Amasra, Turkey Guide

Amasra is a pretty little town off by itself, set on a fortified promontory jutting northward into the Black Sea (map).

Because the coastal roads to the east and west are not all that good, Amasra gets only a moderate number of summer visitors, keeping it pleasant and relatively undeveloped, although there are some hotels for vacationers.

If you visit the charming historic town of Safranbolu, come to Amasra for a night or two of seaside relaxation, explore the fortress, and take a dip in the chilly Black Sea

Bus and car are the only ways to get here. Intercity buses serve Bartın, the provincial capital, 16 km (10 miles) to the south, from which you take a minibus to Amasra. The nearest airport is in Ankara, and the nearest train station is in Zonguldak.

By the way, don't confuse the Black Sea town of Amasra with the Central Anatolian mountain town of Amasya, 130 km (81 miles) south of Samsun.

If you plan to head east from Amasra to Sinop (312 km, 194 miles) by car, allow most of the day for the trip along the narrow, winding road.

Allow more than a day if you use the point-to-point local minibuses (there are no direct buses). It's probably faster--and certainly more comfortable— to take inland buses via Bartın and Kastamonu to Sinop.