Artvin sits tucked into Turkey's mountainous far northeast, where the Çoruh River has spent centuries carving a deep valley between the Karçal Mountains and the Black Sea coast. It's a province built for scenery: pine and spruce forest climbing straight off the riverbanks, alpine plateaus that only open up once the snow clears each summer, and a stretch of whitewater fast enough to have hosted a World Rafting Championship.

None of that means you're roughing it. Artvin's towns run from busy coastal Hopa to quiet valley villages, and there's a proper spread of hotels, guesthouses and holiday resorts to match however you're planning to spend your time here.

Where to stay in Artvin

Each part of the province does something a bit different, so it's worth picking your base to match your trip.

• Yusufeli is the valley town most travellers use as their base for the Çoruh's rapids, right in the thick of the river's May-to-June rafting season. See stays in Yusufeli.
• Borçka is your gateway to Karagöl-Sahara National Park, a landslide lake sitting at 1,500 metres and ringed by dense spruce forest, good for a slower couple of days off the water. See stays in Borçka.
• Hopa is Artvin's Black Sea coastal town and has the biggest hotel choice in the province, with an easy flat harbourside for an evening stroll. See stays in Hopa.
• Ardanuç is smaller and slower again, sitting in its own side valley under a dramatic hilltop fortress ruin. See stays in Ardanuç.
• Arhavi is a green, tea-growing stretch of coast, with Kapisre Creek and Mençuna Waterfall both an easy trip out of town. See stays in Arhavi.

How much is Artvin accommodation?

Rooms in Artvin start from around AU$47 a night, and the spread across the province is generally kind on the wallet compared to Turkey's bigger coastal resorts.

• Budget guesthouses - from AU$47 per night. Simple rooms, often family-run, breakfast usually included.
• Budget hotels - from around AU$80 to AU$94 per night. A step up in comfort, still no-frills.
• Mid-range hotels - from around AU$111 to AU$134 per night. Reliable choice with a restaurant and proper amenities on site.
• Boutique stays - from around AU$148 to AU$178 per night. Smaller, better-finished properties, often with mountain or valley views.
• Resorts and top-end hotels - from AU$256 up to AU$481 per night. The full spa-and-restaurant package, at the pointy end of what Artvin has on offer.

Prices move with the rafting season. Book ahead for May and June if you're coming for the Çoruh, since that's when Yusufeli fills up fastest.

Top-rated hotels in Artvin

• Black Forest Hotel, up in Şavşat's alpine country, is built for the mountain air, with a sauna and a garden that looks straight out over the plateau. View Black Forest Hotel.
• Paluri Hotel in Hopa runs its own restaurant kitchen and a traditional Turkish bath, a good way to unwind after a day on the road. View Paluri Hotel.
• Terzioglu Hotel, also in Hopa, is a big, straightforward option with well over a hundred rooms, handy if you're travelling as a group. View Terzioglu Hotel.
• Cihan Otel is a solid, central Hopa pick with a bar and lounge for the evening, an easy walk to the harbour. View Cihan Otel.
• Marina Holiday Resort leans into the coastal setting, a good fit if you want the Black Sea view alongside your mountain days. View Marina Holiday Resort.

Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Artvin

• If you're rafting the Çoruh, base yourself in Yusufeli and book well ahead for May and June, the two months the river runs best.
• Bring warm layers even in summer. Artvin's yaylas (highland plateaus) sit well above the valley floor and the temperature drops fast once the sun goes down.
• Hopa gives you the easiest transport links if you're arriving by coach or via Rize-Artvin Airport, and it's the best pick if you'd rather stay near the coast than up in the mountains.
• Try to time a visit for early summer, when Şavşat's highland festivals mark the start of the grazing season and villages sell honey straight from the comb.
• Look for stays that mention a terrace or valley view. Given the landscape, that outlook is often the best part of the room.

Bring an appetite, too. Artvin's forests are some of Turkey's best beekeeping country, and karakovan-style log-hive honey, drizzled over the local mihlama (a melted cheese and cornmeal dish), is worth trying wherever you're staying.