The small provincial capital of Artvin with its population of 20,000 is located on a hill above the road linking Kars and Hopa. Artvin is a charming small town with old Ottoman houses and a spectacular setting in the Caucasus (Kafkas) mountains.  

We visited Artvin in 2003, while traveling through Eastern Turkey. Coming to Artvin from Kars, buses take the long route (4-5 hours) and drop you off at the bus station in the valley while the actual town center is on the top of the hill. You have to take a taxi to the center. 

The fresh trout at the Nazar Restaurant (İnönü Caddesi 5/B, Tel +90 (466) 212 17 09 is delicious. Accompanied by a bottle of raki and the breathtaking scenery outside makes the meal a feast both for eye and stomach.

The ride to Artvin from Kars and further onwards to Hopa and Rize offers a wonderful scenery. At Artvin, we stayed at Otel Karahan, İnönü Caddesi 16, Phone +90 (466) 212 18 00. After a stay of one night, which is really too short but weather conditions got bad, we headed on to Trabzon.

• Bus Kars-Artvin Bus Kars-Artvin
• Wild horses on the steppe between Kars and Artvin Wild horses on the steppe between Kars and Artvin
• Bus stop on the way to Artvin Bus stop on the way to Artvin
• Bus stop on the way to Artvin Bus stop on the way to Artvin
• Bus stop on the way to Artvin Bus stop on the way to Artvin
• Landscape between Kars and Artvin Landscape between Kars and Artvin
• Artvin''s Main Street Artvin''s Main Street
• Artvin Artvin
• Lottery prize before the introduction of the New Turkish Lira Lottery prize before the introduction of the New Turkish Lira
• Artvin Artvin
• Artvin Scenery Artvin Scenery
• Artvin Scenery Artvin Scenery
• Artvin Scenery Artvin Scenery
• Scenery between Artvin and Hopa Scenery between Artvin and Hopa
• Scenery between Artvin and Hopa Scenery between Artvin and Hopa
• Tea Plantations between Hopa and Rize Tea Plantations between Hopa and Rize
• Tea Plantations between Hopa and Rize Tea Plantations between Hopa and Rize
•  

Share this