Where to stay in Avanos depends less on finding a beautiful hotel and more on how you plan to explore Cappadocia.

You can stay in a restored 19th-century stone mansion, have breakfast in a quiet courtyard and step outside into the almost empty lanes of Avanos Old Town. On some dates, small historic properties here can also cost noticeably less than similarly characterful accommodation in Göreme.

That makes Avanos look very tempting.

It sits only around 8 km from Göreme, beside the Kizilirmak River, and feels considerably quieter than Cappadocia’s main tourist hub. Accommodation ranges from tiny historic guesthouses to larger hotels with pools, spas and parking.

I considered staying in Avanos when planning my own Cappadocia trip.

In the end, I stayed in Çavuşin and Göreme and visited Avanos as a day trip. After spending time in the town, though, I came away much more interested in staying here next time.

There is just one question that changes the whole decision:

Will Avanos actually be convenient as a base for the way you plan to explore Cappadocia?

A beautiful hotel is easy to find.

Getting around from it every day is the part that matters.

If you’re still deciding whether the town itself deserves time in your itinerary, start with my Avanos Cappadocia travel guide.

Where to stay in Avanos: Old Town or near the river?

The first decision is surprisingly simple.

Stay in Avanos Old Town for character

The historic streets climb into the hillside above the modern town.

This is where you find the old stone houses, narrow lanes, wooden balconies and historic mansions dating mostly from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Some of these buildings have been restored as small hotels and guesthouses.

This is the part of Avanos I would choose if the accommodation itself is part of the experience:

• stone walls;
• arches;
• courtyards;
• terraces;
• only a handful of rooms;
• quiet streets immediately outside.

If that appeals to you, read my separate guide to Avanos Old Town before choosing a property. It explains why the historic quarter became so quiet and what to look for while walking there.

Stay closer to the river for convenience

Downhill, around the modern centre and the Kizilirmak River, the accommodation becomes more conventional.

Here you are more likely to find:

• larger hotels;
• easier road access;
• parking;
• modern rooms;
• pools;
• spa facilities;
• quicker access to shops and transport.

So my first filter would be:

Old Town → history and character.

River / modern Avanos → easier hotel infrastructure.

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5 interesting places to stay in Avanos

I wouldn’t try to work through an enormous hotel list here.

A few properties already show the main reasons someone might choose Avanos instead of Göreme.

1. Hikmet’s House — for a real historic mansion

Hikmet’s House is one of the most interesting options if the building itself matters to you.

The mansion dates to 1859. According to the hotel, it was restored in 2013 while preserving its original architectural character and opened as accommodation in 2014 with only five rooms. There is also an old well in the central courtyard.

This is exactly the kind of place that makes staying in Avanos appealing.

You are not sleeping in a modern hotel decorated to look historic.

You are staying in an actual 19th-century Avanos house.

Best for: couples, quiet stays, historic atmosphere, travelers who prefer small properties.

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2. Sofa Hotel — for Old Town atmosphere

Sofa Hotel is another option in the historic part of Avanos.

Its address places it in the Orta neighborhood, right within the old town area. The hotel offers several room types including stone rooms, suites and family rooms.

This is the sort of place I would look at if I wanted the hotel to blend into the surrounding stone streets rather than feel like a separate resort.

Best for: Old Town atmosphere, couples, travelers who care more about character than resort facilities.

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3. Adanos Konuk Evi — for a small guesthouse feel

Adanos Konuk Evi is more of a small guesthouse-style stay.

It is in the Alaaddin area of Avanos and current guest feedback is particularly strong for the host, breakfast, comfort and value. Booking currently shows an exceptional overall rating and a highly rated location.

This is the kind of accommodation that makes sense if your idea of Cappadocia is:

breakfast, a terrace, a local host and a quiet place to return to at night.

Rather than:

large reception, resort facilities and tour buses outside.

Best for: value, personal service, longer stays, travelers who prefer guesthouses.

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4. Mira Cappadocia Hotel — for character plus practical location

Mira Cappadocia Hotel sits somewhere between a historic stay and a practical base.

It occupies a renovated stone building in central Avanos and has terraces overlooking the Kizilirmak River. A current accommodation listing also places a bus stop about two minutes’ walk away, which makes it particularly interesting if you don’t have a car.

That combination is useful:

character without being isolated from transport and the modern town.

If I were specifically looking at Avanos without a car, this is one of the properties I would investigate first.

Best for: travelers without a car, couples, river access, historic character with convenience.

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5. DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos – Cappadocia — for pools, spa and parking

If the idea of an old mansion does absolutely nothing for you, Avanos also has proper full-service hotels.

DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos – Cappadocia has:

• indoor and outdoor pools;
• a full-service spa;
• restaurant;
• fitness centre;
• free parking;
• EV charging.

Hilton places Göreme Open Air Museum and Paşabağ within 15 km of the property.

This creates a completely different Avanos scenario.

I would look at it particularly for a road trip, when easy parking and hotel facilities matter more than walking out into the Old Town.

Best for: car trips, families, spa/pool facilities, travelers wanting a conventional full-service hotel.

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Quick comparison

Hotel	Best for	Style
Hikmet’s House	Historic experience	1859 mansion
Sofa Hotel	Old Town atmosphere	Stone hotel
Adanos Konuk Evi	Personal guesthouse stay	Small & relaxed
Mira Cappadocia Hotel	No-car convenience + character	Renovated stone hotel
DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos	Car + facilities	Full-service hotel

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Is Avanos a good base without a car?

This is where the accommodation decision really changes.

On a map, Avanos and Göreme look almost next door to each other.

They are.

The distance is roughly 8–9 km, and the drive itself can take around ten minutes.

But a short distance does not automatically mean convenient public transport.

I travelled around Cappadocia using dolmuşes and learned this quickly: the ride itself may be short, while waiting for the next connection can take considerably longer.

So before booking Avanos without a car, I would ask myself three questions:

1. Will I explore independently or mostly take organized tours with hotel pickup?
2. Do I care about spending evenings in Göreme?
3. Am I comfortable planning around local transport?

If your answers are approximately:

organized tours + quiet evenings + yes

then Avanos starts looking very attractive.

If you want to:

• change plans constantly;
• stay out late;
• walk to lots of restaurants;
• book activities at short notice;
• depend heavily on public transport;

then Göreme is easier.

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Avanos with a car is a different story

With a rental car, most of Avanos’ disadvantages disappear.

You can stay somewhere quieter, leave in the morning for valleys and viewpoints, and return to Avanos without worrying about the last dolmuş.

This is where I think Avanos becomes a very strong alternative to Göreme.

If your Cappadocia plans include multiple valleys, viewpoints, underground cities and smaller towns, having a car gives you far more flexibility.

Rent a car in Cappadocia → Localrent

Avanos vs Göreme: which is better for staying in Cappadocia?

Choose Avanos if:

• you have a car;
• you want fewer tourists around your hotel;
• you like historic houses and small guesthouses;
• you prefer a quieter evening;
• you like being near the river;
• accommodation character matters to you;
• this is not necessarily your first Cappadocia trip;
• organized tours will handle much of your transport.

Choose Göreme if:

• this is your first Cappadocia trip without a car;
• you want the highest concentration of restaurants and tour offices;
• you want to walk out of your hotel and continue sightseeing at night;
• your plans change frequently;
• you don’t want to think about getting back from another town.

That is the key distinction.

Avanos doesn’t lose because of its hotels.

In some ways, the accommodation is more interesting.

It loses on tourist logistics.

And on a first trip, that can matter more than sleeping in a beautiful stone room.

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Important: “Avanos” in the address may not mean Avanos town

This is a small booking trap worth knowing.

Avanos is both a town and a wider administrative district.

That means an accommodation platform can sometimes show a property under “Avanos” even though it is physically in another settlement within the district, including places such as Çavuşin.

Those locations create very different travel experiences.

So after finding a beautiful hotel and a good price, I would always do one more thing:

open the map.

If you specifically want to stay in Avanos town, check that the property is actually around:

• Avanos Old Town;
• central Avanos;
• the Kizilirmak River.

This matters even more if you don’t have a car.

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Is Avanos cheaper than Göreme?

Sometimes. But I wouldn’t choose Avanos purely to save money.

Hotel prices change constantly according to dates, occupancy and room type.

When I checked current September dates while preparing this guide, examples in Avanos were appearing around the $50–70 per night range for some smaller properties. That is only a snapshot, not a fixed Avanos price.

The more interesting advantage is this:

for the same budget, Avanos can sometimes give you a more distinctive property.

Instead of a fairly ordinary room in a more heavily marketed part of Cappadocia, you may find:

• a historic mansion;
• a courtyard;
• a terrace;
• fewer rooms;
• a quieter neighborhood.

The only useful way to compare prices is:

Avanos + Göreme → same dates → same budget → compare what you actually get.

That tells you much more than any “average nightly rate”.

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What would I choose now?

For a first Cappadocia trip without a car, I would still choose Göreme as my main base.

It is simply easier.

But after visiting Avanos, I no longer see it as a backup option.

For a slower trip — especially with a car — I would happily spend one or two nights in Avanos Old Town.

Not primarily to save money.

For the old stone house, the quiet streets and a completely different rhythm of Cappadocia.

Plan your Cappadocia trip

🏨 Where to stay

Compare accommodation in Avanos, Göreme, Uçhisar and Çavuşin to find the best base for your Cappadocia itinerary.

→ Trip.com

🎒 Tours & activities

Browse Cappadocia tours and experiences on GetYourGuide, including pottery workshops, valley tours and activities around Avanos.

→ GetYourGuide

✈️ Flights to Cappadocia

Search flights to Nevşehir (NAV) and Kayseri (ASR), the two main airports for Cappadocia.

→ Trip.com

🚗 Rent a car in Cappadocia

A rental car gives you more flexibility for combining Avanos with valleys, viewpoints and smaller Cappadocia towns.

→ Localrent

📱 eSIM for Turkey

Get mobile data before arrival with Yesim eSIM for maps, transport apps and staying connected while travelling around Cappadocia.

→ Yesim

🛡 Travel insurance

Check travel insurance for your Turkey trip with EKTA.

→ EKTA

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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FAQ

Is Avanos a good place to stay in Cappadocia?

Yes, especially if you prefer quieter accommodation, historic guesthouses or have a rental car. Göreme remains easier for a first trip without a car.

How far is Avanos from Göreme?

Avanos is roughly 8 km from Göreme, with a road distance of around 9 km.

Is Avanos cheaper than Göreme?

It can be, depending on your dates. More importantly, the same budget can sometimes buy a more characterful historic property in Avanos. Always compare both towns for identical dates.

Is Avanos good without a car?

It can work, particularly if you take organized tours with hotel transfers. For highly flexible independent sightseeing, Göreme is usually more convenient.

Which part of Avanos is best to stay in?

Choose Old Town for historic stone houses and atmosphere. Choose central Avanos or the Kizilirmak river area for easier access to transport, shops and larger hotels.

How many nights should I stay in Avanos?

For most travelers, one or two nights is enough to experience Avanos while still using another Cappadocia town as a base if desired.