Özgür Gezer

Yes, Istanbul has islands too! The Princes' Islands (Adalar), a group of nine, are steeped in history, having once served as a retreat for monks and a place of exile for Byzantine royalty. Today, they attract tourists and locals alike, offering an escape from the sweltering summer heat with a refreshing dip in the Marmara Sea at one of their many beaches, followed by a leisurely meal at a seaside fish restaurant. A delightful 1 to 1.5-hour ferry ride will whisk you away to the islands, with stops at the four largest—Kınalıada, Burgazada, Heybeliada, and Büyükada. With growing demand, Büyükada, the largest of the islands has seen a surge in hotels, big and small, most of which are tucked away in charming wooden mansions overlooking the sea and the distant city skyline. 

For centuries, locals made their homes in troglodyte dwellings of Cappadocia, until safety concerns led to their evacuation in the 1950s. After being meticulously renovated one by one, these cave houses now serve adventurous travelers seeking once-in-a-lifetime experiences.  Cappadocia's cave hotels offer some of Türkiye’s most playful rooms, many featuring private terraces perfect for watching hot air balloons soaring up to the sky or unwinding in a hot tub with a sundowner at hand, all against the dramatic backdrop of valleys sculpted by millions of years of volcanic activity. While the region may seem to be overpopulated by cave hotels in the last decades, fear not, as we've curated a list of 15 exceptional inns and hotels to help you find the perfect retreat! Ürgüp and Göreme have long been local favourites, while Uçhisar is now stealing the spotlight with the premium hotels proliferating around its old citadel. RECOMMENDED: The best attractions in Cappadocia Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

The Hagia Sophia. The Topkapı Palace. The Blue Mosque. Need we say more? The Old City of Istanbul has it all, and you won't be dissappointed if you choose to stay in any one of the 15 splendid hotels we've picked out for you. The streets of the Historical Peninsula are jampacked with awe-inspiring architectural structures that are bound to stop anyone at their tracks for a fair bit of gawking. The hotel selection isn't too bad either, varying from the majesty of the Ottoman-era bank and office buildings to the intimacy of Turkish-style wooden mansions, and the practicality of sleek international chains. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in Istanbul                                                                        RECOMMENDED: The best small hotels of Istanbul                                                              RECOMMENDED: The best airbnbs of Istanbul  Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Blending old-world charm with contemporary flair, these boutique hotels exude warmth and oodles of personality, making them irresistible to travelers seeking an immersive, local experience. Istanbul's tapestry of small hotels offer a diverse array of experiences, from historic townhouses in Galata and chic hideaways in Nisantasi for city slickers, to grand domes on the Princes' Islands and stately mansions along the Bosphorus for those seeking a more luxurious escape. RECCOMENDED: The best hotels in Istanbul                                                                RECCOMENDED: The best Airbnbs in Istanbul Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Here, some of the most elegant rooms and suites of Cappadocia await you. No longer do you have to navigate the dimness typical of cave dwellings; here, strategically placed windows and skylights usher in natural light, illuminating the stone arches that adorn select suites. Picture yourself in a chateau room with contemporary interiors and indulgent bathtubs. Perched atop a hill, the hotel's terraces and dining spaces offer a front-row seat for a grand spectacle: the soar of dozens of hot air balloons to the sky every morning at the sunrise. Millocal Restaurant offers a fine dining menu paying tribute to local tastes in a light-filled dining hall. And for those craving a taste of authenticity to take home, a corner of the restaurant boasts an array of sourdough breads and gourmet products.

Transforming an old monastery complex into a visionary hotel, this pioneering property offers a charming selection of rooms and suites with fresh modern interiors enriched by traditional Turkish carpets and handicrafts. While some suites have their terraced gardens and indoor pools, the majority of the rooms have fireplaces adding to the romantic feel of the place. Being one of the hotel's two in-house restaurants, Seki attracts clients from outside the hotel with its elegantly decorated dining hall, its menu prepared with “zero mile” philosophy and its rich wine cellar, also stocked with wines from Argos vineyards. Bezirhane, again an old monastic building hidden in the premises, regularly hosts concerts and events with its impressive acoustics. The hotel can organize classic car rides with photo breaks, romantic picnics and full moon walks in the breathtaking Cappadocian landscape.

This Relais & Chateaux member has consistently become one of the most atmospheric hotels of Cappadocia with its stone arched terraces opening out to the magnificent vistas of volcanic valleys. If antiques are your thing, this is the place for you! The luxuriosly-fitted cave rooms and suites, as well as the common areas, have all been decorated with museum-quality items from Roman, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods —all registered in Nevşehir Museum. The inhouse Lil'a Restaurant serves Anatolian flavours with fresh produce grown in the hotel’s 200-acre garden and vineyard. Swimming in the hotel’s open air hot pool, an early-morning traditional barber service on the terrace, a private breakfast in a deserted Cappadocia valley and cooking lessons are among the experiences not to miss here. Imperial Pool Suites feature surprising indoor pools that will make you feel like you are swimming in a cave.

This elegant all-suites hotel marries clean modernist lines with the usual rock architecture that characterizes the region. Perched on top of a hill disguising cave rooms carved underneath, this staggering property is on the highest end of the price spectrum, while it meets its claim to sustainability by producing 26% of its energy through solar power and providing Tesla charging points. 10 suştes and lofts are among the best Cappadocia offers, with exquisite details like baths decorated with illuminated onyx tiles and Byzantine style glass mosaics. The steel and glass structure situated at a scenic point serves as a restaurant with a Mediterranean-inspired menu and its own gardens and vineyard. The outdoor areas of the hotel are so charming that it would be great if they added a pool to their set up.

A few steps from the main square of Ortahisar, the Exedra Hotel attracts a fun-loving crowd with its interconnected stone homes and caves. Original stone details like fireplaces and niches can be found throughout the rooms and common areas, beautifully restored to their original charm. The bathrooms deserve a mention with marble surfaces, underfloor heating, and copper basins. Besides the restored old Chapel Restaurant, designed for private events, the hotel's Fresko Restaurant is a popular gathering spot as well. Its frescoes create a unique ambiance, animated by regular live music sessions during the season and on special dates like New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day.

Esbelli Evi, Cappadocia's pioneering boutique cave inn, has gracefully aged over three decades. What started as a modest inn with five rooms is now a collection of self-catering houses, decorated with chic details. Hidden in the Esbelli neighborhood of Ürgüp, these houses offer courtyards, verdant terraces, and gardens where you can still feel the timeless beauty of Cappadocia. For a culinary delight, Prokopi awaits just around the corner. This town gem offers exquisite cuisine in a romantic ambiance with panoramic views.

This sumptuous hotel is the end result of an impressive restoration project that has transformed the upscale Kayakapı neighbourhood on the hills of Ürgüp into a traveller’s playground, connected to Ürgüp center by free shuttles. Its 41 rooms and suites and three mansions still bear the names of their original owners, while no expense was spared in the decoration. However, the classical wooden furniture, and the dim lighting might feel a bit cramped. If it fits your budget, opt for a larger room with a private patio, fireplace or unique features like indoor pools and Turkish baths. The on-site restaurant offers a concise but well-crafted local menu, with each dish paired with a different cappadocian wine. The hotel spa’s Turkish hammam spa is one of the most elegant examples we have ever seen in Türkiye, featuring marble seats, a central heating stone and vaulted ceilings. 

A passionate advocate for local culture, born in Göreme, initiated his dream project as a small guesthouse with four rooms. Over time, it grew into a charming 35-room retreat, adding some nearby houses to the facility as well. Today, Kelebek Hotel is part of a bigger family of four hotels and the group’s travel agency curates unique experiences for guests, including picking grapes straight from the vine, learning to cook local dishes, or enjoying a delicious, fresh breakfast grown on the hotel’s farm. The reasonably priced rooms offer understated authentic design, while some are even in ancient cave dwellings dating back to the 8th century. You can check out the town of Göreme, the Open Air Museum, and stunning valleys all on foot. Back at the hotel, relax on the terraces, soak in panoramic views or visit Seten Restaurant housed in their sister property right next door –the traditional Anatolian cuisine here is a must-try!

Crafted in the 1990s by a visionary French architect, this establishment caters to a range of preferences, from standard rooms and studios to lar-ger accommodations like one to three-bedroom houses and a villa comp-lete with a private pool, ideal for group getaways. Start your day with breakfast at the Terrace Lounge, offering sweeping views of the ot-herworldly Cappadocia terrain. Lay your yoga mat on the huge lawn be-longing to the hotel’s Farm House at the entrance of Pigeon Valley to make the juices flow. For comfort food lovers, the hotel’s inhou-se pizza bar is a good choice. In the evening, you can also have a special dinner at the hotel’s Elai Restaurant, transformed from the village's historic coffee house nearby.

This might be one of the most Instragrammable Cappadocia hotels with its picturesque terrace with panoramic views overlooking the Pigeon Valley, stretching all the way to the town of Göreme with the snow capped Erciyes Mountain at the backdrop. Rox Cappadocia is a good choice for those seeking luxury without breaking the bank, drawing in a youthful crowd. The cosy rooms and suites have been designed with a "back-to-basics'' approach, prioritizing comfort. The hotel is also capable of organizing day tours, from trekking and hot air balloon rides to horseback adventures and ski escapes to Mount Erciyes.

Being part of a four-hotel group founded by a local visionary, Sultan Cave Suites is a more upper scale version of its neighbouring sister, Kelebek Special Cave Hotel. Here, you will find 35 rooms and suites, some intricately carved into the iconic fairy chimneys —those magnificent mushroom-capped rock formations that have been home to locals for centuries. While the standard cave rooms exude charm and airiness, it's the Sultan Suite's scenic jacuzzi that takes luxury to new heights, even by Cappadocia's lofty standards. Additionally, four Eco Valley Rooms are for those craving a more rustic experience in a secluded valley, where the hotel group offers daily cooking classes led by local women. The inhouse Seten Restaurant is yet another good culinary surprise offered by the hotel.

This charming family-run inn began as a beautiful 6-room property set in a lovingly restored old stone house in Uçhisar. Over time, it expanded into a 25-room retreat perched atop a hill, offering picturesque terraces where guests can relax on cozy daybeds and soak in the stunning views. Comfortable rooms cut into the soft tufa, and suites with whirlpools on their decks make this place a favourite honeymoon hotel. Besides its inhouse restaurant Moniq, the hotel also offers unique culinary experiences like a candle-lit dinner in a historic cave, sunrise breakfasts and sunset picnics in volcanic valleys.