Trabzon Airport (TZX)
On the coast a few kilometres east of the city centre. It sits on the road towards Uzungöl, Rize and Ayder, so you start the eastern routes without crossing the city.
Car rental in Trabzon
Pick up a rental car at Trabzon Airport (TZX) and compare offers from several companies in one list. In the eastern Black Sea your own car is the easiest way to reach Uzungöl, Sümela Monastery and the Ayder plateau, which lie on mountain roads with limited public transport. Prices are shown with compulsory traffic insurance, collision cover with an excess and taxes included; fuel and extras are not. For the plateaus choose a car with higher ground clearance, and an SUV in the rainy season.
The driver's age affects the price and which cars are available.
Pick-up points
City pick-up points
Some suppliers also hand over cars in Trabzon city centre. Which points are open depends on the supplier and your dates: type your district or Meydan into the pick-up box and the results show only the points offered for those dates.
Opening hours and available points vary by supplier; the search lists the points offered for the dates you choose.
Requirements for foreign and Gulf drivers in Trabzon
What the rental desk will ask for at hand-over. Each offer shows its own conditions before you book; the points below are the general framework.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Passport | Bring your original passport to the hand-over. The name on the booking, the licence and the credit card should match the name in the passport. Turkish citizens rent with their national ID number instead. |
| Licence and experience | A valid licence held for 1-3 years depending on the car: one year is usually enough for economy cars, while upper-class and luxury cars ask for two to three. The exact rule is listed in the conditions of each offer. |
| Foreign licence and international permit | Visitors may drive in Turkey on a valid foreign licence for up to six months from their date of entry. If your licence is not in the Latin alphabet, carry an international driving permit (IDP) with it. Many Gulf licences already show the details in English as well as Arabic, but some suppliers and traffic checks may still ask for an IDP, so getting one at home before you travel is a simple precaution. |
| Driver age | Usually 21 for economy and midsize, 25-27 for upper class and luxury. Enter the driver's age in the search and the results list only the cars you can rent. |
| Credit card in the driver's name | The deposit is blocked on a credit card in the main driver's own name. Some offers allow renting with a debit card, or without a deposit, as a paid extra; where that is possible it appears among the offer's extras. |
| Deposit amount | The amount varies by car class and supplier and is shown on every car before you book. It is blocked at hand-over and released after the car is returned; depending on your bank, the block can take several working days to clear. |
| Additional driver | Anyone else who will drive must be added to the booking as an additional driver, and the same age and licence rules apply to them. |
Driving in Trabzon
Coast road and mountain roads
The coastal D010 is a fast dual carriageway; the climbs to Uzungöl and Ayder are narrow, winding mountain roads. Allow extra time and drive them in daylight.
The road to Uzungöl
After Of the road climbs the Solaklı valley via Çaykara. On summer weekends and during the Eid holidays the parking around the lake fills up early, so arrive in the morning and plan to drive back before dark.
The last stretch to Ayder
After Ardeşen the road turns inland up the Fırtına valley; from Çamlıhemşin up to Ayder it is narrow, winding and single-lane in places. Take it slowly, give way on blind bends and avoid driving this section after dark.
Rain and fog
The eastern Black Sea is one of Turkey's wettest regions, and fog can settle on the mountain sections even in summer. Slow down, use dipped headlights and keep a safe distance.
Winter driving (November-April)
From November to April snow and ice can restrict the highland roads, so a car with winter tyres is advisable. Some offers list winter tyres or snow chains as an extra; check road conditions before driving up to the plateaus.
Fuel before the mountains
Fill up on the coast before heading inland; stations become sparse on the upper sections of the plateau roads.
Routes and driving distances from Trabzon
Distances and times are approximate, one way and in normal traffic; allow more on summer weekends and in rain or snow.
| Destination | From | Distance | Driving time | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sümela Monastery | Trabzon Airport (TZX) | ~55 km | about 1 hour | |
| Uzungöl | Trabzon Airport (TZX) | 95-100 km | 1.5-2 hours | Read the guide |
| Rize | Trabzon Airport (TZX) | ~70 km | around 1 hour along the coast | Read the guide |
| Ayder plateau | Trabzon Airport (TZX) | 155-160 km | 2-2.5 hours via Rize, Pazar and Çamlıhemşin; allow 3 hours in rain or on summer weekends | Read the guide |
| Uzungöl to Ayder | Uzungöl | 145-150 km | around 3 hours |
Plan your Trabzon trip
Guides worth reading before you pick up the car.
- Trabzon Airport transfer guideGetting from TZX to the city, the hotels and Uzungöl without a rental car.
- Uzungöl weatherThe current forecast at the lake and temperatures by month — check it before you drive up.
- Best time to visit TrabzonWeather, crowds and road conditions season by season.
- Trabzon weather guideRainfall and temperature by month, so you can plan around the wet and foggy days.
- Trabzon travel costsBudget items for accommodation, food and transport — including what a rental car adds.
- Would rather not drive?With a fixed-price private transfer, the driver meets you in arrivals with a name board and tracks your flight.
Trabzon car rental: FAQ
The questions we are asked most before a rental.
Uzungöl is about 95-100 km away (1.5-2 hours) and the Ayder plateau about 155-160 km (2-2.5 hours via Rize and Pazar). The airport lies east of the city, on the way to both.
A car with higher ground clearance for Uzungöl and Ayder. In the rainy season, or with a full family and luggage, an SUV is the more comfortable choice.
Yes. Many visitors spread the loop over several days: Uzungöl to Ayder is about 145-150 km (around three hours), so plan at least one night in each place.
A valid licence held for 1-3 years depending on the car, your passport, and a credit card in the driver's name for the deposit. Carry an international driving permit if your licence is not in the Latin alphabet. The usual minimum age is 21 for economy and midsize cars.
Yes. Visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence for up to six months from entering Turkey, and Gulf licences are generally accepted when they meet the experience rule for the car class. If your licence shows your details only in Arabic, carry an international driving permit with it; even with a bilingual licence, having an IDP is a sensible precaution.
The rental on this page is for self-drive cars; Trabzon does not currently have a flexible, day-rate chauffeur rental service. If you'd rather travel with a driver, a fixed point-to-point private transfer can be arranged, but that is not the same as a chauffeur-driven car you direct around your own itinerary.
Between November and April there can be snow and ice: choose a car with winter tyres, add snow chains if the offer includes them, and check road conditions before you set off. The Uzungöl road is usually kept open, while the high pastures above Ayder can be cut off in winter.
Do not count on it: taking a rental car out of Turkey needs the supplier's written permission and extra insurance, and most suppliers do not allow it. If you want to see Batumi, plan to leave the car in Turkey and cross the border another way.
One-way rentals are available, with a one-way fee. Choose a different drop-off point in the search to see whether that route is offered and what it costs.