Best Hotels in Eastern Türkiye (Turkey) 2026: Kars, Van, and Doğubayazıt

Eastern Turkey covers a vast area: from Kars and the Ani ruins in the northeast, to Van and Akdamar Island in the centre-east, to Doğubayazıt and Ishak Pasha Palace in the southeast near Mount Ararat. These are three distinct bases - each requiring at least one or two nights to do justice to the surrounding sites. The accommodation standard is solid mid-range for city hotels; boutique and luxury options are limited compared to western Turkey, but the best properties are well-run and good value.

Summer (June–September) is the season - winters in eastern Turkey are severe (Kars reaches −20°C, Van −15°C) and some roads and high-altitude sites become inaccessible. Prices below are approximate high-season rack rates as of 2026.

Kars: gateway to Ani ruins

Budget options (under ₺1,500 / ~£38/night)

Karoğlu Hotel (Kars) Clean and central budget hotel in Kars city. Rooms from approximately ₺800–1,300. Good breakfast served with Kars Gravyer cheese and local honey - the regional food identity starts at the breakfast table. Well-located for the cheese shops on the main street.

Hotel Temel (Kars) Simple guesthouse with 18 rooms. Rates from approximately ₺700–1,200. Basic facilities but clean and reliable. The staff are helpful with transport to Ani and local logistics.

Mid-range (₺1,500–4,000 / ~£38–100/night)

Cheltik Hotel ★★★★ (Kars) The best mid-range option in Kars city - 60 rooms, good air conditioning (and heating in shoulder season - Kars at altitude is cold at night even in June), a restaurant, and efficient service. Rates from approximately ₺2,000–3,500. Breakfast includes regional specialties including Gravyer cheese, local honey, and fresh bread from the attached bakery.

Doğu Hotel ★★★ (Kars) Reliable 40-room city hotel near the central square. Rates from approximately ₺1,500–2,800. Good service standards for the price point. The management can arrange Ani taxis and the frozen lake excursion (winter only) to Lake Çıldır.

Katerina Sarayı ★★★★ (Kars) Boutique hotel in a restored Russian-era stone building - the Russian architectural legacy of Kars is part of the city’s identity, and staying in one of these buildings is part of the experience. 30 rooms from approximately ₺2,800–5,000. The building’s exterior is distinctive; breakfast quality is high.

Van: base for Lake Van and Akdamar Island

Budget options (under ₺1,500 / ~£38/night)

Büyük Urartu Hotel (Van) Long-established Van hotel with 60 rooms and a city centre location. Rates from approximately ₺1,100–2,000. Not the newest property but reliable and well-positioned. Good for independent travellers who need a practical, functional base.

Sıla Hotel (Van) Budget city hotel with clean rooms and a central location. Rates from approximately ₺800–1,400. Breakfast included. The most functional budget option in Van city.

Mid-range (₺1,500–4,000 / ~£38–100/night)

Merit Şahmaran Hotel ★★★★★ (Van) The most complete hotel in Van - 230 rooms, a pool (one of the few hotels in the east with one), restaurant, and spa facilities. Rates from approximately ₺3,000–5,500. For a city where hotel standards drop off significantly below this level, the Merit represents a significant step up. Book ahead in summer.

Mercure Van ★★★★ (Van) International chain standard hotel in Van - 130 rooms, consistent standards, and a city centre location. Rates from approximately ₺2,500–4,500. For travellers who want the predictability of a chain property, this is the most reliable option in eastern Turkey outside Kars.

Tamara Otel (Van city, lakeside) Positioned closer to the lake shore than most Van hotels. Thirty rooms from approximately ₺1,500–3,000. Views across Lake Van from the upper floors in clear weather - the lake’s blue-green colour at altitude is distinctive. A quieter option than the city centre properties.

Doğubayazıt: Ishak Pasha Palace and Mount Ararat

Budget and mid-range (₺700–3,000 / ~£18–75/night)

Doğubayazıt is a small town (population approximately 60,000) at the foot of Mount Ararat with a limited accommodation range. Most visitors treat it as a one- or two-night stop en route between Van and Kars or Erzurum.

Hotel Simer (Doğubayazıt) The best hotel in the town - 40 rooms, central position, and reliable service. Rates from approximately ₺1,500–2,800. Good breakfast with regional ingredients. The staff can arrange taxis to Ishak Pasha Palace (approximately ₺100–150 return with waiting time) and information on Mount Ararat viewing conditions.

İshak Paşa Hotel (Doğubayazıt) Named for the palace, this mid-range property has 30 rooms and is the most consistent mid-range option in town. Rates from approximately ₺1,200–2,200. The view of Mount Ararat (weather permitting) from the upper floor rooms is the main attraction.

Hotel Nuh (Doğubayazıt) Budget guesthouse named for Noah - the Mount Ararat–Noah’s Ark association is a persistent local theme. Rooms from approximately ₺700–1,200. Basic facilities; good for one-night stopovers.

Comparison table

Property	City	Style	High-season rate (₺)
Hotel Temel	Kars	Budget	₺700–1,200
Doğu Hotel	Kars	Mid-range	₺1,500–2,800
Cheltik Hotel	Kars	Mid-range	₺2,000–3,500
Katerina Sarayı	Kars	Boutique	₺2,800–5,000
Sıla Hotel	Van	Budget	₺800–1,400
Tamara Otel	Van	Mid-range	₺1,500–3,000
Mercure Van	Van	Chain	₺2,500–4,500
Merit Şahmaran	Van	Full-service	₺3,000–5,500
Hotel Simer	Doğubayazıt	Mid-range	₺1,500–2,800

Booking tips

Eastern Express train timing: If arriving in Kars by train, the Eastern Express from Ankara takes approximately 24 hours and arrives at varying times depending on delays. Book your Kars hotel with a flexible check-in. The train runs approximately three times weekly - check the current TCDD schedule (tcdd.gov.tr).

Kars cheese shops: The city’s gravyer and kaşar cheese is genuinely excellent. Most hotels’ breakfast quality reflects the local produce - Kars cheese shops along the main street sell aged gravyer by the wedge (approximately ₺300–800/kg as of 2026). Budget time for this.

Van breakfast: The Van kahvaltı (breakfast) served with multiple dishes including local herbs, eggs, cheese, honey, and kaymak (clotted cream) has become nationally celebrated. Dedicated Van breakfast restaurants open from 8am and are worth more time than a standard hotel breakfast.

Altitude and weather: Kars (1,750m) and Doğubayazıt (1,900m) are at significant altitude. Even in summer, evenings can be cold. Pack accordingly. Ishak Pasha Palace sits at 2,080m - a light fleece is useful even in August.

For the full guide to Ani, Kars, Lake Van, and Doğubayazıt, see our Eastern Turkey travel guide. For help with the Eastern Express train booking, see our getting around Türkiye guide.

Planning ahead: Flights to Turkey - Turkish Airlines flies Ankara to Kars, Istanbul to Van, and Istanbul to Ağrı (nearest airport to Doğubayazıt, 90km). Travel insurance is important for a region where weather and remoteness can create logistical complications.