Though the modern constructions, chaotically designed buildings, quarries and road infrastructure spoil the outskirts of this town a little, Artvin does still impress by its stunning location on one of the flanks of the wonderful Çoruh Valley.
Artvin Castle, which stands atop a rocky peak guarding the gorge, is a spectacular site. Artvin's old town has managed to retain a number of buildings dating from the time of the Ottomans, namely mosques, residential buildings and fountains, and this all lends it a certain charm.
But the main attraction of this little provincial capital is the wonderful scenery all around it. With its steep slopes, rocky canyons, forests, mountain pastures, verdant greenery and aridity, the region has all the things you'd expect from a major mountainous area. There are also traces of the civilisations that once occupied the area in the local mountains, with the ruins of the Georgian monastery of Parekhi, in particular, making for a wonderful hiking destination.