I visited Çanakkale twice. The first time, I was staying across the strait in Eceabat to visit Gallipoli and I passed through Çanakkale to see the ancient city of Troy and didn’t see much. The second time, while on my way to Bozcaada, I decided to stop for an overnight and spend a few hours exploring.
Samsun isn’t very impressive as a city. It’s short on star attractions and there’s not much reason for tourists to visit, but it does have a few points of interest if you find yourself passing through.
Most people who have seen Midnight Express get a Hollywood version of Turkey’s justice and corrections system in the 1970s, showing it to be extremely brutal and inhumane. The Black Sea city of Sinop gives visitors the opportunity to go inside an actual Turkish prison to judge for themselves – however, without the prisoners.
The Black Sea city of Sinop is probably most famous for being the birthplace of ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes the Cynic. A statue of him holding his lantern and standing next to his dog is located at the entrance of the peninsula.
A few places of interest lie outside of the compact city center of Kastamonu, mostly to the south. They’re all within easy walking distance.
The UNESCO World Heritage listed old town of Safranbolu is well-known for its collection of beautifully restored traditional Ottoman homes and mansions. While exploring the town, you’ll find all kinds of different homes that have been turned into boutique hotels, restaurants, or ethnographic museums.
From a small square in the UNESCO World Heritage listed old town of Safranbolu, follow the road uphill past restored Ottoman homes and you’ll come to the Kale section of town. From there, you’ll find some great views of the old town.