Turkish series that leave Istanbul behind for Trabzon, Çukurova, Antakya and Mardin, with what each region adds to the story.
Most guides to Turkish series focus on Istanbul, with its Bosphorus mansions and crowded streets. But a large part of the genre happens elsewhere: in the green mountains and tea terraces of the Black Sea coast, in the cotton fields of Çukurova, in the stone streets of Mardin and the mixed culture of Antakya. These settings are not just scenery. They shape the stories, with strong traditions, close communities and family honor driving the plot.
The series below are grouped by region. We include only places and facts that we could confirm, and we mark anything that comes from DiziCentral's listings. Several of these series deal with feuds, violence or hardship, so check the content notes. Episode counts refer to the original Turkish broadcast unless we say otherwise.
At a glance
- Lifeline (Sen Anlat Karadeniz) — Trabzon, Black Sea | ATV, 2018 to 2019 | 64
- Sevdam Karadeniz — Trabzon, Black Sea | NOW, October 2026 | Just started
- Waves of Love (Gözleri Karadeniz) — Black Sea (by title) | ATV, 2025 | Check series page
- Bitter Lands (Bir Zamanlar Çukurova) — Çukurova, near Adana | ATV, from 2018 | Check series page
- Asi — Antakya | Kanal D, 2007 to 2009 | 71
- Aziz — Antakya under French occupation | Show TV, 2021 to 2022 | 28
- Sıla — Istanbul and Mardin | ATV, 2006 to 2008 | 79
The Black Sea region
The Black Sea coast is known in Turkish drama for steep green hills, small villages, tight-knit families and a stubborn local pride. It tends to appear in stories about honor, feuds and loyalty.
1. Lifeline (Sen Anlat Karadeniz), 2018 to 2019
The English title is Tell Them, Black Sea, and the series is also known as Lifeline. It aired on ATV for three seasons and 64 episodes of about 150 minutes. It follows Nefes, who escapes years of captivity and abuse with her young son, and Tahir, whose hometown of Trabzon becomes their refuge. His community does not welcome the arrangement, and the story shows the pull between tradition and compassion. It was filmed in Trabzon and Istanbul, and won several Golden Butterfly Awards in 2018, including Best Director and Best Couple.
Content note: the series was the subject of complaints to Turkey's broadcast regulator over frequent scenes of sexual violence, so it is not for every viewer.
Why it works: the setting is central to the drama, because the conflict is between a woman's safety and a community's traditions.
2. Sevdam Karadeniz, 2026
This NOW series premiered on 12 October 2026. It follows a half-century feud between two Black Sea families, the Alazlıs and the Yenicelis, which began with a past romance. When a daughter of one family elopes with a son of the other, a forced marriage is arranged to prevent bloodshed. It is filmed mainly in Trabzon, including the Maçka district and Hamsiköy, with early scenes in Istanbul. Because the series has only just begun, we cannot say how it develops. It is also on our upcoming series guide.
Why it works: it combines a feud with forbidden love, a theme covered in our enemies to lovers list.
3. Waves of Love (Gözleri Karadeniz), 2025
This ATV series premiered on 2 September 2025 and carries the Black Sea in its Turkish title ("Eyes of the Black Sea"). We have not confirmed its plot or episode count, so check its series page before you decide.
Çukurova
4. Bitter Lands (Bir Zamanlar Çukurova), 2018 onward
Züleyha, a young tailor in 1970s Istanbul, flees the city with her lover after her stepbrother sells her to a crime boss. They find work on a farm in the fertile Çukurova region near Adana, where the story was also filmed, and pretend to be siblings. Demir Yaman, a landowner who studied in Berlin, is drawn to Züleyha, while his mother Hünkar works to protect the family's hold on the land. Murat Ünalmış plays Demir. The first episode aired on ATV on 13 September 2018.
Why it works: the cotton-field setting and the class divide between landowners and workers make it feel different from an Istanbul romance.
Antakya and Mardin
5. Asi, 2007 to 2009
Set in a rural part of Antakya, in the south of Turkey, it follows a young woman whose family is in conflict with another, and a powerful local man named Demir. It had 71 episodes over two seasons on Kanal D. Murat Yıldırım played Demir. It is one of the best-known regional dramas, and it is slower than newer series.
6. Aziz, 2021 to 2022
The series is set in Antakya during the period of French occupation, following Aziz Payidar, played by Murat Yıldırım. It had 28 episodes on Show TV and was not renewed. Simay Barlas is in the cast. See our period drama list.
7. Sıla, 2006 to 2008
Set between Istanbul and Mardin, it is a classic love story complicated by tradition and family expectations, with 79 episodes over three seasons on ATV. Cansu Dere and Mehmet Akif Alakurt star.
What regional settings add
- Tradition as a source of conflict. Honor, family reputation and community opinion carry more weight than in a big-city story.
- Landscape as character. Mountains, farmland and old towns shape how characters live and what they risk.
- Slower, more rooted storytelling. Many of these series give time to local customs and relationships.
- Different look and sound. Local accents, dress and food set them apart from Istanbul series.
If you would like to see where Istanbul-set series were filmed, read our guide to Turkish dramas filmed in Istanbul. For more family-centered stories, try the best Turkish family dramas, and if you are new to the format, start with how to start watching Turkish dramas.
Frequently asked questions
Which Turkish dramas are set in the Black Sea region?
Lifeline (Sen Anlat Karadeniz), set partly in Trabzon, and Sevdam Karadeniz, which is filmed in Trabzon, are two examples.
Where is Bitter Lands set?
In the Çukurova region near Adana, in southern Turkey, with the story beginning in Istanbul in the 1970s.
Is Asi set in Istanbul?
No. It is set in a rural part of Antakya, in the south.
Are these series suitable for everyone?
Not always. Some deal with violence or feuds, and Lifeline contains scenes of sexual violence, so check the content notes.
Do they have English subtitles?
It depends on the series and platform. See our guide to where to watch Turkish series legally for how to check.
