26 Best Hotels in Cappadocia and Central Turkey, Turkey

Beautifully set among the fairy chimneys, this romantic retreat has junior and multiroom suites that are notable for their plush design—sometimes with traditional accents, sometimes more contemporary. Many rooms have fireplaces, and most have superb bathrooms with Jacuzzis. The lobby, with its stone arches, contemporary leather chairs, and glass staircase, is swanky; antiques displayed in glass-enclosed wall niches add a bit of local flavor. A skylighted underground spa has a beautiful indoor pool that's free for guests.

A beautifully restored, 19th-century Ottoman house inside the walls of Ankara's ancient citadel has the feel of a private home—six charming rooms have original wood floors and ceilings, antique chandeliers, traditional textiles, and comfortable beds. Bathrooms are clean, if showing some wear; most have showers, while one has a tub. Breakfast is served in the dining/living room in winter and in the pleasant courtyard in summer.

Exceptional service, a spectacular location, and accommodations that meld sophisticated yet understated contemporary design with lovely local touches make Argos one of Cappadocia's best hotels. Public spaces—including a lounge, an excavated concert space, and the excellent Seki Restaurant—utilize the area's natural materials and feature impeccable design details. Rooms, some in caves and some in restored mansions, are distributed over several buildings amid well-tended gardens. Most have fireplaces, and some have a terrace or balcony (none have TVs). "Splendid" category suites even have small private pools. The property is centrally located for experiencing Cappadocia, but leave yourself a day or two just to enjoy the hotel. Be sure to tour the on-site wine cellar (Turkey's largest).

Mustafa Demirci converted his centuries-old family home into a picturesque guesthouse and has since taken over the place next door, too: both offer simple accommodations with wood and wrought-iron furniture, antique items, and travertine-lined bathrooms. The mainly cave rooms tend to be comfortable in size, and original architectural details such as wine presses and grain-storage areas have been preserved—each room has a story. There's a cozy courtyard and a delightful rooftop terrace where breakfast is served.

Comfortable, elegantly designed rooms—most quirkily shaped and carved from rock—combine antiques, old-fashioned wrought-iron beds, and folk-art spreads with modern conveniences like satellite flat-screen TVs, kettles for tea or coffee, and (in most cases) Jacuzzis. The larger suites have fireplaces and other perks, and several rooms and suites inside fairy chimneys are particularly appealing. Accommodations are connected by patios that have wicker chairs arranged around glass tables, and the restaurant-breakfast area has a small terrace with views of the town.

In Ankara’s bustling Kavaklıdere shopping and nightlife district, these recently opened accommodations have the personal feel of a small hotel with many of the amenities of a larger property. Good-sized rooms are done in a contemporary minimalist design, with funky retro touches and occasional splashes of color—such as mustard or turquoise. Bathrooms are modern. The well-stocked breakfast is served in the hotel’s enclosed sixth-floor roof terrace restaurant and bar, which has great views of the city from its floor-to-ceiling windows.

The lobby of this 18-story tower in a busy commercial and residential area of Konya exudes opulence (though some may find it a bit overdone), and rooms are spacious and nicely furnished, with all the amenities of a first-rate business hotel. The state-of-the-art fitness center includes an exercise room, steam bath, sauna, Turkish bath, two pools (one indoors and one outdoors), a Pilates and Zumba studio, and a spa. There's a rooftop bar and restaurant with great views of the city.

In this gem of a hotel, elegant rooms in a restored 16th-century kervansaray at the edge of Ankara's citadel are decorated in different styles, such as Indochinese, Venetian, Tibetan, and Ottoman; some have citadel or city views, and all feature antique furniture and original works of art. Large, marble-lined bathrooms have deep bathtubs and/or rain showers. Common spaces are equally inviting, from the old-fashioned library decorated with hunting trophies to the glass-roofed interior courtyard where breakfast is served. Because of the antiques in the rooms, this hotel has age restrictions regarding children; enquire before booking.

Carved into a rocky hillside, one of Cappadocia's longest-established cave hotels has spacious, comfortable, spotlessly clean accommodations—often with beautiful natural color banding in the volcanic-stone walls. Guest houses are decorated with antiques and have outstanding amenities. Most accommodations have their own gardens, sitting rooms, and parking, and all are equipped with full kitchens and private entrances. Everything is overseen by the gracious host-owner, Süha Ersöz, and his friendly team, who make this place feel more like a home than a hotel.

Spread over three Ottoman mansions connected by courtyards and terraces, these appealing accommodations include both cave and non-cave rooms—a few have small original frescoes and painted floral moldings. Design is tasteful, with traditional local accents like handsomely carved wooden wall alcoves and ceilings. The good-size bathrooms are modern, and many have tubs. The entrance level, which has a small bar, is filled with antiques and displays black-and-white photos of prominent local families who once lived here. The hotel's restaurant, offering local cuisine in a traditional Ottoman setting, asks for orders four to five hours in advance, enough time for meals to slowly cook in a tandoor oven.

Konya’s first true boutique hotel occupies a pair of nicely restored 19th-century houses across from the Mevlâna Museum. From the distressed wood floors and colorful handmade patchwork rugs to the contemporary metal desks and chairs, the attractive digs have a traditional-meets-urbane design aesthetic. Bathrooms are modern, and in-room perks include iPod docks and complimentary dried fruit and nuts. Front rooms overlook a lovely garden patio and have views of the mausoleum; back ones face the surrounding neighborhood. No children under 10 are allowed.

The only international chain hotel in Konya’s touristic center has large, comfortable, well-lit rooms with contemporary style—think dark leather headboards, plum-colored velvet armchairs, and silk screen prints of tulips. There are desks with ergonomic chairs, large flat-screen TVs, and modern bathrooms. Ask to be on the second floor if you want a no-smoking room. The hotel is less than a 15-minute walk from the Mevlâna tomb complex, but a tram line just outside makes it a two-minute ride.

Occupying three old houses joined by a courtyard and underground tunnels, the delightful Kale Konak promises the friendly intimacy of a small guesthouse combined with the professional service of a larger hotel. Impeccably maintained underground cave and upper-level stone rooms have old-fashioned furnishings, including antiques sourced from around the world. A few, with loft-style beds off the main rooms, are especially good for families. There's a pretty garden and terrace with several resident cats and a small hammam that's open 24 hours. A simple dinner can be provided on request.

This luxurious, rock-cut, resort-style hotel conveys a sense of the past with wooden floors and furnishings, rich Anatolian textiles, traditional low sofas, and accents like framed antique caftans. Rooms and suites vary widely in size and amenities, which include working fireplaces, hammams, saunas, and private terraces or gardens; a few even have indoor plunge pools. There's an inviting outdoor pool and underground spa and fitness center that includes an atmospheric stone-vaulted Turkish bath and sauna with windows looking out onto the valley below. The hotel is part of an ambitious, UNESCO-approved project that will restore a historic neighborhood of some 250 abandoned cave homes. Guests can explore its old church, mosque, and Turkish bath as work continues.

One of Göreme's longest-standing hotels—immensely popular for both its cozy atmosphere and personal service—caters to travelers on different budgets, with accommodations ranging from small, somewhat basic cave rooms to spacious, antiques-filled cave and stone-built suites with bathtubs and fireplaces. There's a small yet attractive outdoor pool as well as a hammam (the latter has an extra fee), and several cozy terraces. The hotel has complimentary organic breakfast and walks in the fertile nearby valleys, weather permitting, in the summer.

At this lovely family-run spot in a somewhat quieter part of Göreme, each carefully decorated room is named after a different flower, which features in colorful paintings and wooden furniture. Three rooms are in caves, while the others are stone-walled with vaulted or wooden ceilings; about half have fireplaces, and all boast modern bathrooms with walk-in showers and/or Jacuzzis. Friendly owner Faruk Keleş takes it upon himself to ensure guests get the most out of their stay.

This family-run bed-and-breakfast is in a restored 200-year-old house on a quiet street, a short walk from the Mevlâna Museum. Good-size guest rooms are decorated in a traditional style, with wooden floors and ceilings, colorful kilims, brocade curtains, and old-fashioned lamps; triple rooms are well suited for families. The friendly, helpful owners make guests feel right at home.

Run by an exceptionally friendly local family, this hotel has charming cave rooms centered around a small courtyard with amazing views from terraces on several levels. They're decorated in traditional style—homey bedspreads, tribal carpets on the floors and walls, wrought-iron bed frames—but with an eco-sensitive twist: the owner created many of the unique lamps and furniture pieces by up-cycling salvaged materials.

French architect Jacques Avizou has restored 16 houses—some carved out of caves, others built from local stone—to create one of the most beautiful places to stay in Cappadocia. The units, which elegantly blend rustic trappings with a clean, modern design, are equipped with kitchens or kitchenettes, and most have fireplaces; one has a gorgeous heated pool on its private roof terrace. Houses sleep from four to seven and studios two to three. A tasty breakfast featuring fresh fruit and homemade jams can be delivered to your room or eaten in a rustic dining room or on its outdoor terrace.

This cluster of cave and stone-building accommodations connected by labyrinthine passages is a work of art; befitting the name, it is filled with the owner's impressive collection of antiques, ranging from metalwork to Ottoman caftans to carpets. Comfortably furnished rooms convey a local feel, with Jacuzzis adding a luxe touch. The showpiece of the terrace is a gorgeous (though unheated) infinity pool with breathtaking valley views. The property also has a chic, open-air bar and a delightful rose garden inhabited by peacocks.

The only international chain hotel in Ankara's historic Ulus district is somewhat lacking in flair but has comfortable rooms, with dark woods and muted, soothing turquoise, grays, and beiges. Rooms on the 16-story tower's upper floors have excellent city views and, in certain cases, tiny balconies. Most bathrooms have tubs; some have showers with opaque windows that look into the room.

This luxurious, romantic hotel feels like a cross between a museum and a fairy tale and is one of Cappadocia's most unique accommodations. The rooms and suites, in two restored Greek stone houses connected by an open-air courtyard, all have a unique theme with opulent design, including antique furniture and Gothic sculptures. The enchanting underground pool (evocatively named the "Inferno") and spa, and the trendy restaurant and bar are enough to make you never want to leave. No guests under 15 are allowed.

Sleek wood, designer furniture, sheepskin rugs on stone floors, and glass-enclosed showers give these cave accommodations looking onto a plant-heavy courtyard a true contemporary flair. They are also a welcome departure from the traditional local style that characterizes most Cappadocian lodgings. But despite the hip design, a relaxed and intimate atmosphere prevails—thanks in large part to owner Eren Serpen, who goes out of her way to make guests feel comfortable. A delicious breakfast with tasty home-baked pastries is served on the upstairs terrace.

High on one of Göreme’s hills, this hotel has clean, comfortable cave and stone rooms that are simply decorated: wooden or stone floors are covered with kilims, wrought-iron beds are topped with embroidered spreads, and old-fashioned furnishings abound. Upper-story (non-cave) rooms and public terraces have marvelous views of the town and surrounding scenery. Breakfast comes with a mind-boggling array of home-baked goods, cheeses, olives, fresh fruits, and jams, as well as eggs made to order. The on-site Seten Restaurant has become a destination in itself.

Five rock-cut homes sharing a grassy courtyard have been carefully restored to evoke an authentic sense of place while providing modern amenities. The cave and stone guest rooms inside, most with fireplaces, are elegant but not overdone. All have good-size bathrooms with walk-in showers. Suites have separate sitting areas; deluxe suites also have private terraces. There are pleasant outdoor lounge areas and an open-air bar, as well as a restaurant that serves prix-fixe dinners on request.

The slightly showy entrance of this old Greek mansion, with its stone columns and fountain, leads to stylish cave rooms with kilim-covered stone floors, wrought-iron beds, a balcony or shared terrace, and modern bathrooms. A music library has CDs guests may borrow, and there are separate living and sitting rooms for watching TV or using the hotel's laptop. Meals can be served on request in a private dining room, in addition to in the hotel's restaurant. The hotel is adding an outdoor swimming pool following the contours of the natural rock, as well as a spa and Turkish bath.