Visitor Record Broken at Sümela Monastery
Having hosted 520,000 people as of September 15, the historic monastery's year-end target has been set to exceed 600,000.
While the historic Sümela Monastery in Trabzon has broken an all-time record with the number of visitors it reached in the first nine months of the year, restoration work has also gained momentum at other monasteries in the region.
All-Time Record in Visitor Numbers
Officials inspecting the historic monastery announced that as of September 15, 2026, exactly 520,000 people had visited Sümela Monastery, reaching the highest figure to date.
Year-End Expectation and Daily Density
While it was stated that the total number of visitors is projected to exceed 600,000 by the end of the year, it was expressed that on some days at the monastery, which is open for 12 months, the number of visitors approaches 5,000.
Other Monasteries and Valleys in the Region
It was emphasized that work has also been initiated at Vazelon and Kuştul monasteries, and when these projects are completed, the Maçka and Sümela valleys will attract much more distinct interest in tourism.