Gideros Cove
Kurucaşile, Bartın
Where the Black Sea Hides
The Black Sea is an open sea; natural harbours along its shore are rare. Gideros is one of the few.
The mouth of the cove is so narrow that it is hard to spot from the water — two headlands almost meet, leaving a pool of still water behind them. When storms batter the Black Sea, the inside of Gideros stays calm. For centuries ships sheltered here for exactly that reason.
After the Small Harbour (Küçük Liman) of Amasra and the natural harbour of Sinop, it is considered the third most sheltered refuge on this coast.
Where the name comes from
The name Gideros is said to date from the Genoese. Traces of Genoa along the Black Sea shore are no surprise — from Amasra Castle to Çakraz, this coast was part of the Genoese trading network for centuries.
What it is like today
Gideros is not a major tourist centre, and that is precisely what makes it worth the drive.
On the edge of the cove there are two fish restaurants and a few houses — that is all. The surroundings are covered in chestnut, oak, beech, boxwood and pine. The green runs straight down to the water; standing inside the cove, forest surrounds you on three sides and a narrow sea mouth opens on the fourth.
People who avoid crowds, photographers, and those who set out simply to eat fish know this place.
How to get there
From Amasra follow the coast road east: Çakraz, Bozköy, Kurucaşile. After passing Kurucaşile the Gideros turn-off is signposted.
The road winds through valleys and past hidden beaches — the drive itself is part of the trip. Do not rush; short distances as the crow flies take a long time here.
Public transport is limited; your own vehicle is the practical option.
When to go
Summer is the liveliest season: the restaurants are open and the sea is suitable for swimming. In autumn the surrounding forest changes colour and the cove looks entirely different.
In winter, check in advance whether the restaurants are open.
Nearby
- Çakraz Beach — natural sand between Amasra and Kurucaşile
- Bozköy Beach — between Amasra and Çakraz
- Amasra Castle — the centre of the same Genoese legacy