Where to stay in Samsun
Kurupelit, at the western end of Atakum, is about 14 km by road from the centre of Samsun, and Çarşamba Airport is 25 km to the east. Pick the area by beach or old town first, then by where the car can sleep.
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How the areas differ
The centre, in İlkadım district, holds Saathane Square with its Clock Tower and Great Mosque, and the Onur Monument, about 500 metres from Tütün Pier. The tourism ministry names Yabancılar Bazaar, Mecidiye Caddesi and Çiftlik as the shopping streets, and says they are easier on foot.
Batıpark lies on the shore between İlkadım and Atakum, about 5 km by road from Cumhuriyet Meydanı, with the Amazon Village museum, and Amisos Hill rises beside it, reached by cable car. Atakum follows the coast west: the ministry counts 11 Blue Flag beaches and a bicycle path beside about 10 km of beach. Kurupelit, with its yacht harbour, is the western end, about 14 km from the centre.
One tram line of about 29 km links them, from the University area through Atakum and the centre to Tekkeköy. A ride of up to 24 stations costs TRY 30.
Staying with a rental car
SAMULAŞ, the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality company that runs the tram, the buses and the car parks, lists 16 car parks with their fees and hours. The press reports that the current tariff took effect on 20 August 2026.
In the centre, the car parks under Cumhuriyet Meydanı and at Saathane, Anakent, Büyük Cami and Tekel open 07:00 to 23:00. Each charges nothing for 15 minutes, then TRY 90 for the first hour, TRY 170 for 4 to 6 hours and TRY 300 for 12 to 24 hours. The listed hours end at 23:00. For a car that stays the night, SAMULAŞ lists the Ağabali car park in Anneler Parkı as open 24 hours: TRY 60 for the first hour, TRY 250 for 12 to 24 hours.
In Atakum, the P3 Çobanlı car park on Adnan Menderes Bulvarı opens 08:00 to 01:00, at TRY 70 for the first hour and TRY 250 for 12 to 24 hours. The P4 car park at the Kurupelit yacht harbour has the same fees but opens only from 15:00. SAMULAŞ lists no car park in Batıpark.
For a flat, ask about parking before paying: the regulation on tourism rentals requires every listing to say whether parking comes with the home. GetCar's car rental page for Samsun compares local and international rental companies.
The airport car park follows DHMİ's 2026 tariff: TRY 90 for the first hour and TRY 280 for 12 to 24 hours for a car.
Tax and registration rules for a guest
Turkey's accommodation tax is national, not a city tax. From 1 May to 31 December 2026 it is 1% of the room price before VAT, down from 2%, under a presidential decision. The property shows it as a separate line on the invoice, and when a booking site sold the room without it, the property invoices the guest after the stay.
A flat let for up to 100 days needs a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The permit number must appear in every listing, a Ministry plaque marked Turizm Amaçlı Konut hangs at the entrance, and every flat owner in the building must have agreed.
Hotels and permitted flats record each guest's identity and report it to the police at once, and they may not house a guest who cannot show an identity document. Bring the passport to check-in.
When to book what
The airport lies east of the centre, so the drive grows as the base moves west: about 25 km from Cumhuriyet Meydanı, about 32 km from Atakum and about 37 km from Kurupelit by road. For an early flight, the centre saves the most time.
Book flats once the permit number and the parking line are confirmed in the listing. The 1% tax rate covers stays up to 31 December 2026; after that the 2% in the law applies again unless a new decision extends the cut.
Which area for which trip
A first visit, the old squares and an early flight: the city centre.
A stay between the centre and the beaches: Batıpark and Amisos Hill.
A beach stay or a month by the sea on the tram line: Atakum seafront.
A beach stay further out, with a car: Kurupelit.
Questions
Which area of Samsun is best for a first visit?
The city centre in İlkadım, for Saathane Square, the Onur Monument and the shopping streets on foot. It is also the closest base to the airport, about 25 km by road.
How much is parking in central Samsun?
At the SAMULAŞ car parks under Cumhuriyet Meydanı and at Saathane, TRY 90 for the first hour after 15 free minutes and TRY 300 for 12 to 24 hours, from 07:00 to 23:00.
Is there a car park open all night in Samsun?
SAMULAŞ lists the Ağabali car park in Anneler Parkı as open 24 hours. It charges TRY 250 for 12 to 24 hours and TRY 2,000 a month in the open area.
Does the tram reach Atakum?
Yes. The line runs from the University area through Atakum, with stops at Atakum Belediyesi and Denizevleri, to the centre and Tekkeköy. A ride of up to 24 stations costs TRY 30.
Must a Samsun holiday flat show a permit number?
Yes. A flat let for up to 100 days needs a Ministry of Culture and Tourism permit, and the permit number must appear in every listing, with a plaque at the entrance.