252 Best Hotels in Turkey

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).

Dersaadet means "place of happiness" in Ottoman Turkish, and this small, family-run, cozy hotel lives up to its name—rooms have an elegant, even plush, feel, with colorful rugs, antique furniture, and ceilings hand-painted with traditional motifs. Upper-level rooms have views, while a cozy indoor and outdoor roof terrace looks out to the sea; breakfast is served here while classical or jazz music plays in the background. Thoughtful touches include complimentary snacks for guests in the lobby, but what really makes Dersaadet so special is that the Duryar family run the place with great professionalism and enthusiasm, ensuring that staffers are just as welcoming.

The emphasis at this delightful, family-run bed-and-breakfast is on guest satisfaction, and the eight rooms in the restored wooden house are decorated with thoughtful attention to detail, like lovely Ottoman-Victorian-style wallpaper, upholstery, and linens; wooden floors and ceilings; and old-fashioned furniture. Tile-lined bathrooms feel fresh and modern; a couple have showers with exterior-facing stained-glass windows. A large roof terrace, where breakfast is served, has excellent views.

Extensive restoration has brought this Istanbul landmark—founded in 1892 to provide upscale accommodations for travelers arriving on the Orient Express—back to its former glory, with beautifully outfitted rooms, plenty of period decorations, and antique furniture. Bathrooms are done in Carrera marble, and some feature deep, old-fashioned claw-foot tubs; there's also a small underground spa, sauna, and indoor pool. Some rooms and suites are inspired by prestigious former guests, including Agatha Christie, Greta Garbo, and Ernest Hemingway, while the "deluxe Golden Horn" rooms, many with tiny private balconies, are some of the coziest.

Once a residence for the Ottoman sultans, the late-19th-century Çırağan Palace (pronounced chi-rahn) is Istanbul's most luxurious hotel, with ornate public spaces that feel absolutely decadent and a breathtaking setting right on the Bosphorus—the outdoor infinity pool seems to hover on the water's edge and most rooms, full of Ottoman-inspired wood furnishings and textiles in warm colors, have balconies overlooking the Bosphorus as well. Large bathrooms feature marble tubs. At Tuğra Restaurant, you can dine in splendor on Turkish and Ottoman specialties. Most lodgings are in the new wing, though there are 11 VIP suites in the palace itself, including the €50,000 per night Sultan's Suite—start saving now.

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.

Opportunities for relaxation abound at this hillside retreat overlooking Yalıkavak Bay, where the spacious grounds include a pool and sunbathing deck, a “chill-out zone” for reading and yoga, and a garden cabana for outdoor massage. The large, comfortable rooms get lots of natural light and incorporate stylish design touches. Breakfast, lunch, and evening diners enjoy the glorious views and sunsets on the on-site bistro and bar deck. The small but select delicious menu uses largely fresh local produce from Yalıkavak and Penisula farmers.

Perched above the Aegean Sea in a pine forest is a 36-room retreat whose name is aptly translated to "peace" and "dream," offering guests the tranquil sense that they are all alone, even when every villa is occupied. The stand-alone villas are called pavilions and have enormous bathrooms, dining spaces, and traditional Turkish fireplaces. Each pavilion has private gardens with a daybed, loungers, and a large private pool. Turkish and Mediterranean dishes are served in the main restaurant, as breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while the beach club offers a BBQ, casual dining, and cocktails. Meals are also available in rooms. 

Down a narrow alleyway and behind a high wall, you'll find four stylish but comfortable traditional Gaziantep stone houses, where rooms have been meticulously restored and are charmingly decorated with quirky antique radios, sewing machines, and telephones. The courtyard is delightful, with a covered seating area and tables shaded by umbrellas. Owner Tim Schindel, son of a Turkish mother and an American father, is helpful and a good source of information about Gaziantep's cultural heritage.

In two gorgeous old stone houses centered on a shady courtyard, Assos Alarga provides a serene and intimate stay in the quiet end of Behramkale village, and its small outdoor pool and garden ensure an idyllic getaway atmosphere. This was once the holiday home of the friendly proprietor, Ece, who equips her guest rooms—each uniquely decorated—with high-quality linens and many subtle design touches. No effort is spared to ensure that you have an unforgettable stay in this most romantic of settings. The delicious breakfast can be enjoyed on a sheltered terrace or in the courtyard garden.

Charming, friendly, and brimming with old-world character, this hotel has larger-than-usual lodgings and a good location in the old town, with many high-ceilinged rooms located in a 250-year-old mansion. Paintings by the owner are prominently displayed throughout, giving the whole place a heartwarming guesthouse feel. The property also includes a large central courtyard with orange trees, tables, and a small pool. Be sure to ask for a room in the historic building—the modern building doesn't have nearly as much personality and charm.

This hotel boasts great views of the castle, its own section of beach, and attractive accommodations; guest rooms have tasteful contemporary furnishings and private balconies (most with sea views). At the center of the property a large green space—complete with a pool and piece of ancient stonework—leads down the waterfront. The Barbarossa restaurant serves good, simple Turkish fare.

Beautiful rooms and the warmest of welcomes make this sublimely tranquil boutique hotel a top choice for a peaceful getaway. Each of the cozy rooms in the lovely, 150-year-old Chili House is named after a variety of pepper grown in the garden, and each is unique, with wood paneling, Ottoman decoration, rescued-timber wood furniture, and walls tiled with pepper designs. The common areas, including a lounge/breakfast area and rooftop terrace with views all around, are equally charming, and the owner, Lütfi, is exceptionally affable.

Central to everything Bodrum has to offer, the hotel's well-appointed rooms and facilities set around a large landscaped pool form a quiet, tranquil oasis for guests who can enjoy excellent a la carte meals in the Tyro restaurant, and luxurious treatments in the full facility Spa Center. The generous buffet breakfast includes fresh produce picked from the hotel's peninsula farm. Exploring Bodrum's ancient sites can start within a short 100-m (328-foot) stroll across to the Myndos Gate and along the Halikarnassos walls. Nightlife is an easy walk to the Marina and Bodrum Harbour. The Gumbet Beach with watersports centers, 900 m (½ mile), and Oasis Mall 250 m (820 feet), are also close by.

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 rooms 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.

This small, peaceful, friendly oasis comes as a pleasant surprise, with the tastefully designed rooms overlooking lush gardens surrounding one of the two delightful pools. A well-known gourmet restaurant on the rooftop terrace looks to the Bodrum Castle and the sea, and serves wine from the hotel’s own vineyards in Tekirdağ. The rooms are well appointed, decorated using natural stone and timber, and all have garden or sea views. They are reached by sometimes steep stairs rambling up the hillside, so it is fun to locate the second two-cabana pool and jacuzzi, ideal for honeymooners. There’s a small gym with massage facilities, a tropical-style garden bar and indoor dining room poolside, and a high-season daily shuttle to a posh beach. The surrounding neighborhood may be a bit gritty, but is still walkable up from town. 

This boutique hotel is as good a reason as any to stop in Tarsus: it occupies a three-story restored mansion and has buckets of character (wooden floors, Turkish carpets, and antique-style furnishings). The well-sized rooms are attractively done up, each with its own personality, and the whole place has a homey feel. There's a leafy courtyard, as well as an on-site restaurant and café.

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.

This upscale but laid-back retreat right on the Gölköy beachfront side of the Göltürkbükü bays has a low-key eco-design flair that utilizes natural materials inside and out—plus an Olympic-size pool and a pergola-shaded beach sundeck. The al fresco restaurant spills out onto another beachfront deck, offering fine Mediterranean cuisine. A fine expanse of lawn offers space for sun lounges and shade back from the jetty, and also for the weddings and events the hotel is renowned for. A mixture of minimalist but well-appointed suites, seafront, and garden rooms suit families and couples, as well as a location close to the upscale restaurants and clubs of the five-star hotels.

The first thing you notice here is the art, acquired by the owner on his off-season trips to Asia and South America: 250 pieces fill the lobby, expand up the stairs, and flow into the rooms, setting the tone for this stylish boutique hotel. Guest rooms are tastefully furnished, as are the bathrooms with their large cabinet showers.

This modest, family-run hotel is in a shady garden on the banks of the Dalyan River, with breathtaking views of the ancient Kaunosian rock tombs from the large and comfortable riverside terrace, where you can enjoy a traditional buffet breakfast in absolute tranquility. The rather cloistered rooms are simply decorated in wood and terra-cotta-style tiles with white stucco. You can swim in the river off a small jetty in front of a splendid row of cypress trees or wait for a boat to pick you up and take you to the nearby beach.

Bergama's most attractive lodging is a favorite with couples on romantic retreats as well as visiting archaeologists, and all are made equally welcome by multilingual owner Mehibe, a font of local information. The two, beautifully maintained, 200-year-old stone houses are hidden among the cobbled, winding lanes of the crumbling Talatpaşa neighborhood, on the slopes of the Acropolis-crowned hill. Well-appointed rooms, each named after a Greek god or goddess, surround a courtyard and have high ceilings and old-fashioned furniture. Breakfast is served on a lovely terrace with views of the town, and wine tastings are occasionally held in the atmospheric wine cellar.

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.