Getting Around Rize
Rize is a compact coastal city on Turkey's eastern Black Sea coast, and much of it can be explored on foot. The city does sprawl a long way east and west along the shore, though, so for longer hops you'll want to use the local transport options. This guide covers how visitors typically move around town and how to reach the city from its airport.
Walking
Walking is a genuinely practical way to get around central Rize. Much of the city is accessible on foot, and the centre is laid out along the coastal strip between the sea and the mountains behind. The main caveat is that the city stretches quite far east and west, so if your destination is at either end of town, expect a long walk or plan to take a dolmuş instead.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Rize has no rail transit of its own. There is no metro, tram or passenger rail network serving the city, and the lack of rail connections is significant enough that most goods in and out of the region travel by truck or ship rather than by train. Visitors should not expect to arrive or get around by rail.
Buses and Dolmuşes
Public transport in Rize is road-based. Dolmuşes — the shared minibuses common throughout Turkey — ply the main streets and are the main way to cover longer distances within the city when walking isn't practical. They run frequently, so you generally don't need to plan far ahead to catch one.
For travel beyond Rize, the city's bus terminal is unusually central for Turkey, sitting right in town because the D-010 coastal highway runs just past it. That makes it easy to reach on foot or by dolmuş from the centre. Long-distance services connect Rize with destinations across the country:
- Direct buses run from Istanbul, a long overnight journey that passes through Gebze, Izmit, Adapazarı, Samsun and Trabzon.
- Services from Ankara are also available.
- Some buses continue east past Rize to Hopa on the Georgian border and on to Batumi in Georgia.
- Bus operators serving the route include Metro Turizm and Flixbus.
Dolmuşes also run frequently from Trabzon, the larger city to the west, making that a convenient way to reach Rize from the neighbouring region.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available in Rize and are the most straightforward option for direct trips, particularly for reaching the airport, where shuttle service is not currently an option. Ride-hailing apps are not documented as a feature of local transport here, so plan on conventional taxis or pre-arranged car hire rather than app-based services.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Rize–Artvin Airport (RZV) serves the city and has daily flights from Istanbul (both IST and SAW), Ankara and Izmir. It sits on an artificial island east of Rize. Note that the Havas shuttle bus no longer operates, so your options for the airport-to-city leg are a taxi or car hire. Arrange one of these in advance if you can, since there is no public shuttle to fall back on.
Trabzon Airport (TZX), west of Rize, is an alternative if you need better international connections. From there, frequent dolmuşes run toward Rize.
Practical Tips
- Base yourself centrally if you plan to walk — the bus terminal and much of the everyday city life are within reach on foot.
- Use dolmuşes for the long east–west stretches of town rather than attempting everything on foot.
- Buy long-distance bus tickets from the central terminal, where you can also connect to onward dolmuşes.
- If you're flying into Rize–Artvin, sort out a taxi or rental car before arrival, as there is no shuttle bus.
- Consider Trabzon Airport if your trip involves international connections, and use the frequent dolmuş service to reach Rize.