cistern’s shadowed columns and Medusa heads. Lunch at Pandeli (above the Spice Bazaar) for Ottoman classics like lamb with sour cherries—arrive early; it’s popular and daytime-only.

Evening: Bosphorus at dusk: board a public ferry in Eminönü for a scenic round-trip ride past Dolmabahçe and Ortaköy. Dinner at Balıkçı Sabahattin in Cankurtaran for meze and sea bream, or book a table at Neolokal (SALT Galata) for heritage recipes with a contemporary lens.

Day 3: Galata to Kadıköy—Street Culture and Meze

Morning: Climb Galata Tower early for panoramic views, then stroll down to Karaköy for coffee at Kronotrop and a quick stop at Namlı Gurme for a simit-and-cheese plate.

Afternoon: Ferry to Kadıköy. Lunch at Çiya Sofrası—sample regional specialties like “keledoş” and herb-studded Southeastern dishes. Dessert at Baylan for the “Kup Griye,” a 1950s Istanbul classic of caramel, ice cream, and almonds.

Evening: Book a traditional hammam slot in the Old City before dinner. Then try a meyhane in Asmalımescit—Asmalı Cavit is beloved for proper meze spreads (fava, haydari, lakerda) and grilled sea bass. Nightcap at 360 Istanbul for glittering skyline views.

Trabzon (Turkish Black Sea)

Mist-wreathed mountains, thunderous waterfalls, and tea terraces define the Black Sea coast—and Trabzon is its lively gateway. Greek, Genoese, and Ottoman layers linger in monasteries and mansions; coastal kitchens specialize in anchovies, corn bread, and rich dairy.

• Top sights: Sümela Monastery in Altındere National Park, Uzungöl and the Haldizen Valley, Atatürk Köşkü, Boztepe tea gardens, and Trabzon’s Ayasofya (a smaller cousin to Istanbul’s).
• Flavors to seek out: Akçaabat köftesi (grilled meatballs), kuymak/mıhlama (cornmeal and molten cheese), hamsi (anchovy) in season, and Hamsiköy sütlaç (baked rice pudding).

Where to stay: downtown comfort at Zorlu Grand Hotel Trabzon or spacious, family-friendly rooms at Novotel Trabzon. Browse more options: Hotels.com: Trabzon and VRBO: Trabzon.

Getting there from Istanbul: fly IST–TZX (about 1h 40m; fares commonly $40–90 if booked early). Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. On arrival, a taxi to the center takes ~15–20 minutes; prefer fixed fares or use a private transfer.

Day 4: Fly to Trabzon, City Orientation, and Black Sea Flavors

Morning: Depart Istanbul on an early flight to Trabzon. Book tickets on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Optional arrival ride: private transfer to central Trabzon.

Afternoon: Check in, then visit Trabzon’s Ayasofya for Byzantine frescoes and sea views. Head uphill to Atatürk Köşkü—whitewashed, art nouveau interiors, and gardens perfumed with pine.

Evening: Dinner at Fevzi Hoca for grilled fish and meze, or try Akçaabat köftesi at Nihat Usta with a side of garlicky piyaz. Dessert: Hamsiköy sütlaç at a local dairy shop; sprinkle with cinnamon and hazelnuts.

Day 5: Uzungöl and Haldizen Valley—Tea, Knives, and Alpine Views

This is a full-day nature trip from 10:00 to early evening, including tea and knife workshops and ample time by the lake.

Featured tour: Uzungol Tour: Full-Day Nature Adventure with Tea Factory Visit

• Stops usually include a local tea factory (learn how leaves become that strong Black Sea brew), Sürmene knife ateliers (razor-sharp, handcrafted), and free time in Uzungöl for the lakeside promenade.
• Lunch ideas around the lake: trout cooked in butter, corn bread, and “kuymak” (molten cheese-cornmeal) at a family-run chalet.

Evening back in Trabzon: Casual dinner at Cemilusta for Black Sea-style pide or köfte; tea at Boztepe’s hilltop lookout with city lights below.

Day 6: Sümela Monastery and Hamsiköy—History on a Cliff

Today’s focus is the 4th-century Sümela Monastery, set impossibly on a cliff in Altındere National Park—arguably the region’s most photogenic landmark.

Featured tour: Sumela Monastery, Zigana and Hamsiköy Village Tour

• Walk the forest path to the monastery complex, studying restored frescoes and the aqueduct. Guides add essential context to centuries of monastic life here.
• Continue via Zigana Pass to Hamsiköy—taste its famous baked sütlaç where it was born, with alpine air for seasoning.

Dinner back in Trabzon: Kalkanoglu Pilavcısı (since 1856) for buttery rice, beans, and stewed meats—a humble local classic. If you prefer seafood, try Akçaabat’s coastal grills.

Day 7: Markets, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Breakfast of “kuymak” and village eggs at a local kahvaltı salonu, then a stroll through the Meydan and bazaars for tea, hazelnuts, and a Sürmene chef’s knife as a souvenir.

Afternoon: Depart from Trabzon Airport. If you’d like a pre-booked ride, consider an airport transfer. For onward flights, compare on Trip.com, Kiwi.com, or from/to Europe on Omio.

Evening: If your flight is later, squeeze in one last tea at Boztepe or pick up fresh baklava for the journey home.

Practical Food and Coffee Shortlist (Save This!)

• Breakfasts: Van Kahvaltı Evi (Cihangir); Namlı Gurme (Karaköy); local kahvaltı salons in Trabzon for kuymak.
• Coffee and sweets: Mandabatmaz (Turkish coffee); Kronotrop (third-wave espresso); Hafız Mustafa and Karaköy Güllüoğlu (baklava); Hamsiköy sütlaç in Trabzon.
• Lunch/dinner: Pandeli (Ottoman lunch); Çiya Sofrası (regional tastings); Balıkçı Sabahattin (seafood); Neolokal (modern Anatolian); Fevzi Hoca (fish, Trabzon); Cemilusta or Nihat Usta (Akçaabat köftesi).

Where to search and book stays quickly:

• Istanbul stays: Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul, Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, Cheers Hostel, or browse Hotels.com: Istanbul and VRBO: Istanbul.
• Trabzon stays: Zorlu Grand Hotel Trabzon, Novotel Trabzon, or browse Hotels.com: Trabzon and VRBO: Trabzon.

Summary: In seven days you’ll experience Istanbul’s world-class monuments, ferries, and food—and the Black Sea’s forests, tea culture, and cliffside monasteries. It’s a rich, balanced Turkey itinerary that pairs the city’s historic drama with mountain air and lakeside calm.