Hich Hotel Konya

We had dinner at the hotel one evening and enjoyed it. Breakfast was excellent too, with a full traditional Turkish spread, and they’ll make fresh orange juice if you ask. We stayed three nights in a king room with a panoramic view, overlooking the Mevlana Müzesi. The hotel’s in an older building with lots of character. There was a mix-up at reception at first and we got a smaller room, but they sorted it out and moved us to the larger one. We had a rental car and found free street parking right outside. We left it there while we were in Konya since everything we wanted to see was walkable, and we didn’t want to give up our good spot. The hotel sells tickets for the tourist Whirling Dervishes show. We were there on a Saturday and went to the actual religious ceremony at the Mevlana Cultural Centre instead. Entry is first come, first served at the door and cash only, so the hotel doesn’t sell tickets for that ceremony.

We had a really lovely few days here. Gizem was professional and so friendly, and I especially want to thank her and her assistant Hasan. I also wonder where the cute little girl from the kitchen has gone. She was the best part of breakfast and did her job wonderfully. A suggestion about breakfast: when another staff member brought our food, her fingernails were very long, which made us uncomfortable. She shouted at us while we were using simple words. I think the boss was nearby and trying to get her attention because our orders had been forgotten. Gizem brought our coffee and Hasan brought our eggs. Long fingernails on kitchen staff can be off-putting.

Waking up to a direct view of the Mevlana Shrine made the stay feel special, like looking out at a piece of history and spirituality. We were there over Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr, and Mr. Sami, the internal manager, worked hard to make our visit impeccable. The hotel is right in the heart of the city, with convenient parking and a delightful breakfast. The staff were cheerful and polite from the moment we arrived. Our spacious room had artistic decor, thoughtful books, and excellent coffee. We also liked the hotel’s fascinating philosophy behind its name and the creative names given to the rooms. If you want to feel Konya’s character and see Rumi’s resting place from your room, I highly recommend staying here.

The price felt quite high. Breakfast came in a pleasant underground room, with no buffet, though you could ask for eggs. In the late evening, the staff brought warm milk and biscuits. Our large, cozy room had a view of the Monastery and the Mosque, and the mini bar included free fruit juices. It’s a charming little hotel with a garden, very close to Mevlana Monastery. There’s also plenty of free parking nearby.