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Gülevi Safranbolu emerged as a project of living through revitalization rather than one of accommodation. The project was initiated to survive the richness and subtlety of life which flourished during the 18th century in Safranbolu which is currently inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Gül and İbrahim Canbulat acquired three neighboring Ottoman mansions in the early 2000s and started running these buildings following restoration. All three mansions date back to the 18th century. Damage and wear due to time and human intervention were recovered by the restoration process; the mansions were granted their genuine architectonics. Modern facilities required for the present-day functions of these mansions were installed without distorting the authentic integrity of the Ottoman mansion. Gülevi Safranbolu offers 18th-century elegant life style with no compromise on contemporary appliances.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Classic
Historic Hotel
Languages Spoken
English, German, Turkish
Location
Hukumet Sok. No: 46, Safranbolu 78600 Türkiye
Name/address in local language
Gulevi Safranbolu Hotel
223 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Gülevi is a quality business consisting of 3 historical mansions in one of the best, most central and most authentic places of Safranbolu. From where? The owner is a sweet man. The staff were always positive, polite, friendly and professional. The hotel's garden is a delightful corner surrounded by flowers, trees and objects. You experience long and enjoyable daylight hours accompanied by music and drinks. The decor of the rooms is completely furnished with authentic-local materials. Breakfast is important. While many hotels have sloppy breakfasts, Gülevi also paid attention to its breakfast. We visited Safranbolu bazaar, tradesmen and flavor shops on a 1-minute walk. Why 4 points and not 5: We went during Ramadan and the weather is cold in the evenings and Safranbolu is a place heated with coal. In the evening, the smell of burning coal came into our room, as ours was the closest room to the chimney of the boiler room, and we were disturbed and had to change our room. But our new room was also cold, we felt a little cold. But if we are lucky, we will go to Gülevine again during Eid al-Adha, when the weather gets warmer. 10 points for the sweetness, tourism knowledge and kindness of Esra, one of the hotel staff.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:İşletme önüne araç park ediliyor. Yaz ayları dışında konaklayacak olanlar Safranbolu'nun...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent a night in the village of Safranbolu which enchanted us for its authenticity and beauty and here we stayed in this very special hotel. It features architecture that evokes Ottoman dwellings both in interior and exterior furnishings. I slept in a very suggestive bed since the mattress was in the floor but it is all about identifying with the mood of the Ottoman period and everything will acquire the charm it deserves. Breakfast at the property was the best of our entire trip to Anatolia, amazing!
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Fate colazione presso la struttura perché merita
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a nice experience to stay in a sprawling restored Ottoman mansion in Safranbolu! The rooms are beautiful and the Ottoman tradition is infused in every aspect of your stay - right down to the linens. Beautiful artwork throughout and large lawn with covered seating. The staff was very friendly. Even during covid, they are able to keep everything appropriately socially distanced and safe. Breakfast was lovely. Our spaniel was happy there.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very cozy, authentic, elegant, warm, special hotel to stay.. Hospitality is also perfect, manager was so nice and caring guests, location is very close to old town and serving a nice breakfast. Our room was also very comfortable, we had a wonderful 2 days, strongly recommend.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:No parking problem
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When I called for reservation, I asked whether they had a TV in the rooms, and explained that I am asking as the Basketball World Championship semifinal match would be played on that night. The hotel owner's response was suprisingly rude. He just hang up the phone by saying talk to you another time, there wasn't even time to give an answer.
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Date of stay: September 2010
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from CanbulatSafranbolu, Owner at Gulevi Safranbolu Hotel
Responded Dec 16, 2012
Dear cilesiz, As you will remember, we exchanged e-mails with you regarding to your subject phone-con. Unfortunately, we could not reach to any evidence that such a phone-con happened. We do not suggest that there was no such phone call but believing in our attitute, policy and more than these behaviour of our staffs' temperament, we think that there was a misinterpretation from your end. Shortly, "there are no TVs in our bedrooms".
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at Gulevi Safranbolu for one night and could not have been happier with our stay. From the moment we arrived, we were given the full attention of the hotel's multiple staff members. They built a lovely fire in their outdoor space and served us hot mulled wine.
This hotel is conveniently located in the heart of charming Safranbolu's cobbled stoned neighborhood that offers shops selling a variety of wares and restaurants.
Gulevi has a blend of traditional and artful decor. The owners have curated both the indoor and outdoor spaces beautifully. We had restful sleep in our spacious rooms, where the traditional architecture paired with the modern amenities made for a truly cozy and comfortable getaway.
The genuine Turkish breakfast was delicious, with a variety of fresh breads, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and homemade jams and preserves. Highlights for us included the apple jam and fig compote.
It was a joy to stay here, we'd love to return and we highly recommend it to others!
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Date of stay: March 2017
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Safranbolu is a tiny spot, Gulevi is by far the most well-known up-market hotel for expats. The price for a stay was too high, in my opinion, but I don't think it will be lowered due to the positive reviews and reputation they have established. Our room was beautiful but very simple, nowhere near being soundproofed (door paper thin - could hear conversations in other rooms clearly) and therefore slightly less intimate than we hoped for.
They were in the process of renovating a neighbouring property, I'm sure it will be lovely once complete. The gardens were magnificent, perfect for relaxing in with a magazine and glass of wine.
Ibrahim was wonderfully helpful when it came to sightseeing and day hikes, we really benefited from his knowledge.
In a nutshell: slightly too expensive for what it offers, but still a lovely place to stay if you want to splurge.
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Date of stay: August 2011
Value
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Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from CanbulatSafranbolu, Owner at Gulevi Safranbolu Hotel
Responded Jan 31, 2012
Dear Sir, Thank you for your excellent review which gives us the opportunity to explain the characteristics of Gulevi Safranbolu. Gulevi is composed of 3 Ottoman mansions from 18th Century. Restoration and putting into new function is a tidy job. You have to respectful to the world heritage but shall satisfy the needs and expectations of the guests. So, there is always a compromise. This makes the restoration the most difficult architectural application. Please, understand our responsibility to keep the paper tin doors, walls, etc., min. 160 years old. Gulevi has the largest open (+30sqm/guest) and closed area (+40sqm/guess) comparing the similar hotels; these figures are almost twice of the others’. All of the design furniture is specially made for Gulevi. The decorative materials and sanitary ware are of top quality. As written in Lonely Planet - Turkey, Gulevi provides “affordable luxury”. We are happy to hear that you have enjoyed staying at Gulevi and hope to host you next time in our third mansion which will be opened in April 2012. Ibrahim Canbulat, Master Architect
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I must admit that Gulevi is an outstanding hotel ... so beautiful ... the owner who is an award winning architect did one amazing job it's staying in an Ottoman mansion while enjoying all the modren stuff. Rooms are beautiful, big, linen clean, bathroom spotless and very modern breathtaking garden, delicious breakfast ... and good location. the problem with this hotel is the service and the owners... throughout my stay i felt there was practically no one to take care of the guests ... one could sit in the garden dying for a cup of coffee but no one is there to help or offer assistance ... and when a girl who appeared to be related to the owners comes to ask if we need anything it's as if she was forced to do so, never with a smile ... it was so uncomfortable... another problem was that if you run out of toilet paper for example ... you have to go all the way to one of the owners and ask for it (embarassing) ... the owners try to be polite but lack the warmth and friendliness of turkish people so i felt they were rather cold and unwelcoming ... polie but never genuine ... throughout my stay the owners and thier friends occupied the common areas ... it felt very uncomfortable ... at times we felt unwanted .... the owners and thier freidns were also noisy that i can hear them talking and laughing loudly while in my room .... as much as i loved the place i never felt comfortable ... my experience at Gulevi is so mixed up ... i would love to stay there again but i don't think i will ... not with the same owners i won't
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Date of stay: September 2010
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A Safranbolu stay is an immersion experience of village life during the Ottoman Empire. UNESCO World Heritage listing has ensured that the town remains locked into a centuries-old past that is both fascinating and arduous. The ankle-torturing rough-cobbled streets are just one of the hardships which also extend to some aspects of these lodgings. Gulevi’s buildings are centuries-old Ottoman mansions that have been renovated and redecorated such as to retain their original character as well as satisfying modern tastes. They are tethered together by a couple of very pleasant and eclectically furnished open courtyards which provide a refreshing alternative to the sombre interiors. Interesting they most certainly are but sumptuous they are not.
The good: Our guest room on the top (third) floor was a good size and all the necessities were there but it was more about originality than luxury. The bathroom was more compact but it had modern finishes, good lighting and the plumbing worked as expected although the shower and the flooring – well, see below. The guest room opens onto a large and comfortably furnished living room with views across the town and over the valley. We had this room to ourselves for our stay otherwise it is shared with two other guest rooms on the same floor. There is an in-room safe but no TV. Wifi is included but the signal struggled to reach our room however it was OK in the living area. Parking is on-street at the property frontage otherwise there’s pay parking right opposite. Breakfast is an agreeable cold Turkish table d'hôte service with hot eggs served in a very pleasant dining room overlooking the main courtyard. Reception is friendly and helpful but English is limited. The location is a little out of the centre of town which makes it quiet but the town is small so everywhere is walkable from wherever you are.
The not so good: cutting through the patina of a couple centuries, some aspects of the building and the guest’ accommodations are just a little too original for comfort. The décor is charming up to a point, but past that point it’s just old and ragged. Ensuite bathrooms were apparently unknown in Ottoman times and the one annexed to our room could have been a former closet. Once inside (the closet/bathroom) there was no horizontal shelf space to speak of and no power outlet anywhere. The tented shower corner with duckboard flooring was something you might expect in a YMCA but not a boutique hotel room – no matter what the vintage. Ottoman interiors tend towards the dark and sombre and this was exacerbated by two of our window blinds being jammed down. The fittings are flimsy and earlier guests must have been overenthusiastic when trying to invite some light into the room.
In Ottoman times this accommodation may have been excellent; for the more adventurous in today’s market it might even rate as very good. Given the standard of what we have experienced elsewhere in Turkey in this range, it rates a solid average.
Warning: when it rains the town streets turn into cascades so stay inside or find a good bar to wait out the deluge.
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Date of stay: October 2015
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked a quick trip from Ankara to Safranbolu after reading some guidebooks and online reviews. I was pleased to see this hotel was both listed highly in my guidebook published some years ago and online! We arrived via bus into Safranbolu and then by taxi for 15TL to the hotel. It is on a street not far from the old section near the Hammam and tourist information. It is up a slight hill and cobblestones so wear sneakers!
The hotel is 3 houses on various terraces levels. I would not see this possible for a person with mobility issues! No elevators or ramps as it is a very old set of houses.
We were in the house at the top of the hill - had help with our luggage up the stairs. Two rooms very similar and lovely with paneling. My bathroom was through the cupboard so I had to remember to step over the wood to enter (about a 1.5 foot climb!) not something to forget about in the dark!
The rooms are heated and cozy. I turned my heat off as I am usually hot and woke up freezing as it was end of March and gets quite cold at night. Extra blankets and bathrobe/slippers in room.
Hot water seemed to be on a timer - had it in morning but not late at night. Breakfast included and very nice in the middle terrace area. Plenty of places to sit outside and there were families lounging on the grass with their children enjoying the good weather.
There is a tiny bar where you can have a drink or buy a bottle of wine. We confused TL with Euros on the labels so bought a bottle for 45 Euros vs TL! But we were grateful to enjoy it outside by the fireplace.
Lovely people, lovely place! Walking distance to old part of town. Took a Hammam down the street one morning easily. Would definitely return!!
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Date of stay: April 2018Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Safranbolu area.
PRICE RANGE
$98 - $118 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
TürkiyeKarabuk ProvinceSafranbolu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
16
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