Samsun for me was a lot of wasted time. For a large city with such a long history, the sites were mostly uninteresting and uninspiring. I felt my full day there was too much, and a half day would have served it well enough.
Often overlooked, Kastamonu is a small bustling city split in half by a river. It’s got a long history and has several historical monuments. The same Ottoman architecture that made Safranbolu famous is found in Kastamonu, although in a much more urban setting and with much less restoration.
In a country of magnificent scenery and history, the old town of Safranbolu is one of Turkey’s finest. This small Black Sea Region town is situated in a ravine and is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its fine 17th and 18th century Ottoman architecture.
Bucharest doesn’t get enough respect. I was told to skip it because it’s boring, ugly, depressing, pointless, and many other negative things. All of the reasons are wrong.
Founded as Kronstadt by German settlers in 1211, Brașov is one of the most beautiful towns in Transylvania and all of Romania. The population was traditionally split between German, Romanian, and Hungarian residents but now is a majority 92% Romanian. In Hungarian the town is known as Brassó.
Nessebar is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Bulgaria. This small UNESCO World Heritage listed town is situated on a peninsula in the Black Sea connected by a tiny artificial isthmus and is known for its high concentration of medieval churches.
Burgas is a city on Black Sea coast and the fourth largest in Bulgaria. There isn’t much to see in the city itself, but it has a decent beach and makes a great base for day trips to places like Nessebar, Sozopol, Pomorie, and Sunny Beach.
Shumen was a nice city to visit. There’s not an overwhelming amount to see, but it has a beautiful pedestrian street, some interesting monuments, and the biggest mosque in the country.