At 7:30 this morning, the Astoria Grande ship, which sailed from Russia, landed at Amasra Port. With 1082 Russian guests and 426 crew members, the Astoria Grande ship anchored in Amasra Port on its first journey of the new year. 45 Russian cruise passengers visited the Safranbolu area and embarked on a historical excursion.

The Ottoman architecture was much liked by Russian visitors to the historical neighborhood, which goes by names like “the fingerprint of the Ottomans,” “open-air museum,” and “the city that protects itself.” After purchasing, visitors to the ancient city and chocolate museum exited the area.

Irina Tarakanova, who noted that this was her first visit to Safranbolu, added,

“To witness such a historic city makes me very pleased. It is a location covered by UNESCO’s protection. This is a place I had never gone before. Most of the candy and marshmallows are served here by people. Turkish sweets and coffee are excellent. They had a lovely appearance.”

Three major historic districts can be found in Safranbolu: Kranköy, which is home to the city’s market, Balar, and the area around it (the Vineyards). ukur, which is located in the lowest section of the town, is shaped triangularly by two rivers. The market square, which is in the centre, is flanked by residences and stores owned by artisans. The city center’s segregation is a common feature of cities in Anatolia.

Before the pandemic, Far Eastern tourists frequented Karabük’s Safranbolu area, which is included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; but, in recent years, Americans and Europeans have begun to appreciate the old city.

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With its historic buildings from the Ottoman era, including inns, baths, palaces, fountains, mosques, and bridges, Safranbolu is quickly rising to the top of the list of popular tourist destinations for both local and international travellers.

Prior to the pandemic, Safranbolu was the Far Eastern tourist destination of choice. In the first 10 months of 2022, the USA, Germany, France, Poland, Russia, and Kuwait were the top visiting nations. Elif Köse, the mayor of Safranbolu, told the following to a reporter for hlas News Agency (UHA):

“We have experienced a long pandemic process. Cities like ours, which earn their bread from tourism, have been adversely affected by this situation. One of the reasons for their negative impact was the arrival of tourists from the Far East to this region. The beginning of this pandemic started in the Far East, that is, in China. Naturally, Far Eastern tourists, who have the potential of this place, have started not to come. However, our work was not only dependent on the tourists of a country or region, but also to ensure that European tourists who value cities that are developed especially in terms of cultural tourism come to our city. Our work has always been in this direction.”