Türkiye

Türkiye is a country of extraordinary architectural layers, shaped by civilisations that have left temples, theatres, mosques, palaces, caravanserais and entire cities behind. Istanbul provides the spectacular collision of Byzantine, Ottoman, Art Nouveau and early Republican architecture, but the story extends far beyond it: ancient ruins along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, stone houses in Cappadocia, timber mansions on the Bosphorus and the Modernist architecture that accompanied the creation of the Turkish Republic. Today, a new generation of architects is adding beautifully restrained houses, hotels and cultural spaces, often working with local stone, timber and traditional craftsmanship. From the Aegean coast to Anatolia, history isn’t preserved behind glass here; it remains part of everyday life.

Food changes dramatically as you travel. Istanbul alone moves from meyhanes and fish restaurants to ambitious contemporary kitchens, while the Aegean favours olive oil, herbs, vegetables and seafood. Southeastern Türkiye brings kebabs, pistachios, spices and extraordinary regional cooking, the Black Sea has its own traditions, and breakfast can become an event involving enough small plates to occupy most of the table. Turkish wine deserves more attention too, with indigenous grapes such as Narince, Emir, Kalecik Karası and Öküzgözü increasingly appearing alongside the inevitable rakı. Add exceptional coffee, tea, baklava and a formidable street-food culture and eating becomes one of the best ways to understand the country.

Türkiye’s most interesting hotels are equally diverse: Ottoman mansions, restored stone houses, former monasteries, grand Istanbul landmarks, Aegean beach retreats and striking contemporary properties embedded in dramatic landscapes. At DNA Hotels, we curate the places where architecture, food, craftsmanship and history create a strong sense of place—hotels that reveal a Türkiye far richer and more design-conscious than the conventional image of the all-inclusive Mediterranean resort.