More about hotels in Kars
Kars sits high on Turkey's eastern plateau, more than 1,750 metres up, where the air is crisp and the food culture is one of the most distinctive in the country. This is the home of eski kaşar, Turkey's most prized aged cheese, made from milk taken off mountain pastures well over 1,800 metres above sea level. Locals pair a wedge of it with a spoonful of Kars honey, often raw and extracted by hand from small producers, and that combination alone is worth building a trip around.
There's more to base yourself here for than the cheese board, though. Kars is a handy gateway to the wider Eastern Anatolia region, with the pine forests and ski runs of Sarıkamış under an hour away and an old town centre that's genuinely worth wandering on foot. However long you're staying, there's a place to match, from simple guesthouses near the main square to ski lodges with their own hamam.
Where to stay in Kars
- The city centre - Stone-fronted buildings and wide, straight boulevards give Kars' old town a look you won't find in many other Turkish cities, and it's an easy walk to restaurants, the produce market and most hotels on this list.
- Sarıkamış - Pine forest and reliable powder snow make this the base for a ski trip, with lodges that pair a warm hamam and pool with a shuttle straight to the runs.
- Selim - A small market town built around a well-preserved medieval caravanserai, a good stop if you like a bit of history alongside your accommodation.
- Kağızman - A lower, warmer valley dotted with orchards, a nice change of scenery if you want a break from the plateau chill.
- Akyaka - A quieter rural district for travellers who'd rather base themselves away from the city bustle altogether.
How much is Kars accommodation?
Kars is one of the more affordable regions to stay in Turkey, with rooms starting from around AU$66 a night and the region-wide average sitting closer to AU$90. Here's roughly what each tier gets you:
- Budget guesthouses - From AU$30 per night. Simple rooms, shared or basic bathrooms, usually run by a local family.
- Budget hotels - From AU$45 per night. Private bathrooms, breakfast included, and a central location more often than not.
- Mid-range hotels - From AU$70 per night. Larger rooms, a restaurant on site, and sometimes heated floors, genuinely handy in a Kars winter.
- Boutique stays - From AU$95 per night. Smaller properties in the old town with more character, often set around a garden or terrace.
- Ski lodges and full-service hotels - From AU$150 per night. Indoor pools, a Turkish hamam, and in Sarıkamış, a shuttle to the slopes.
Top-rated hotels in Kars
- Mihman Konak Hotel - A small, 9-room guesthouse with a garden and TV lounge, multilingual staff and disabled access, a good pick if you want a quieter, family-run stay.
- Hotel Katerina Sarayı - Tucked into the old town, with a garden, a terrace and its own small library for a slower kind of stay.
- Kars Atapark Boutique Hotel - A 57-room boutique stay right in the city centre, a short walk from the shops and restaurants around the main square.
- Sarikamis Habitat Hotel - A family-run ski lodge in Sarıkamış with ski storage, a shuttle to the slopes, and a warm indoor-outdoor pool for thawing out afterwards.
- Kars-i Sirin Hotel - A straightforward 3-star option a few minutes' walk from the centre, popular with guests for its cleanliness and buffet breakfast.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Kars
- Book a Sarıkamış ski lodge well ahead if you're travelling between December and March. Its powder snow draws skiers from across Turkey, and rooms near the slopes fill up fast.
- Winters on the plateau are seriously cold, often well below freezing, so a hotel with heated floors or its own hamam is worth the extra few dollars a night in that season.
- Pack for two different climates if your trip covers both central Kars and Kağızman. The valley floor runs noticeably milder than the plateau above it.
- Ask your guesthouse about breakfast if you want to try the local kaşar and honey pairing yourself. Smaller properties often source both directly from nearby producers rather than serving a generic buffet spread.
- Stay central if the market, restaurants and old town streets are the priority. Base yourself in Sarıkamış instead if snowsports are the main reason for the trip.
Planning to see more of the region while you're out this way? Check Traveloka's full range of Turkey hotels for options beyond Kars.
