Boutique hotels in Turkey

Turkey bridges Europe and Asia, and its boutique hotels draw on layers of history: Byzantine churches, Ottoman konaks, Greek stone houses and caves carved by early Christians. Many are run by their owners, and breakfast – a spread of cheeses, olives, honey, eggs and fresh bread – is a highlight of any stay.

Istanbul and Cappadocia

Istanbul leads our ranking, with small hotels in the historic peninsula of Sultanahmet, the lively streets of Galata and Karaköy and along the Bosphorus. Cappadocia, in central Anatolia, is a surreal landscape of fairy chimneys and valleys, best seen from a hot-air balloon at dawn, and its cave hotels are unlike anything else.

The Aegean and Mediterranean

The Aegean coast pairs whitewashed villages and windmills – Alaçatı, Bozcaada, Ayvalık and Assos – with chic Bodrum and the wine country of Urla. Further south, the Turquoise Coast around Kaş, Kalkan, Fethiye and Göcek is mountainous and dotted with Lycian tombs, sheltered coves and gulet harbors.

Old towns

Inland, Safranbolu preserves timber-framed Ottoman houses, Şirince is a hillside village of wine and orchards near Ephesus, and Mardin's honey-colored stone mansions look out over the plains of Mesopotamia.

When to go

Spring and autumn are ideal for Istanbul, Cappadocia and the southeast. The coast is best from June to September, with May and October quieter and still warm enough to swim.