Rize

This coastal city on Turkey's Black Sea shore, Rize has a walkable centre with a reasonable spread of cafés and restaurants, and sits within easy reach of both the sea and the mountains inland. It serves as a practical base for exploring the northeastern Black Sea region. The family of current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has roots here, and a regional university bears his name. A new airport opened in 2022, improving access from elsewhere in Turkey.

• Population119,828
• Nearest water3.0 km
• Nearest mountain8.2 km