Making the most of Amasra
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Passengers come ashore by tender at this port.
Set within the walls of a Byzantine citadel, Amasra is an attractive small town with pleasant beaches. The principal draw in the wider area is Safranbolu, once an important caravan station on the East-West trading route and at its height during the 17th century. The museum-like town offers a vivid introduction to Ottoman culture.
Amasra is a Black Sea resort whose usual population of 6,000 rises dramatically to about 25,000 in summer.
Getting around
A walk along the cobbled streets reveals elegant and well-preserved half-timbered houses.
Nearby places
A bus travelling from Safranbolu takes about 3 hours and costs around 10 YTL. Safranbolu is renowned for the Ottoman houses of both Çarsi, its old town, and the Baglar neighbourhood, whose name literally means "orchards"; it is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Mencilis (Bulak) Cave is 3 km outside Safranbolu and merits a visit as the 4th largest cave in Turkey.
Money
The Turkish lira is Turkey's currency. Euros and US dollars are accepted by many shops and restaurants in major cities and coastal resorts, but anyone travelling elsewhere in the country is advised to carry some Turkish lira.