Turkey, located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, is a land rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Turkey, known for its colourful bazaars, ancient ruins, and breathtaking coasts, provides visitors with an intriguing blend of sensory experiences. Among this rich tapestry of attractions, Turkey's greatest hotels stand out as havens of luxury and hospitality, each providing a unique glimpse into the country's historic history and dynamic present.

From the lavish splendour of ancient Ottoman palaces to the modern elegance of beach resorts, these hotels highlight Turkey's diverse landscapes and rich legacy, delivering an extraordinary journey filled with fun and discovery.

Amanruya

Amanruya

Amanruya is located in a corner of the Turquoise Coast, snuggled amid the trees of an ancient pine forest. The winding road that leads onto the huge property and its own private pebble beach creates a sense of remoteness, but you are only a 30-minute drive from Milas-Bodrum airport and the numerous other hotels along the north coast. Similarly, the city of Bodrum is just a 30-minute drive away. Note that in late spring and early summer, many little pests appear around twilight; use the spray provided in your room.

The name Amanruya is a combination of the terms meaning 'peace' in Sanskrit and 'dream' in Turkish. This could not be a better way to describe how it feels to remain here. Its rooms, restaurants, and lounges are spread around the pine-scented grounds that lead down to the Aegean Sea, with the outdoors playing an important role in the architecture.

Consider al fresco dinners, open-sided pavilions for reading, and winding paths through stone arches, olive groves, cypress trees, and massive terracotta pots. The colours reflect the arid terrain, with clay pinks, sandy browns, and muted whites.

Amanruya

Service is outstanding. Everyone is friendly, and staff frequently anticipates your needs before you do, whether it's a fresh chilled bottle of water at the pool or the apparition of a cocktail menu as the sun sets.

The concierge can help you plan everything from day activities (such as a fantastic hands-on pottery course in a nearby town with a charming couple) to a secret candlelit table for a particularly romantic night. Prices for these events are comparable to high-end accommodation prices.

Every day, a casual afternoon tea is offered in one of the poolside pavilions; stop by to sample the complementary Turkish pastries and coffee. There's also a three-story library, fitness studio, yoga studio, tennis court, and spa treatment rooms; the hot-stone massage is great for chilly days outside of peak season.

The real features, however, are the massive infinity pool with panoramic views from its elevated vantage point and the private pebble beach. The former is often quiet (no doubt because many people come here for privacy and prefer to swim in their own pools), whereas the latter (a 20-minute walk along a dry dirt path or a buggy ride) is busier but never feels crowded due to the sun loungers and daybeds scattered along the edge of the wooded coastline and across two wooden jetties.

One jetty has stand-up paddleboards ready to try, and both have step ladders to help you gently lower yourself into the sea without having to scramble over the stones.

Amanruya

Each quiet and beautiful room is located in its own isolated pavilion and seems more like a suite due to its size and amenities. Some have stunning sea views, while others are more secluded - but all include tranquil outside areas and a heated pool. Do take a midnight dip. There's also a pergola with a double day bed for shade, wooden chaise longues for sunbathing, and a refreshing outdoor shower.

Inside, a four-poster bed with thin white curtains serves as the focal point of the room, creating a peaceful sleep atmosphere in the high-ceilinged open-plan space. A living room is furnished with a sofa, table and chairs, and a charcoal fireplace. The bathrooms are enormous, with the same white marble flooring, freestanding bathtubs large enough for two, and separate outside showers. Standard amenities include television, bathrobes, slippers, a safe, adaptors, and more. Own-brand shampoo and conditioner in white containers are a cut above.

At lunchtime, the Poolside Dining Pavilion and the Beach Club serve lighter meals with many of selections that are ideal for lazy days by the water. Consider Caesar salad (adjusted with grilled asparagus), a variety of delectable traditional pides (flatbreads covered with melted cheese and toppings), and charcoal-cooked kebabs.

Amanruya

In the evening, reserve a table at Sushi by Amanruya or the Anatolian Dining Pavilion one hour before sunset and watch the sky fade from dusky pink to deepest blue, accompanied by the twinkling of stars.

The former is the hotel's newest restaurant and serves the greatest rolls, tempura, maki, sashimi, and more. Don't miss the exquisitely delicate hamachi sashimi, which is served with cucumber ribbons, edible blossoms, and spicy ginger. Pair with a bottle of Turkish Sauvignon Blanc—there are several great alternatives.

The latter has Mediterranean and Turkish-inspired shared plates, such as silky baba ganoush with pomegranate seeds and a courgette and pink grapefruit salad, as well as rich beetroot hummus topped with chickpeas. Save room for the decadent and insanely delicious pistachio baklava dessert.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

Located on the Bodrum Peninsula, near the picturesque, upscale resort of Goltürkbükü. The hotel faces Cennet (Paradise) Bay in the Aegean Sea, where sleek yachts and gulets bob gently in the pure blue waters. Chic Bodrum, with its yacht harbour, Knights of St John Castle, and Halicarnassus Mausoleum remnants, lies 13 miles south. Milas-Bodrum Airport is a 40-minute journey north.

The hotel's 20 or so olive-colored geometric blocks (intended to fit in with the area's native olive trees) are situated in layers along a wooded slope that spans approximately 150 acres, leading to two curved white sandy beaches. Interiors by Italian architect and furniture designer Antonio Citterio, who previously designed the Mandarin Oriental Milan, are elegant and sumptuous, with large expanses of costly wood and subdued marble intermingled with contemporary artwork.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

The hotel has almost the same number of polite, efficient employees as guests and is a true luxury cocoon. Its massive three-story spa is one of the greatest on the Turkish Med, with treatment rooms the size of small apartments and a dizzying assortment of amenities.

There is also a watersports centre, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, private curtained beach cabanas, a pilates and yoga class, five designer boutiques, and a Turkish designer department store outlet called Brandroom. If you require a helicopter landing pad, there is one available, as well as a fleet of buggies to transport guests throughout the grounds.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

The hotel offers 132 rooms and suites, including 62 in the main building. The majority of them have a sea view (or a partial sea view), while the remainder have a garden view.

The decor is clean and simple, and even the lowest category rooms are vast, with high ceilings, walk-in wardrobes, Bang & Olufsen televisions and tall sliding teak panels dividing the bedroom from the bathroom, which features a freestanding porcelain oval-shaped tub. The Presidential Suite costs £35,500 a night and includes seven bedrooms, a maid's room, a lawned garden, a gym, and a sauna.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

There are eight restaurants: choose Assaggio (on an expansive decked platform overlooking the sea) for classic Italian dishes such as beef carpaccio with truffle oil and seared tuna and aubergine; Bodrum Balikçisi for fish and seafood; Kurochan by Ioki for a menu created by ex-Nobu superchef Scott Hallsworth; Sofra for traditional Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine; Blue Beach Club & Bar and Pool Bar & Restaurant for cocktails and daytime snacks; the Mandarin Bar, hung

Sofra offers extensive buffet breakfasts, including waffles and pancakes, a bread 'island' with freshly baked breads and lahmacun (Turkish pizza), organic health drinks, and a wide variety of cooked entrees.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

The hotel is situated near some of the city's most famous sights. The iconic, domed mass of the Hagia Sophia stands so close to the hotel that you feel as if you could reach out and touch it. The extensive grounds of Topkapi Palace lie behind this remarkable religious structure, which began as a church before being converted into a mosque. In the opposite way, you will see the Blue Mosque's slender minarets.

Head to the hotel's roof deck for a 360-degree view of the surrounding neighbourhood. To the north and east, look across the Bosphorus Strait to Asia's hills; to the south, enjoy views across the Sea of Marmara to the magnificent Princes' Islands.

For a different dining experience, surrounding streets Akbıyık Caddesi and Divan Yolu provide a variety of options. The latter also has the convenient Sultanahmet T1 tram stop, which is a five-minute walk from the hotel.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

This structure, created in a Turkish neoclassical style in 1919, features pointed arched windows, dramatic overhanging eaves and beautiful tile panels. The courtyard is the hotel's centre point; it was formerly an inmate exercise yard, but it is now a beautifully planted garden focused on a polygonal pavilion that serves as the breakfast room and main restaurant.

The gardens are spacious and fragrant with jasmine and bougainvillaea, which also give a pop of colour. The herb garden offers the restaurant with fresh food as well as wonderful scents for its guests.

Service throughout the hotel is exactly what you would expect from a luxury hotel with worldwide standards: fast, efficient, and polite without being overbearing. It helps since there are approximately 200 employees serving clients staying in only 65 rooms.

A health club provides Balinese massage services, but if you want to utilise a hammam or a pool, you must take advantage of the complimentary transportation (about 20 minutes) to the Four Seasons Bosphorus across the Golden Horn from Sultanahmet, where additional fees apply.

Service throughout the hotel is exactly what you would expect from a luxury hotel with worldwide standards: fast, efficient, and polite without being overbearing. It helps since there are approximately 200 employees serving clients staying in only 65 rooms.

The guest rooms range in size from 452 to 645 square feet and are categorised as Superior, Deluxe, or Premier. Each has either a king or twin beds, as well as a cot or rollaway on request.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Each suite has an attractive sitting room and ranges in size from 592 to 861 square feet. All are elegantly adorned in subtle, contrasting colours. They have soft carpets, full-length drapes, sophisticated furnishings, and art that reflects both Istanbul's Ottoman past and its interesting present.

Both guest rooms and suites have laptop-sized safes, LCD televisions, coffee machines, and well-stocked minibars. Bathrooms are exquisite marble studies that include both showers and bathtubs.

Some suites and rooms face the street, however there is little noise to disturb guests since Sultanahmet is nearly traffic-free. Accommodation with views of the lush courtyard is also available, but it comes at a higher price.

The Avlu Restaurant is a glass-walled pavilion located in the shaded courtyard. Breakfast here is a magnificent affair, with a large selection of Turkish breakfast items on offer, including simit (sesame-coated rings of bread freshly baked on the premises), Aegean honey, plump Marmara olives, varied cheeses, and menemen (a scrambled egg, tomato, and pepper dish). The Avlu delivers contemporary renditions of traditional Turkish cuisine for lunch and dinner, made with seasonal and Anatolian ingredients.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Chef Özgür Üstün prepares delicious mains such as Trakya lamb shoulder, succulent aubergine stuffed with tender lamb mince complemented by quince purée and assorted herbs, and traditional wood-oven favourites such as pide (a pizza-like semi-leavened flatbread oval with cheese, meat, and vegetables).

Head up to the rooftop Sureyya Terrace for stunning sunsets and beverages, as well as DJ sets from 6pm to 9.30pm Wednesday through Saturday. In cooler weather, head to the Lingo Lingo Bar for beverages and cuisine, which includes live music on Fridays and Saturdays. La Pistache Patisserie is great for a post-sightseeing afternoon tea refreshment.

Macakizi

Macakizi

The hotel is located on the northern side of the Aegean Sea's Bodrum Peninsula, surrounded by pine-clad hills. Macakizi (pronounced'magicizzy') is located just outside the picturesque village of Türkbükü, Turkey's counterpart to St Tropez, with its slew of upscale beach clubs, restaurants, and hotels. The lively Bodrum town is a 45-minute drive south, while the Greek islands of Kos, Leros, and Kalymnos are all within sailing reach.

Macakizi

Ayla Emiroğlu, a pioneer in Turkish boutique hotels, founded Macakizi in the 1970s as a refuge for artists and authors.The hotel relocated to its current location in 2000 and is now managed by her son, Sahir Erozan.

It is arranged over four levels; the wow factor really hits when you leave your room, descend the stone stairs, pass the open-air breakfast pavilion and head through magnolia and oleander heavy gardens: in front of you, acres of canopied wooden decking occupied by expensively dressed bodies reclining on sun loungers or propping up the centrepiece bar, while a DJ plays something cool and the hotel's yacht bobs about in Türkbükü Bay's clear blue waters.

Before you saw your glass was empty, an unseen hand had quickly replenished it. A personal trainer is available to help you through your workouts in the fitness centre, and there is a large Nuxe Spa that offers a Bodyism wellness and weight loss plan.

Wind surfing and jet-propelled stilts are available, and you can rent the hotel's yacht for about £1,000 for half a day (with lunch and beverages). A designer boutique sells clothing, luggage, and sunglasses.

Macakizi

Macakizi's 53 pale cream cottage-style rooms (27 with views of the Aegean) and 21 suites have simple, stylish décor, including travertine-tiled bathrooms and flooring, Rifat Özbek-designed couches, and textured wall canvases by local artists. My Sea Front room lacked tea and coffee making facilities, however the suites feature Nespresso machines and all rooms have Bose televisions and Acqua di Parma cosmetics.

Head chef Aret Sahakyan, who previously worked at Washington DC's Cities Restaurant & Lounge, has devised a menu of Mediterranean and 'new Turkish' cuisine, with characteristic dishes including manti (small egg pasta dumplings stuffed with ground beef) and lahmacun (a thin pizza covered with tomato and seasoned lamb).

Macakizi

Two kitchens serve the à la carte open-air restaurant, bar and breakfast pavilion, which features a buffet of Turkish olives, tomatoes and cheeses, as well as pastries, breads and cooked entrees. The hotel's wine cellar holds hundreds of foreign wines as well as boutique Turkish labels.

Yazz Collective

Yazz Collective

Yazz is only accessible by boat and is located in a lonely bay on the magnificent northern shores of an undeveloped, pine-clad, mountainous peninsula six miles southwest of Fethiye, a popular vacation town. In the not-too-distant past, the cove was a pirate hideaway, but it is now a popular anchorage spot for luxury boats and cruisers. Fethiye boasts numerous taverns, restaurants, and beautiful old rock-cut tombs, while the eerie "ghost" village of Kayakoy was featured in Louis de Bernieres' epic novel Birds Without Wings.

Successful marriages between the exclusive and the bohemian are unusual, but Yazz pulls it off with ease. Co-owners Mehmet Can Uzun and Timur Seven (the latter is the producer of the highly successful Turkish period drama The Magnificent Century) have spent a lot of time and money to make this magnificent location feel as relaxed and timeless as it does.

Yazz Collective

Sustainability is central to the Yazz mission, with a focus on reused and natural materials, as well as organic produce; also, it is Turkey's only hotel with a super-efficient VRF energy system. The modern guesthouses and sleek waterfront restaurant mix California cool with Japanese simplicity, and the green gardens, embraced by the limestone cliffs that flank the cove, exude a Lost World vibe.

Yazz's primary focus is undoubtedly the beach, which is flanked by luxurious loungers and attentive service, but there are also five tiny pools. There is a well-equipped gym and an informal wellness room directly above the sea offering a range of therapies like Balinese massages and aromatherapy.

Yazz Collective

An on-site boutique sells stunning apparel fashioned from recycled materials by renowned designer Ezgi Apa, as well as a mini-library and constantly changing works by diverse artists. Custom boat cruises are popular, and the motor launch is constantly ready to transport guests to and from Fethiye.

Fahrettin Aykut, a Turkish architect living in Barcelona, built the 16 guest cottages, which blend well with the surrounding flora. Each features a vast layout, with utilitarian facilities such as a double shower room, washing/changing room, and large walk-in wardrobe neatly arranged around the raised bedroom.

Yazz Collective

A muslin curtain separates the latter from the exquisite sitting area, which looks out via room-length, floor-to-ceiling glass panels onto a spacious deck. The interior décor features mushroom painting, reclaimed wood and bamboo furniture, and hammered copper light fittings, creating a peaceful and earthy atmosphere.

Six Senses Kocatas Mansions

Turkey, located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, is a land rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Turkey, known for its colourful bazaars, ancient ruins, and breathtaking coasts, provides visitors with an intriguing blend of sensory experiences. Among this rich tapestry of attractions, Turkey's greatest hotels stand out as havens of luxury and hospitality, each providing a unique glimpse into the country's historic history and dynamic present.

From the lavish splendour of ancient Ottoman palaces to the modern elegance of beach resorts, these hotels highlight Turkey's diverse landscapes and rich legacy, delivering an extraordinary journey filled with fun and discovery.

Amanruya

Amanruya

Amanruya is located in a corner of the Turquoise Coast, snuggled amid the trees of an ancient pine forest. The winding road that leads onto the huge property and its own private pebble beach creates a sense of remoteness, but you are only a 30-minute drive from Milas-Bodrum airport and the numerous other hotels along the north coast. Similarly, the city of Bodrum is just a 30-minute drive away. Note that in late spring and early summer, many little pests appear around twilight; use the spray provided in your room.

The name Amanruya is a combination of the terms meaning 'peace' in Sanskrit and 'dream' in Turkish. This could not be a better way to describe how it feels to remain here. Its rooms, restaurants, and lounges are spread around the pine-scented grounds that lead down to the Aegean Sea, with the outdoors playing an important role in the architecture.

Consider al fresco dinners, open-sided pavilions for reading, and winding paths through stone arches, olive groves, cypress trees, and massive terracotta pots. The colours reflect the arid terrain, with clay pinks, sandy browns, and muted whites.

Amanruya

Service is outstanding. Everyone is friendly, and staff frequently anticipates your needs before you do, whether it's a fresh chilled bottle of water at the pool or the apparition of a cocktail menu as the sun sets.

The concierge can help you plan everything from day activities (such as a fantastic hands-on pottery course in a nearby town with a charming couple) to a secret candlelit table for a particularly romantic night. Prices for these events are comparable to high-end accommodation prices.

Every day, a casual afternoon tea is offered in one of the poolside pavilions; stop by to sample the complementary Turkish pastries and coffee. There's also a three-story library, fitness studio, yoga studio, tennis court, and spa treatment rooms; the hot-stone massage is great for chilly days outside of peak season.

The real features, however, are the massive infinity pool with panoramic views from its elevated vantage point and the private pebble beach. The former is often quiet (no doubt because many people come here for privacy and prefer to swim in their own pools), whereas the latter (a 20-minute walk along a dry dirt path or a buggy ride) is busier but never feels crowded due to the sun loungers and daybeds scattered along the edge of the wooded coastline and across two wooden jetties.

One jetty has stand-up paddleboards ready to try, and both have step ladders to help you gently lower yourself into the sea without having to scramble over the stones.

Amanruya

Each quiet and beautiful room is located in its own isolated pavilion and seems more like a suite due to its size and amenities. Some have stunning sea views, while others are more secluded - but all include tranquil outside areas and a heated pool. Do take a midnight dip. There's also a pergola with a double day bed for shade, wooden chaise longues for sunbathing, and a refreshing outdoor shower.

Inside, a four-poster bed with thin white curtains serves as the focal point of the room, creating a peaceful sleep atmosphere in the high-ceilinged open-plan space. A living room is furnished with a sofa, table and chairs, and a charcoal fireplace. The bathrooms are enormous, with the same white marble flooring, freestanding bathtubs large enough for two, and separate outside showers. Standard amenities include television, bathrobes, slippers, a safe, adaptors, and more. Own-brand shampoo and conditioner in white containers are a cut above.

At lunchtime, the Poolside Dining Pavilion and the Beach Club serve lighter meals with many of selections that are ideal for lazy days by the water. Consider Caesar salad (adjusted with grilled asparagus), a variety of delectable traditional pides (flatbreads covered with melted cheese and toppings), and charcoal-cooked kebabs.

Amanruya

In the evening, reserve a table at Sushi by Amanruya or the Anatolian Dining Pavilion one hour before sunset and watch the sky fade from dusky pink to deepest blue, accompanied by the twinkling of stars.

The former is the hotel's newest restaurant and serves the greatest rolls, tempura, maki, sashimi, and more. Don't miss the exquisitely delicate hamachi sashimi, which is served with cucumber ribbons, edible blossoms, and spicy ginger. Pair with a bottle of Turkish Sauvignon Blanc—there are several great alternatives.

The latter has Mediterranean and Turkish-inspired shared plates, such as silky baba ganoush with pomegranate seeds and a courgette and pink grapefruit salad, as well as rich beetroot hummus topped with chickpeas. Save room for the decadent and insanely delicious pistachio baklava dessert.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

Located on the Bodrum Peninsula, near the picturesque, upscale resort of Goltürkbükü. The hotel faces Cennet (Paradise) Bay in the Aegean Sea, where sleek yachts and gulets bob gently in the pure blue waters. Chic Bodrum, with its yacht harbour, Knights of St John Castle, and Halicarnassus Mausoleum remnants, lies 13 miles south. Milas-Bodrum Airport is a 40-minute journey north.

The hotel's 20 or so olive-colored geometric blocks (intended to fit in with the area's native olive trees) are situated in layers along a wooded slope that spans approximately 150 acres, leading to two curved white sandy beaches. Interiors by Italian architect and furniture designer Antonio Citterio, who previously designed the Mandarin Oriental Milan, are elegant and sumptuous, with large expanses of costly wood and subdued marble intermingled with contemporary artwork.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

The hotel has almost the same number of polite, efficient employees as guests and is a true luxury cocoon. Its massive three-story spa is one of the greatest on the Turkish Med, with treatment rooms the size of small apartments and a dizzying assortment of amenities.

There is also a watersports centre, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, private curtained beach cabanas, a pilates and yoga class, five designer boutiques, and a Turkish designer department store outlet called Brandroom. If you require a helicopter landing pad, there is one available, as well as a fleet of buggies to transport guests throughout the grounds.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

The hotel offers 132 rooms and suites, including 62 in the main building. The majority of them have a sea view (or a partial sea view), while the remainder have a garden view.

The decor is clean and simple, and even the lowest category rooms are vast, with high ceilings, walk-in wardrobes, Bang & Olufsen televisions and tall sliding teak panels dividing the bedroom from the bathroom, which features a freestanding porcelain oval-shaped tub. The Presidential Suite costs £35,500 a night and includes seven bedrooms, a maid's room, a lawned garden, a gym, and a sauna.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

There are eight restaurants: choose Assaggio (on an expansive decked platform overlooking the sea) for classic Italian dishes such as beef carpaccio with truffle oil and seared tuna and aubergine; Bodrum Balikçisi for fish and seafood; Kurochan by Ioki for a menu created by ex-Nobu superchef Scott Hallsworth; Sofra for traditional Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine; Blue Beach Club & Bar and Pool Bar & Restaurant for cocktails and daytime snacks; the Mandarin Bar, hung

Sofra offers extensive buffet breakfasts, including waffles and pancakes, a bread 'island' with freshly baked breads and lahmacun (Turkish pizza), organic health drinks, and a wide variety of cooked entrees.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

The hotel is situated near some of the city's most famous sights. The iconic, domed mass of the Hagia Sophia stands so close to the hotel that you feel as if you could reach out and touch it. The extensive grounds of Topkapi Palace lie behind this remarkable religious structure, which began as a church before being converted into a mosque. In the opposite way, you will see the Blue Mosque's slender minarets.

Head to the hotel's roof deck for a 360-degree view of the surrounding neighbourhood. To the north and east, look across the Bosphorus Strait to Asia's hills; to the south, enjoy views across the Sea of Marmara to the magnificent Princes' Islands.

For a different dining experience, surrounding streets Akbıyık Caddesi and Divan Yolu provide a variety of options. The latter also has the convenient Sultanahmet T1 tram stop, which is a five-minute walk from the hotel.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

This structure, created in a Turkish neoclassical style in 1919, features pointed arched windows, dramatic overhanging eaves and beautiful tile panels. The courtyard is the hotel's centre point; it was formerly an inmate exercise yard, but it is now a beautifully planted garden focused on a polygonal pavilion that serves as the breakfast room and main restaurant.

The gardens are spacious and fragrant with jasmine and bougainvillaea, which also give a pop of colour. The herb garden offers the restaurant with fresh food as well as wonderful scents for its guests.

Service throughout the hotel is exactly what you would expect from a luxury hotel with worldwide standards: fast, efficient, and polite without being overbearing. It helps since there are approximately 200 employees serving clients staying in only 65 rooms.

A health club provides Balinese massage services, but if you want to utilise a hammam or a pool, you must take advantage of the complimentary transportation (about 20 minutes) to the Four Seasons Bosphorus across the Golden Horn from Sultanahmet, where additional fees apply.

Service throughout the hotel is exactly what you would expect from a luxury hotel with worldwide standards: fast, efficient, and polite without being overbearing. It helps since there are approximately 200 employees serving clients staying in only 65 rooms.

The guest rooms range in size from 452 to 645 square feet and are categorised as Superior, Deluxe, or Premier. Each has either a king or twin beds, as well as a cot or rollaway on request.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Each suite has an attractive sitting room and ranges in size from 592 to 861 square feet. All are elegantly adorned in subtle, contrasting colours. They have soft carpets, full-length drapes, sophisticated furnishings, and art that reflects both Istanbul's Ottoman past and its interesting present.

Both guest rooms and suites have laptop-sized safes, LCD televisions, coffee machines, and well-stocked minibars. Bathrooms are exquisite marble studies that include both showers and bathtubs.

Some suites and rooms face the street, however there is little noise to disturb guests since Sultanahmet is nearly traffic-free. Accommodation with views of the lush courtyard is also available, but it comes at a higher price.

The Avlu Restaurant is a glass-walled pavilion located in the shaded courtyard. Breakfast here is a magnificent affair, with a large selection of Turkish breakfast items on offer, including simit (sesame-coated rings of bread freshly baked on the premises), Aegean honey, plump Marmara olives, varied cheeses, and menemen (a scrambled egg, tomato, and pepper dish). The Avlu delivers contemporary renditions of traditional Turkish cuisine for lunch and dinner, made with seasonal and Anatolian ingredients.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Chef Özgür Üstün prepares delicious mains such as Trakya lamb shoulder, succulent aubergine stuffed with tender lamb mince complemented by quince purée and assorted herbs, and traditional wood-oven favourites such as pide (a pizza-like semi-leavened flatbread oval with cheese, meat, and vegetables).

Head up to the rooftop Sureyya Terrace for stunning sunsets and beverages, as well as DJ sets from 6pm to 9.30pm Wednesday through Saturday. In cooler weather, head to the Lingo Lingo Bar for beverages and cuisine, which includes live music on Fridays and Saturdays. La Pistache Patisserie is great for a post-sightseeing afternoon tea refreshment.

Macakizi

Macakizi

The hotel is located on the northern side of the Aegean Sea's Bodrum Peninsula, surrounded by pine-clad hills. Macakizi (pronounced'magicizzy') is located just outside the picturesque village of Türkbükü, Turkey's counterpart to St Tropez, with its slew of upscale beach clubs, restaurants, and hotels. The lively Bodrum town is a 45-minute drive south, while the Greek islands of Kos, Leros, and Kalymnos are all within sailing reach.

Macakizi

Ayla Emiroğlu, a pioneer in Turkish boutique hotels, founded Macakizi in the 1970s as a refuge for artists and authors.The hotel relocated to its current location in 2000 and is now managed by her son, Sahir Erozan.

It is arranged over four levels; the wow factor really hits when you leave your room, descend the stone stairs, pass the open-air breakfast pavilion and head through magnolia and oleander heavy gardens: in front of you, acres of canopied wooden decking occupied by expensively dressed bodies reclining on sun loungers or propping up the centrepiece bar, while a DJ plays something cool and the hotel's yacht bobs about in Türkbükü Bay's clear blue waters.

Before you saw your glass was empty, an unseen hand had quickly replenished it. A personal trainer is available to help you through your workouts in the fitness centre, and there is a large Nuxe Spa that offers a Bodyism wellness and weight loss plan.

Wind surfing and jet-propelled stilts are available, and you can rent the hotel's yacht for about £1,000 for half a day (with lunch and beverages). A designer boutique sells clothing, luggage, and sunglasses.

Macakizi

Macakizi's 53 pale cream cottage-style rooms (27 with views of the Aegean) and 21 suites have simple, stylish décor, including travertine-tiled bathrooms and flooring, Rifat Özbek-designed couches, and textured wall canvases by local artists. My Sea Front room lacked tea and coffee making facilities, however the suites feature Nespresso machines and all rooms have Bose televisions and Acqua di Parma cosmetics.

Head chef Aret Sahakyan, who previously worked at Washington DC's Cities Restaurant & Lounge, has devised a menu of Mediterranean and 'new Turkish' cuisine, with characteristic dishes including manti (small egg pasta dumplings stuffed with ground beef) and lahmacun (a thin pizza covered with tomato and seasoned lamb).

Macakizi

Two kitchens serve the à la carte open-air restaurant, bar and breakfast pavilion, which features a buffet of Turkish olives, tomatoes and cheeses, as well as pastries, breads and cooked entrees. The hotel's wine cellar holds hundreds of foreign wines as well as boutique Turkish labels.

Yazz Collective

Yazz Collective

Yazz is only accessible by boat and is located in a lonely bay on the magnificent northern shores of an undeveloped, pine-clad, mountainous peninsula six miles southwest of Fethiye, a popular vacation town. In the not-too-distant past, the cove was a pirate hideaway, but it is now a popular anchorage spot for luxury boats and cruisers. Fethiye boasts numerous taverns, restaurants, and beautiful old rock-cut tombs, while the eerie "ghost" village of Kayakoy was featured in Louis de Bernieres' epic novel Birds Without Wings.

Successful marriages between the exclusive and the bohemian are unusual, but Yazz pulls it off with ease. Co-owners Mehmet Can Uzun and Timur Seven (the latter is the producer of the highly successful Turkish period drama The Magnificent Century) have spent a lot of time and money to make this magnificent location feel as relaxed and timeless as it does.

Yazz Collective

Sustainability is central to the Yazz mission, with a focus on reused and natural materials, as well as organic produce; also, it is Turkey's only hotel with a super-efficient VRF energy system. The modern guesthouses and sleek waterfront restaurant mix California cool with Japanese simplicity, and the green gardens, embraced by the limestone cliffs that flank the cove, exude a Lost World vibe.

Yazz's primary focus is undoubtedly the beach, which is flanked by luxurious loungers and attentive service, but there are also five tiny pools. There is a well-equipped gym and an informal wellness room directly above the sea offering a range of therapies like Balinese massages and aromatherapy.

Yazz Collective

An on-site boutique sells stunning apparel fashioned from recycled materials by renowned designer Ezgi Apa, as well as a mini-library and constantly changing works by diverse artists. Custom boat cruises are popular, and the motor launch is constantly ready to transport guests to and from Fethiye.

Fahrettin Aykut, a Turkish architect living in Barcelona, built the 16 guest cottages, which blend well with the surrounding flora. Each features a vast layout, with utilitarian facilities such as a double shower room, washing/changing room, and large walk-in wardrobe neatly arranged around the raised bedroom.

Yazz Collective

A muslin curtain separates the latter from the exquisite sitting area, which looks out via room-length, floor-to-ceiling glass panels onto a spacious deck. The interior décor features mushroom painting, reclaimed wood and bamboo furniture, and hammered copper light fittings, creating a peaceful and earthy atmosphere.

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