Turkish delights: The best hotels in Turkey to book for summer
- 1/11
Turkish delights: The best hotels in Turkey to book for summer
If you’re already searching out this summer’s sunshine, the best hotels in Turkey are here for some inspiration, whether you want to join the yacht crowd in Bodrum, take flight in a hot-air balloon in Cappadocia or combine beach days with wine nights in Alacati.
Unlike a lot of places at the moment, the exchange rate between the pound and the Turkish lira is actually rather favourable, which means trips to Turkey can be more purse-friendly, too.
There’s a reason celebrities love Bodrum, which has lots of beautiful beach-front hotels. And with a stay at one of the best hotels in Istanbul, you get two continents for the price of one – not to mention incredible history, buzzy bazaars and monumental landmarks.
Slightly harder to reach, the lunar landscape of Cappadocia, with its caves, cones and fairy chimneys, is definitely worth the detour.
Or simply seek out a sun lounger along the aptly named Turquoise Coast in the district of Dalaman, which stretches from Fethiye to Antalya.
In Izmir Province beside the Aegean, Gaia by the Sea is as close to the water as the name suggests. And in the Turquoise Coast town of Marmaris, Cook’s Club Akakoy is on the shores of remote headland but a swift water-taxi ride from the resort’s buzz. Here are the best hotels in Turkey for 2023…
Argos in Cappadocia - 2/11
1) Mett Hotel, Bodrum
This beach resort in Bodrum is close to both the old town (so close, some of the rooms have views of its ancient fort) and the airport. It’s a sociable space, with multi-room villas that were just made for group gatherings.
Conviviality is also guaranteed thanks to its assorted bars and restaurants: there’s the open-air Folie for Mediterranean favourites, Italian Isola and Attiko for after-dark. Other highlights include a spa and its own art gallery.Courtesy of the hotel - 3/11
2) Argos in Cappadocia, Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a little harder to get to from the UK, but all the more worth it to feel like you’re on the moon – the region’s lunar landscape is unlike anywhere else on the planet. International arrivals can connect to a domestic service to Kayseri or Nevsehir in Istanbul.
Argos in Cappadocia is a restored millennia-old monastery in the Pigeon Valley town of Uchisar and close to Goreme and its famous fairy chimneys, which once sheltered persecuted Christians. The hotel has cave suites with hot tubs, a wine cellar and, of course, easily arranged hot-air-balloon flights.Courtesy of the hotel - 4/11
3) Six Senses Kaplankaya, near Bodrum
On the edge of the Aegean and across the bay from Bodrum, this fragrant Six Senses outpost is lined with oleander, olive groves and cypress trees. Day trips to the Bodrum buzz are a must, as are visits to the two neighbouring Wonders of the Ancient World: the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Guests can also set sail on boat trips to Greek islands such as Patmos and Kos.
As with the group’s other properties, sustainability is key – the hotel’s chefs frequent the fish market in a nearby village or their own kitchen gardens for their ingredients.Courtesy of the hotel - 5/11
4) Gaia by the Sea, Izmir Province
In a sheltered corner of Izmir Province and not far from the resort town of Cesme, Gaia by the Sea pays homage to the Greek goddess of the Earth with private plunge pools, all-natural materials and the Aegean’s bounty served at its restaurant – and at the heart of the hotel is a 500-year-old olive tree. Gaia’s particular brand of laid-back luxe involves a lot of rattan, wicker and stone.
When you’re ready to leave (it may be a while), staff will set you up with a picnic and point you in the direction of secret coves.
Booking.com - 6/11
5) The Stay Warehouse, Alacati
An hour’s drive west of Izmir airport on Turkey’s Aegean-facing Cesme Peninsula, Alacati is a town with a reputation for both wine-making and watersports, the latter of which benefits from the area’s constant winds. It’s a swift ferry ridge to the Greek island of Chios, but there are plenty of beautiful beaches right here in Alacati as well.
The Stay Warehouse is just as stylish as the brand’s slick city outposts in Istanbul, with rooms that have glossy interiors, Smeg minibars and record players with a vinyl selection. There’s a beach club on your doorstep, with a deck reserved for hotel guests.Courtesy of the hotel - 7/11
6) Villa Mahal, Antalya Province
A couple of hours by car south of the airport in Dalaman, Villa Mahal is on a hillside at the edge of the Mediterranean, with grounds that are planted with olive, lime and fig trees.
Guests can make the most of the seaside setting by chartering the villa’s yacht for sails around the Turkish Riviera’s Lycian coast, with stops for spectacular swims at the sunken city of Aperlae or at neighbouring Greek islands. The town of Kalkan is just across the bay and a 10-minute drive away.Booking.com - 8/11
7) The Bodrum Edition, Bodrum
Set on the Turkish Riviera, aka the Turquoise Coast, the Bodrum Edition has terraces that lead down to its jetty and private beach, rooms with siesta-ready hammocks on their decks and a restaurant right by the water.
It would be rude not to sign up for a traditional Turkish hammam at the spa, which also has a beauty salon and sauna. Guests can make the most of its poolside setting by opting for an alfresco, Aegean-facing treatment in one of the cabanas.Courtesy of the hotel - 9/11
8) D Resort Gocek, Fethiye
This resort in Turkey is in the yachting paradise of Gocek, north of Fethiye. It’s just steps to the shore, where sunloungers line the peaceful cove. Dining options include D Breeze, right by the water’s edge; an ice-cream and coffee bar; and Q Lounge, for Japanese and Peruvian plates.
Sunsets can be spent on sundowner-enhanced speedboat trips to nearby coves and islets. The location is tonic enough, but for everything else there’s the spa, which uses medicinal plants from the Med in its treatments.Booking.com - 10/11
9) Cook’s Club Adakoy, Marmaris
Cook’s Club Adakoy is near Marmaris and a 90-minute drive north of Dalaman Airport. A shuttle takes guests back and forth to the town, which has lots of shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs – but there’s plenty to keep you entertained at the resort first, including a spa, a private beach and a yoga platform.
It’s a dream holiday destination: the peninsular setting feels perfectly remote, with the buzz of Marmaris just a swift (20-minute) drive or water-taxi ride away. You’ll also be able to hike in a nearby national park and visit the ancient cities of Dalyan and Datca.Booking.com - 11/11
10) Alavya, Alacati
In the cobblestoned Cesme Peninsula town of Alacati and a short drive to the coast, Alavya is the Turkey hotel for anyone in search of an authentic experience. The rustic hotel is formed from a handful of old stone houses, with terracotta roofs, pastel shutters and, of course, a healthy draping of bougainvillea.
It’s slightly closer to Izmir airport, but landing at Dalaman, an hour and 10 minutes away, is an option, too.Booking.com
