Trabzonspor Match and Trabzon Trip: A 1-2 Day Plan Beyond Match Day

For most fans, travelling to Trabzon for a Trabzonspor match is a long-awaited trip. But a match lasts only 90 minutes, which leaves plenty of time to explore Trabzon. In this article, we briefly look at what claret and blue means to the city and suggest a 1-2 day plan for making the most of your time beyond match day with Sümela, Uzungöl and a city tour.

We covered the club's story, its terrace culture and what to expect when watching a match at the stadium in detail in our article on Trabzon's football culture. Here, our focus is on helping you enjoy a packed match weekend without the hassle of planning. To find out what the city is famous for beyond football, check out our article on what Trabzon is famous for.

What does Trabzonspor mean to this city?

Founded on 2 August 1967 through the merger of İdmanocağı, İdmangücü, Karadenizgücü and Martıspor, Trabzonspor quickly became the shared identity of the city. By winning the league title in the 1975-76 season, it became the first Anatolian champion, and it went on to win six titles up to 1983-84. The club's nickname, the Black Sea Storm, became synonymous with those years.

Even the colours are the result of a compromise: as the story goes, during the merger the İdmanocağı side proposed claret and the İdmangücü side proposed blue, and the two were combined. Today, claret and blue is less a team colour in Trabzon than the city's signature.

The seventh league title came in the 2021-22 season, and the city celebrated it with tremendous joy. In the 2025-26 season, Trabzonspor beat Konyaspor 2-1 in the final on 22 May 2026 to bring the Turkish Cup home for the 10th time. 2026 also marks the 50th anniversary of the first championship in 1976, so it's easy to feel that pride in the stands this season.

Papara Park and the match-day atmosphere

Trabzonspor plays its home games at Papara Park in Akyazı, officially known as the Şenol Güneş Sports Complex. The complex is named after Şenol Güneş, the club's legendary goalkeeper and the coach who led the national team to third place at the 2002 World Cup. With a capacity of more than 40,000, the stadium has been home to the claret and blues since early 2017, and the terrace culture that thrived for many years at the Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium in the city centre has moved here too.

On match day, the city is draped in claret and blue: scarves, flags and chants ringing out from cars. You don't even need to be in the stands to feel the buzz; spending a few hours in the city centre in the run-up to kick-off is impressive enough. We explored the Black Sea character behind this passion in our article on Temel jokes and the people of Trabzon.

What you need to know about tickets

Entry to Süper Lig matches in Türkiye is through an electronic ticketing system, and in recent seasons there have been changes to the rules on cards, tickets and entry methods. That's why we recommend following current rules, sale dates and prices only through announcements from Trabzonspor and the official ticketing platform. If you support the visiting team, keep in mind that away-section sales may depend on your own club's conditions.

Then there's the matter of timing: although the fixture list shows the week a match will be played well in advance, the exact day and kick-off time are usually announced later. Finalising your travel plans once the kick-off time is confirmed, or setting up a flexible schedule with a private tour, will make last-minute changes much easier to handle.

If you only have one day: a match-day plan

If you only have one day and the match is in the evening, spending the daytime in the city is an easy choice. The Trabzon City Tour includes stops such as the Atatürk Mansion, Hagia Sophia, Sera Lake and Boztepe; sipping tea at Boztepe while looking down over the city is a great warm-up before the match. The 13th-century stonework of Hagia Sophia and the gardens of the Atatürk Mansion offer a few peaceful hours before the excitement of the game. Get in touch with us to arrange the tour's return time around your kick-off in advance.

If the match is in the afternoon, set aside the morning for a long Black Sea breakfast: kuymak, mıhlama and warm Vakfıkebir bread make a great start to the day. For dinner after the match, Akçaabat meatballs are a classic choice; for other options, see our guide to what to eat in Trabzon.

Two-day plan: the day before or after the match

If you have two days, dedicate the non-match day to Trabzon's natural beauty. The choice depends on the season and your interests:

• For history and scenery lovers: the Sümela Tour. A full day with stops at Karaca Cave, Zigana and Hamsiköy; a rice pudding break in Hamsiköy is practically a tradition. Before visiting the monastery, we recommend reading the story of Panagia Sumela.
• For those who want a lake and cool air: the Uzungöl Tour. There are stops at a tea factory and a viewing terrace along the way, plus free time at the lake depending on the season. To get to know the lake beforehand, take a look at our article 7 places to visit in Uzungöl.
• For those coming for a winter match: during the snowy months, the Ski Tour, which fits Sümela and Zigana into a single day, is another option; we've covered the ski resort in our Zigana guide.

You can view dates, prices and the itinerary on the Sümela Tour page and book online. If you'd like a plan tailored to you or your group, message us on WhatsApp and let's plan the route together.

If you have three days, you can spread Sümela and Uzungöl over separate days and spend match day in the city. If you're considering a longer stay, our article on how many days to spend in Trabzon will give you some ideas; to see what weather to expect in each month, check out our article on the best time to visit Trabzon.

Three quick tips for your match and travel plans

1. Factor in the weather: The weather on the Black Sea coast changes quickly; if Uzungöl or Zigana is on your itinerary, pack a jacket alongside your scarf.
2. Discuss bookings early: The city can get crowded during big match weeks; for groups wanting a private tour, fixing the date in advance makes things easier.
3. Make time for photos: The façade of Sümela and the viewing terrace at Uzungöl aren't places to rush; knowing the best photo spots at Sümela ahead of time will come in handy.

Private tours with your own vehicle for your group of friends

People rarely come to a match alone; they come with friends, family or a group of fellow fans. If you're a large group, a private tour with your own vehicle and driver is an easy way to build the schedule around your kick-off time. We'll decide the pick-up point, stops and return time together; for example, Sümela the day before the match and Uzungöl the day after.

If you have one more morning after the match, a short stroll through the bazaar is a nice way to round off your trip; in our Trabzon bazaar guide you'll find out what's where, and in our article on what to buy in Trabzon you'll discover local treats to take home.

You can view dates, prices and the itinerary on the Uzungöl Tour page and book online. If you'd like a plan tailored to you or your group, message us on WhatsApp and let's plan the route together.

Frequently asked questions

What time do the tours start? Will I make it back for the match?

Departure times vary by tour and season; the current schedule is listed on each tour's page. Since Sümela and Uzungöl are day trips, the return time on match day may be tight. That's why we recommend scheduling nature tours on the non-match day, and if you're planning something on match day, please check with us first.

Do you pick us up from our hotel?

Group tours depart from in front of our office in Trabzon; if you wish, you can add a hotel pick-up option. The terms of this service vary by area, and details are on the tour pages. For private tours, we set the pick-up point entirely around you.

Can you organise a private tour for our fan group?

Yes. In addition to group tours, we also organise private tours with your own vehicle and driver. Just let us know how many of you there are, your match date and the places you'd like to see, and we'll plan the route together around your kick-off time.