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The Black Sea town of Amasra, a small port with roots stretching back nearly three millennia, has welcomed more than 1.3 million tourists in the first nine months of the year, local officials said, drawing visitors with its ancient ruins, quiet coves and fresh seafood.
The figure is striking for a town of about 6,000 residents, whose population swells to as many as 60,000 in summer. Local tourism leaders expect the total to reach 1.5 million by year’s end.
Founded by Phoenician settlers in the 12th century B.C. under the name Sesamos, Amasra holds traces of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Genoese, Seljuk and Ottoman rule. Its fortress was added to Türkiye’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status in 2013. Beyond its monuments, the town is known for unspoiled bays and clean beaches.
Melih Saylam, head of the Amasra Culture and Tourism Association, said the town, which locals call the "showcase of the Black Sea," attracts visitors for far more than sun and sand.
"Even now, after the summer season has ended, we have cultural tour groups arriving on as many as 50 to 60 buses a day," Saylam said. "Amasra is one of the most popular tourism destinations. The first nine months of the year were very productive."
Most visitors are domestic, he said, arriving from Ankara and Istanbul as well as other provinces, particularly during religious holidays.
Saylam also credited archaeological work at the ancient city of Amastris, supported by the government, and the discovery of a statue known as the "Water Nymph" with giving a further boost to local tourism.
The start of the fishing season has brought another wave of visitors, with travelers from Ankara, Eskisehir, Konya and Istanbul heading to Amasra for its signature fish and salad dishes, according to Saylam.
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