Must-see hotels in Turkey

  • Koza Cave Hotel

    Göreme

    Koza is a masterclass in stylish sustainable tourism. Passionate owner Derviş spent decades living in Holland and has incorporated Dutch eco-sensibility…

  • Bonjuk Bay

    South Aegean

    This remote back-to-nature escape offers a unique experience. Occupying a secluded private cove, Bonjuk Bay draws an in-the-know crowd of creative guests,…

  • Sota Cappadocia

    Ürgüp

    Ürgüp's hippest hotel. Nil Tuncer, with help from acclaimed interior decorator Oytun Berktan, has stamped the nine rooms with a minimalist design as much…

  • Nişanyan Hotel

    South Aegean

    This stunner of a boutique hotel in the hills to the south offers a number of choices. The main inn, set in a 19th-century renovated house, counts five…

  • Sebile Hanım Konağı

    Black Sea Coast

    Dating to 1877, this lovely old mansion has a glorious lobby-cum-dining room, its bare stone walls lavished with antiques. The rooms come with rugs on…

  • Esbelli Evi

    Ürgüp

    Jazz in the bathroom, whisky by the tub, secret tunnels to secluded walled gardens draped in vines – this is one of Cappadocia's most individual boutique…

  • Hezen Cave Hotel

    Cappadocia

    From the foyer's statement-piece ceiling of recycled hezen (telegraph poles) to the gourmet breakfasts on the terrace with 360-degree village views, every…

  • Hoyran Wedre Country House

    Turquoise Coast

    A destination hotel if ever there was one, this complex of stone buildings is a rural oasis up in the Taurus Mountains, with astounding views across the…

  • Gallipoli Houses

    Gallipoli Peninsula

    Located in a farming village within the Gallipoli Historical National Park, this is an excellent option when visiting the peninsula. Many of the lovely…

  • Swissôtel Büyük Efes

    İzmir

    Guests here have been known not to leave the premises at all during their city stay. Frankly, we're not at all surprised. Rooms are comfortable and well…

  • Arsuz Otel

    Eastern Mediterranean

    This rambling 'olde worlde' (though just 60 years old) hotel fronts the sea, some 37km southwest of İskenderun. It has its own beach and 50 spacious and…

  • Kelebek Hotel

    Göreme

    Local guru Ali Yavuz leads a charming team at one of Göreme's original boutique hotels, which has seen a travel industry virtually spring from beneath its…

  • Liman Hotel

    Kuşadası

    Run by the ever-hospitable Hasan 'Mr Happy' Değirmenci, the Harbour Hotel has been a mecca for independent travellers for decades. The 14 rooms (accessed…

  • Assos Alarga

    İzmir & the North Aegean

    Located in the quiet end of the village just below the Temple of Athena, this lovely hotel has just five rooms, guaranteeing stellar service from Ece, the…

  • Agora Pansiyon

    South Aegean

    Nestled between gardens and a shaded terrace with hammocks, this delightful pension has rooms and wooden cabins decorated with folk art and kilims …

  • Kitap Evi

    Bursa

    Tucked inside the citadel battlements far above Bursa's minarets and domes, this Ottoman mansion and one-time book bazaar offers 13 individually styled…

  • Anemos Hotel

    Thrace & Marmara

    Anemos means 'wind' in Turkish, and this hotel certainly brought the winds of change to Gökçeada. It's responsible for introducing the concept of the…

  • Medusa House

    South Aegean

    Just a few steps from the Temple of Apollo, this lovingly restored 150-year-old Greek stone home, and a more recently built annexe, offers 10 pleasant…

  • Günay's Garden

    Turquoise Coast

    This fine boutique resort consists of self-catering villas hidden within lush gardens and set around a shimmering pool. Some of the villas have both front…

  • Selvili Köşk

    Safranbolu

    From the engraved banisters to the carved ceilings, this welcoming hotel, run by Hakan and Nihal, offers a step-back-in-time experience for lovers of…

  • Sirkeci Mansion

    Sultanahmet

    Travellers love this terrific-value hotel overlooking Gülhane Park, with its impeccably clean, well-sized and amenity-laden rooms, some with park-facing…

  • Marmara Guesthouse

    Sultanahmet

    Few of Sultanahmet's family-run pensions can compete with the Marmara's cleanliness, comfort and thoughtful details. Owner Elif and team go out of their…

  • Liwan Hotel

    Eastern Mediterranean

    This 1920s eclectic building was once owned by the president of Syria and contains 24 tastefully furnished (though smallish) rooms across four floors;…

  • Villa Turka

    Alanya

    Our favourite boutique hotel in Alanya, the Villa Turka is housed in a 200-year-old Ottoman mansion lovingly restored to showcase its original wooden…

  • Apollonia Lodge

    Turquoise Coast

    This delightful rural pension accommodates Lycian Way hikers on the stretch from Kaş, (18km or five hours from Boğazcık) to Kaleköy via Aperlae and Üçağız…

  • Owlsland

    Turquoise Coast

    This 150-year-old farmhouse is idyllically surrounded by fruit trees and run by charming Turkish-Scottish couple, Erol and Pauline. The three cosy rooms,…

  • Tehran Boutique Hotel

    Far Northeast

    The Tehran's supercomfortable, spacious rooms would trump many an international business hotel. Sports-pitch sized bed, top-quality rain shower, kettle,…

  • Black Forest Hotel

    Şavşat

    This brand new multi-storey tower crowns a rural ridgetop 9km east of central Şavşat, offering a truly stunning panorama of pastures and peaks. Rooms are…

  • Kale Konak

    Cappadocia

    Take a handful of minimalist retreat-chic, blend it with touches of artistic flair and balance it all out with wads of Ottoman style and you get this…

  • Hotel Villa Mahal

    Kalkan

    One of Turkey's most stylish hotels lies atop a cliff on the eastern side of Kalkan Bay. The rooms, individually designed in whiter-than-white minimalism…

  • Rain Hotel

    Eastern Mediterranean

    With a warm and friendly vibe, the Rain is a perennially popular choice, with 18 spotless and spacious rooms, a few with small balconies. The homely…

  • Azure Cave Suites

    Cappadocia

    This romantic warren of caves, at the top of Çavuşin hill, offers vistas across the countryside and a contemporary decorative touch that gives a…

  • Patara View Point Hotel

    Turquoise Coast

    A fine English-Turkish-owned hotel with a lovely pool, 27 sea- or mountain-facing rooms, a cosy library and an Ottoman-style terrace. Owner Muzaffer is a…

  • Turan Hill Lounge

    Kabak

    The epitome of Turkish glamping, Turan Hill opened in 1987 and Turan, Ece and Ahmet's place remains a trendsetter; growing out of its hippyish roots to…

  • Hotel Empress Zoe

    Sultanahmet

    Named after the feisty Byzantine empress, this is one of İstanbul's most impressive boutique hotels. The four buildings house 26 diverse rooms joined by…

  • Assosyal Otel

    İzmir & the North Aegean

    Why stay in a pension when there is a stunning option like this on offer? This 16-room hotel is full of contemporary art, serves a lavish and delicious…

  • Mehtap Pansiyon

    Turquoise Coast

    The 10-room Mehtap has million-dollar views over the harbour and submerged Lycian tombs from its bougainvillea-draped terraces. Four rooms are in a 200…

  • Grand Vuslat

    Trabzon

    This excellent, upmarket option is set just two very short blocks north of the meydan on a quiet alley, with unexpected sea views from its upper rear…

  • Homeros Pension

    Selçuk

    This long-time, family-run favourite offers 10 rooms in two buildings. The decor involves heavy use of colourful hanging textiles, vibrant colours and…

  • Bahaus Resort Dalyan

    Dalyan

    Perfect for those who like an active holiday, this lovely place is spread over an enormous farm-like property with 18 boutiquey rooms. Food at breakfast…

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