Overview
The city greeted us with incredible humidity the moment we landed at the airport during our August 2024 visit. Izmir didn't have this kind of humidity at that time. The Black Sea is something else entirely.
What to See
The city center is drowned in concrete like a typical Turkish city, but thanks to the climate, greenery thrives no matter how much you cut it. The city isn't completely buried under concrete as a result. I particularly loved that the viaduct pillars are completely wrapped in climbing plants. The entire waterfront being parks and municipal facilities rather than private buildings is commendable.
The Onur Monument (Honor Monument) in the center is genuinely beautiful. The details on the sculpture are excellent, and the story behind it is even better. The fact that the local people paid for it out of their own pockets is admirable. Comparing it to modern-day sculptures, it really makes you think this craft was done much better in the old days.
Tips & Advice
Learning that the Bandirma Ferry Museum isn't located where the original ferry docked was a bit of a disappointment. The ferry itself isn't even the original. The real one was scrapped ages ago. The museum inside is decent, but neither the location nor the content being original is a bit saddening.
The city is Samsunspor everywhere. The team's influence on the city is palpable. The "King of the North" slogan suits them perfectly.