Hotel Kalehan, Selçuk (Ephesus), Aegean Turkey

Kalehan Hotel, Selçuk (Ephesus)

A quiet, cool, flower-filled refuge beneath the walls of a medieval fortress: that's the Hotel Kalehan in Selçuk, near Ephesus.

The name means "fortress (or castle) inn," and so it is, as you can see from the photo to the right: the medieval fortress atop Ayasoluk Hill, illuminated at night, is a constant presence, floating above the hotel's garden courtyard and swimming pool.

The Kalehan, founded by the Ergir family decades ago, has recently been renovated extensively, and is now better than ever.

Rooms at the Kalehan come in a variety of styles and prices, from inexpensive lodgings in the main building to air-conditioned, individually-decorated rooms featuring tub-and-shower combinations (not just showers), small refrigerators and TVs (including CNN and BBC).

One special four-bed room is really more like a cottage, perfect for a family.

There are nice little touches, like hair dryers and herbal soaps, and free Wifi Internet access in the lobby and by the pool.

I remember the first time I stayed at the Hotel Kalehan, dragging myself in from a long, hot drive to find smiling staff who soon installed me in an air-conditioned room overlooking the swimming pool, into which I dove within minutes.

An extensive buffet Turkish breakfast, included in the rates, features tomatoes and cucumbers, eggs, sausages, fresh breads, rolls and cakes, home-style fruit preserves, cereals, creamy home-made Turkish yogurt, the olives and sultanas (golden raisins) for which the Aegean region is famous, and other treats.

The terrace restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily to all, with choices from the hotel's excellent wine cellar. Come and enjoy dining here even if you're not a guest at the hotel.

It's a 6- to 8-minute walk south from the rose-and-oleander-filled gardens of the Kalehan to the center of Selçuk. If you're a walker, you can hike all the way to the ruins of Ephesus, (4 km, 2.5 mi), stopping at the Temple of Artemis along the way, in about 45 minutes. If not, there are frequent minibuses to take you there.

Staff at the Kalehan are happy to arrange private transfers (for a fee) between the hotel and Izmir's Adnan Menderes Airport, and from the cruise ship dock in Kuşadası. Just let them know, and they'll have you (and your luggage) met and escorted to the hotel. Their rates are a bit lower, and service is better, than a regular taxi.

If you like small, charming, comfortable inns, the Kalehan is a great base for seeing Ephesus, Kuşadası, other nearby sights such as Priene, Miletus, Didyma, and even Izmir.

Be sure to mention TTP to benefit from the special discounted room rates available only to TTP users booking directly via the Hotel Kalehan website.

Hotel Kalehan
Atatürk Caddesi No. 49,
Selçuk, Izmir, Turkey 35920
Tel +90 232 892 6154
Fax +90 232 892 2169
www.kalehan.com
info@kalehan.com

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Above, early morning view across the swimming pool, with Ayasoluk Hill, crowned by its fortress, rising behind the Hotel Kalehan.

Below, the shady garden, a guest room,
the terrace restaurant, and wine cellar.

Guest Room, Hotel Kalehan, Ephesus (Selçuk), Turkey

Wine Cellar, Hotel Kalehan, Ephesus (Selçuk), Turkey

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