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With some notable exceptions, the hotels in the east are basic, with little in the way of the luxuries you might find in Istanbul or along Turkey's Mediterranean coast. A few boutique hotels are beginning to pop up though, particularly in Mardin, and most cities have at least one decent modern hotel catering to Turkish business travelers. It's advisable to book these well in advance, though there are always plenty of clean and comfortable budget options available.
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.
This wonderfully restored late 19th-century Russian-built mansion is extremely stylish, with a cool, minimalist white-and-gray color scheme, original art on the walls depicting monuments in Kars, and comfortable rooms furnished with contemporary flair. The top two floors of the three-story building have long balconies in the back, where you can sit and order a drink from the bar. Breakfast is served in an enclosed courtyard.
Earthy and arty, with lots of exposed timber, this lovely 80-year-old chestnut building beside the river is quite different from any other lodgings in the area, with six surprisingly stylish rooms. Try to get one of the three river-view rooms. Evening meals can be provided as can a wide variety of tea, coffee, and homemade soft drinks. A small gift shop sells local handcrafted goods.
The name of this beautiful old mansion-hotel means "sky" and indeed some of the rooftop rooms open to above; in others, furniture is clustered so nothing touches the extraordinarily well-preserved stonework. Tasteful modern design merges seamlessly throughout with the original craftsmanship, and the breakfasts are particularly special.
There are two neighboring buildings here that visitors can stay in, one a restored 18th-century han that has nice rooms with large bathrooms doubling as Turkish hammams. Most rooms are basically suites with separate living rooms and bedrooms, and have lovely reproductions of Ottoman-style furniture.
Popular with Mt. Ararat climbers, this hotel is geared to backpackers but tries harder than most places in town, making it one of the best options in the area. The lobby makes a promising start, although the rooms themselves have fairly average furniture and aging carpets. All rooms have balconies and the ones on the upper floors that face east have views of İshak Paşa Sarayı. In non-summer months, about half the rooms are used to house young schoolteachers from western Turkey who often speak English and are happy to meet visitors from around the world.
This established lodging option a little out of the center of Van makes an attempt at character with reproductions of Urartian art on the walls throughout and gold-embroidered bedspreads and floral wallpaper in the small but pleasant guest rooms. Some rooms face the noisy street—so ask for one in back, though some may overlook a brick wall. The Pastane Café, with Turkish cakes and sweets, is a popular meeting spot. The front-desk staff can help arrange tours of the area.
These rooms in a series of historic homes with modern additions have stone walls and nice but smallish bathrooms, while suites are especially atmospheric and well worth the extra price. The main building has a breezy terrace with wicker chairs where you can have a drink or a meal and take in the fine view, and a good restaurant serves local dishes in a cavernous space below the hotel.
Although decorated in a questionably outdated fashion, this hotel is one of the better midrange options in town with near-budget rates. The rooms are comfortable enough and have nice bathrooms with large walk-in cabinet showers. There's a bar in the lobby with a range of international and domestic drinks on offer.
On the northwest edge of the old town, Urfa's Hilton offers the style and services you'd expect from a top international chain. Modern, plush, and comfortable, it's a relaxed bastion of Westernization in one of Turkey's most conservative cities, although that means there's a total cultural disconnect with the city around it. There is a full range of facilities including a pool and a gym.
Just a block off the main square, the Horon has spacious rooms, friendly service, and a rooftop restaurant where you can enjoy breakfast overlooking the sea. Though it's undergone a number of modern renovations, the local character has been preserved.
Built of local stone, imitating the local architectural style, this sprawling hotel tries to mix Urfa character with five-star luxury by offering spacious and comfortable rooms, with large beds, wood furniture, vaulted ceilings, and bathrooms with mosaic-like tiles and baths. Service is attentive and professional and a pool is cut into a rock chamber under the hotel.
This low stone building has comfortable, clean rooms and good bathrooms, and is the best of the few places to stay on Mt. Nemrut itself. The restaurant is decked out in kilims and rugs (although there are hard benches), and opens to a deck that has a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains and of the stars at night; the food is simple but tasty and the beers are cold. The hotel also has a pleasant garden with cherry and quince trees.
One of Trabzon's best budget options, Hotel Nur has spotless (though small) rooms, some overlooking the main square---those on the higher floors, facing the front, even have a sea view. There's also a lovely terrace where you can bring your own drinks.
In the old Christian Bey neighborhood, this mansion-hotel conversion makes sure you feel like a guest at a real Turkish home (shoes even come off at the door). The 130-year-old building has three floors of rooms, some with wood paneling and all with (slightly small) bathrooms and showers. Suites are on the top floor and get their own terrace. On the lower floors, you can explore a rock-cut cistern and a secret early Christian meeting room.
This charming small hotel in an old house has a very friendly and welcoming staff, as well as a pretty, flower-filled courtyard in a converted old Armenian home. Rooms vary, though some are small and windowless and can get quite humid.
The owners of this hotel have converted their family home perched on the city walls into a beautiful retreat, where stone-walled, vaulted-ceiling rooms are beautifully decorated in a mix of traditional and modern styles and surround an airy courtyard. Dining is on a rooftop terrace or in a vast, stone-walled hall, and a cushioned lounge is the perfect place to relax.
On the edge of a green field, this wooden chalet has large, comfortable rooms, and colorful rugs and kilims in the hallways that add a homey feel. The owners are friendly, and a nice restaurant with an outdoor terrace serves local specialties.
Right in the center of Trabzon, in a bustling area near the main bazaar, this modern hotel is a good value for the price.
Some of the front rooms at this basic inn have wonderful views, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about outdoor activities in the area. An on-premises agency arranges water rafting and guided hikes. Alcohol is available and an informal restaurant serves dinner on request.
At this attractive 16th-century kervansaray with sandstone walls and vaulted ceilings, rooms are a little dated and on the small side, but you're really paying for the atmosphere and the location. There is a lovely courtyard with a fountain where you can eat dinner or have a drink (unless there's a wedding, which is a frequent occurrence during the summer), and the hotel pool is a welcome sight in Diyarbakır's heat. Rooms on the ground floor don't have air-conditioning, though they tend to stay quite cool even in summer.
In the small village of Karadut, just 8 km (5 miles) from Mt. Nemrut's summit, Kervansaray is a viable option for those that want to stay close to the main attraction. It offers half-board accommodations in simple but clean rooms, and the terrace has stunning mountain views.
A modern building made of traditional local stone, the Reyhani has beautiful upscale rooms and three terraces with views that are the envy of all Mardin. Unfortunately, most of the rooms don't get the views, but the large suites are a worthwhile splurge if you want to take in the Mesopotamian views during your stay. Service is first-rate and the gourmet restaurant serves excellent food though the dinner choice is often limited.
Since opening in 2013, this hotel has quickly become the best option in the Nemrut area with its comfortable and nicely furnished mid-range rooms and a decent range of facilities including a pool and sauna. The covered rooftop breakfast room has what is probably the best view in town.
As the name implies, these bright, decent-size rooms just inside Dağ Kapısı, Diyarbakır's main city gate, offer comfort and sleek modern amenities rather than character. Most guests are businesspeople from western Turkey, but the English-speaking staff is accommodating to tourists as well.
