Ordu is a city in the Central Karadeniz region on the Black Sea coast of Turkey, with a population of 235,000 in 2023. It is home to about 229,000 people (Address-Based Population Registration System, 2020)
This city in ancient times was Kotyora (Κοτύωρα), indicating pottery manufacture. It was a small port of little strategic value in an agricultural region, held by several empires until taken by the Ottomans in 1461. They built an army base 10 km inland – "Ordu" means army base and in 1869 this became the name of the entire city. Half the population were Greek or Armenian until the massacres and deportations of the early 20th century. In 2021 the city central district was renamed Altınordu, but no-one paid much heed.
Old town. The traditional houses of Ordu, some of which are extremely elaborate, cascade from the hillside around the church down to the coast. 1 Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) was built in 2018 in traditional style. It's only open at prayer times. 2 Fatih Mosque on 367th Sk is tiny but richly tiled within. 3 Paşaoğlu Mansion, Taş Ocak Cd 22, ☏ +90 452 223 2596. Daily 08:00-17:00. 19th-century mansion, now an ethnography museum with rooms in late Ottoman style, and archaeology museum adjacent. Free. (updated Sep 2024) Hazelnut Museum (Fındığın Öyküsü Müzesiis) is just north on 194th Sk, open daily 08:00-17:00. 4 Rüsumat 4 is a replica of a small cargo ship.
Beaches: there's a short sandy stretch west of Rüsumat 4, then a longer strip east edge of town. Ordu cablecar starts from Atatürk Park on the seafront, and rides up to Boztepe by the Radisson Blu Hotel, a wooded 550 m hill with walking trails. It runs daily 09:00-23:00 and costs 400 TL return for foreigners. Hamams: Ordu has a dozen traditional Turkish bathhouses. Most central is Saray Hamam at Hükümet Cd 56 near the sports centre, open daily 07:00-23:30. Football: Orduspor played soccer in the top tier until 2013, but along with 52 Orduspor are now away down in the amateur leagues. They play at Yeni Stad, a multi-sports facility east edge of town; the old 19 Eylül Stadium is derelict.
Restaurants and cafes are strung along the main road from around the Grand Mosque northwest up the beach strip to the harbour, no stand-out.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Aug, Ordu typically sees ~28°C daytime highs and 10 rainy days.
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