Ordu is a superb base for exploring the Black Sea coast and the mountains behind it. Within an hour or two lie a romantic cape with a ruined church, vast highland plateaus, forest lakes, historic seaside towns and the neighboring city of Giresun. The variety is remarkable for such a small corner of the map.
This guide collects the best day trips from Ordu, from the essential cape to the far plateaus, with the practical details for each.
Yason Cape at Perşembe
The most beautiful spot on the coast near Ordu is Yason Cape, in the district of Perşembe, about an hour from the city. The headland juts into the Black Sea with a ruined church and a lighthouse on its green top, and the sea surrounds it on three sides.
The cape has drawn travelers for centuries, its name echoing the legend of Jason, and the lonely church against the sky gives the place a strange, romantic beauty. Walk to the point, picnic on the grass, swim from the pebbles below and stay for the sunset. It is the classic Ordu day trip for good reason.
Give it an afternoon, longer if the weather is fine.
The Perşembe Plateau at Aybastı
Inland from the coast, the mountains of Ordu hold summer pastures of extraordinary scale, and the Perşembe Plateau above Aybastı is the largest and most famous. In summer it fills with the traditional highland life: livestock, mountain houses, festivals and the cool, clear air that makes the drive worthwhile.
The plateau is a world of rolling green meadows with views over the peaks, and a day here means walking, eating the simple mountain food and watching the light move across the grass. The drive is long and winding, so leave early and plan a full day. Summer is the season, when the plateau is at its liveliest.
For a taste of the real Black Sea highlands, this is the trip.
Çambaşı Plateau and the Ski Slopes
Higher than Aybastı, the Çambaşı plateau in Kabadüz is the region’s winter playground, with a small ski center that draws locals through the cold months. In summer it becomes a cool retreat of forest, meadow and views, and in winter it offers the rare pleasure of skiing above the Black Sea.
The road climbs steeply, and in winter snow chains may be needed, but the rewards are the panoramas and the clean mountain air. A day here works in any season: hiking and picnics in summer, snow and slopes in winter. Check conditions locally before you set out.
Çambaşı gives Ordu’s day trips their only taste of the snow.
Ulugöl Nature Park at Gölköy
South of the city, the Ulugöl nature park shelters two quiet forest lakes in the folds of the mountains, ringed by beech and fir. The lakes are still and green, and the park is made for slow walking, picnicking and the sound of birds and water.
A trail circles the lakes with viewpoints and resting spots, and the forest keeps the site cool in summer. It is a gentle, lovely place, the kind that rewards doing very little. Bring a picnic and your camera, and give it half a day including the drive. It suits families as well as anyone.
For a peaceful mountain afternoon, Ulugöl is the place.
Ünye: Castle and Pide Town
North along the coast, the town of Ünye is the classic historic day trip from Ordu. A castle crowns the green hill above the town, with views over the sea and the plain, and the town below keeps the lively character of a working Black Sea port.
Ünye is also famous for its pide, and a lunch of the local flatbread is part of the visit. The town is compact, walkable and friendly, and it gives a fine sense of the coastal life that Ordu itself sometimes hides. The drive from Ordu takes about an hour along the sea.
Combine the castle, the lunch and a walk of the waterfront for a full day.
Fatsa and the Bolaman Mansion
South of Ordu, the district of Fatsa holds one of the coast’s most charming sights: the Bolaman mansion, a historic seaside house with its balconies over the water. The building, restored and elegant, sits at the edge of the village of Bolaman, and it is the image of the nineteenth-century coast.
The mansion is the centerpiece, but the village and its shore make a pleasant wander, and the sea views are lovely in the afternoon light. The trip is short and easy, about an hour from Ordu, and it pairs well with a swim or a fish lunch at the coast.
For history by the sea, Bolaman is the pick of the near coast.
Hoynat Island and the Coast by Boat
Off the shore near Perşembe, the small island of Hoynat rises from the sea, its cliffs alive with seabirds. The island is protected, and the way to see it is from the water, on the small boats that set out from the nearby shore when the weather allows.
The boat trip gives you the coast from its best angle: the cliffs, the coves and the island passing close enough for the birds and the nesting ledges. Ask locally for the schedule, which changes with the season and the sea. Combine it with Yason Cape for a full day on the water.
For anyone who loves the sea, the island trip is a small gem.
Giresun: The Neighboring Coast City
Across the provincial border, the city of Giresun is the natural longer day trip from Ordu, about an hour and a half along the coast. Its castle hill rises above the town with a panorama over the bay, and the city below is a lively port with its own character.
Giresun shares the hazelnut country and the coastal rhythms of Ordu, but it has its own identity, and the castle view alone is worth the drive. The waterfront, the bazaar and the tea gardens make it an easy, pleasant day, and the road along the sea is scenic throughout.
For a change of city without changing worlds, Giresun delivers.
The Hazelnut Countryside and the Villages
Not every day trip needs a named destination. The roads inland from Ordu run through the hazelnut orchards that cover the hills, past villages, tea gardens and viewpoints, and simply driving into the green is a day in itself.
Stop where the view is good, drink tea where the locals gather and let the countryside set the pace. In the harvest season of late summer, the whole landscape is alive with picking and drying, and the villages welcome the curious. A picnic in the orchards is the perfect simple outing.
For the essence of Ordu without the crowds, take the smallest road that looks interesting.
Practical Tips for Planning Day Trips
A car is the key to the best day trips, since the plateaus, the lakes and the coastal sights are spread out and thinly served by public transport. If you do not drive, taxis and local minibuses cover the nearer destinations, and drivers can be hired for the day at reasonable rates. Ask your hotel to arrange a car.
The weather decides the trip: the plateaus are for clear days, the coast works in any weather, and the island boats need calm seas. Start early, carry layers and water, and remember that the mountain roads are slow. With a few days in Ordu, you can cover the cape, a plateau and a coastal town without repeating yourself.
Plan around the forecast, and the region will reward you.
A note on the distances: the region rewards travelers who stay put rather than race. The roads are scenic but slow, and every trip here has a tea garden or a viewpoint that deserves a pause. Build in time to stop, and the day trips become part of the holiday rather than a schedule to keep. Whether it is a castle town, a forest lake or a meadow above the clouds, each day out of Ordu ends with the coast waiting for you at home.
Swimming and the Seaside Villages
In the warm months, the coast around Ordu offers a simple day trip that needs no planning at all: drive along the shore, find a beach you like and swim. The beaches are pebble rather than sand, and the water is fresh and clean, and the little seaside settlements along the way provide tea, fish and shade.
The coves south of the city are the favorite local spots, and on a fine summer day they fill with families who have come for the afternoon. Bring a picnic or eat at the shore restaurants, and let the day drift. It is the least ambitious trip on this list and often the most refreshing.
For a pure summer day, the coast itself is the destination.
Frequently asked questions
How many day trips can I fit in from Ordu?
With two days, do Yason Cape and one plateau. With three or four, add Çambaşı, Ulugöl and a coastal town like Ünye or Bolaman. Each trip is a half or full day, and the distances are manageable, so a week in Ordu can cover most of the region without repetition.
Do I need a car for day trips from Ordu?
A car makes the trips far easier, especially the plateaus and the forest lakes. The nearer sights like Yason Cape and Bolaman are reachable by taxi or minibus, and drivers can be hired for the day. For the full menu of day trips, a rental car is the best investment.
Which day trip is best for families?
Ulugöl nature park is the easiest family outing, with its short trails and picnic spots, and the beaches around the coast suit summer days. The plateaus are also family-friendly in summer, with space to run and simple food, while the island boat trip delights children when the weather is calm.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
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