The lion's mouth
Climb inside one of the concrete lions to a terrace in its jaws overlooking the canal, the sea and Amisos Hill.
Cobija — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cobija — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cobija — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tayeçe2024 — CC BY-SA 3.0
Two colossal concrete lions crouch on artificial hillocks, and between them an Amazon warrior levels her spear at the Black Sea. That is the welcome when you cross the footbridge onto Amazon Island in Batı Park, the big municipal seafront park on Samsun's western edge. The whole place is built on a legend: the Greeks placed the kingdom of warrior women at Themiskyra, near the mouth of the Terme river east of the city, and the municipality decided to turn myth into an attraction, digging a canal of roughly 730 metres to cut an island off from the shore and filling it with statues; the village opened in 2012. Inside each lion a staircase (and a lift) climbs to a viewing terrace in the beast's mouth, looking over the canal, the sea and Amisos Hill; one lion holds a café and a souvenir shop. The paid part is the Amazon Village itself: three leather tents and artificial caves peopled by wax figures acting out the warriors' daily life, from cooking and herbal healing to combat drills, plus a dungeon, an armoury, the queen's bedchamber and a king's tomb. Admission is a token 25 lira or so (the 2025 rate, probably a little higher now) and the figures are closer to festival scenery than museum pieces; children love it, adults grin, take their photos and are out within half an hour. The park is the stronger reason to come: picnic lawns on the sea, fish restaurants along the canal bank, playgrounds, a go-kart track and, since late May 2026, a 155-metre giant slide behind the cable-car station (about 100 lira a ride, from age three). The lower station of the Amisos Hill cable car is here too: a short 323-metre hop for around 50 lira each way (paid with a Samkart), running 10:30 to 22:00, delivering you to the ancient royal tombs and the best view in Samsun. Everything is flat and paved, easy with a pushchair or wheelchair except the climb inside the lions. In August the sea breeze helps but shade is scarce, so come after 17:00 when the restaurants fill with Samsun families; in winter stick to the park and the cable car, as the village shuts early. Take the tram to Baruthane or Fener and walk ten minutes, or drive and park for free.
Climb inside one of the concrete lions to a terrace in its jaws overlooking the canal, the sea and Amisos Hill.
Tents and caves inhabited by wax warrior women cooking, drilling and fighting; unabashed kitsch that delights children.
From the park station the cable car climbs 323 metres to Amisos Hill, and behind it a 155-metre giant slide opened in 2026.
Batıpark, İlkadım seafront, Samsun
Without children the free part is enough: the statue, the lions and the canal are the real spectacle and cost nothing. With children pay the few lira; the wax figures and caves keep them busy for half an hour, then make the cable car up Amisos Hill your next stop.
Hot, humid and short on shade before late afternoon, but the sea breeze helps and the park is flat and fully paved, easy with a pushchair. Come after 17:00 when Samsun families spread over the lawns and fish restaurants, and the village stays open into the evening.
