More about hotels in Amasya
Amasya sits in a narrow gorge on the Yeşilırmak River in north-central Türkiye, and it looks the part from the moment you arrive. Rows of Ottoman-era wooden houses, the Yalıboyu Evleri, lean out over the water on both banks, their upper floors jutting further out than their foundations below. Above them, carved straight into the cliff face, sit the rock-cut tombs of the ancient Pontic kings, lit up gold after dark. Add apple orchards running up the valley walls (Amasya is known across Türkiye as its apple capital, and you'll taste it in everything from the jam at breakfast to the paste sold at the market) and you've got a small city that punches well above its size.
There's a place to stay here for most budgets and most kinds of trip, from a riverside balcony room right on the water to a simple family guesthouse a few streets back.
Where to stay in Amasya
- Merkez (the Old Town): the historic riverside centre, home to the Yalıboyu houses and the closest base if you want to see the rock tombs and walk everywhere.
- Merzifon: a market town about an hour from central Amasya, handy if you're flying in or out of Merzifon Airport.
- Suluova: a quieter agricultural town on the plain east of Merzifon, mostly simple guesthouses and better as a stopover than a destination in its own right.
- Taşova: further east along the Yeşilırmak valley, good for a slower, rural pace away from the main tourist strip.
- Gümüşhacıköy and Göynücek: small district towns with a handful of local hotels, best suited to travellers passing through rather than basing themselves for sightseeing.
How much is Amasya accommodation?
Amasya accommodation starts from around AU$71 a night, and most travellers end up paying somewhere between AU$77 and AU$183 depending on the room and the season.
- Budget/Guesthouses: from AU$71 per night. Simple, often family-run rooms with breakfast included, usually a few streets back from the river.
- Mid-range/Konaks: from around AU$100 per night. Restored Ottoman-style konak (mansion) hotels with a private bathroom and, often, a small courtyard or terrace.
- Boutique riverside: from around AU$140 per night. A room right on the Yalıboyu strip, usually with a river-facing balcony or window seat.
- Top-end/Suites: up to around AU$183 per night for the best rooms in town, typically a larger suite looking straight across at the rock tombs.
Top-rated hotels in Amasya
- Ziyagil Konağı: a family-run guesthouse right on the river in the old Hatuniye quarter, with a small sauna and bikes you can borrow to ride the promenade.
- Emin Efendi Konakları: one of Amasya's best-known restored konaks, built in the traditional timber-frame style, with rooms that look straight across at the cliff tombs.
- Çifte Konak Butik Otel: two adjoining historic mansions joined into one boutique hotel, a short stroll from the Yalıboyu houses.
- Amasya Atabey Konağı: a mid-range konak stay with a garden courtyard, good if you want old-town character without the top-end price tag.
- Bayezid Han Konak: a quieter option a little further from the main strip, handy if you'd rather skip the evening crowds along the river.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Amasya
- Book a river-facing room if you can. The view of the wooden houses and the lit-up rock tombs at night is the main reason to stay in central Amasya rather than just pass through on a day trip.
- Spring (April-May) and early autumn tend to be the most comfortable months, sitting between the gorge's cold winter fog and summer's midday heat, and rooms are easier to find outside those windows.
- Pack flat, comfortable shoes for the riverside promenade and the path up towards the tombs. The walk along the water is easy, but the closer viewpoints involve a steady climb.
- Try to time a night or two around apple season in autumn if you can. Local markets sell the fruit fresh, and it turns up in jams, pastes and a local apple dessert worth trying at breakfast.
- If you're arriving by air, Merzifon Airport is roughly an hour from central Amasya, so factor transfer time into your booking rather than assuming a quick hop into town.
Amasya makes an easy stop between Cappadocia and the Black Sea coast, so it's worth building in a night or two either side if you're touring further afield.
