Taşhan (Ottoman Caravanserai)

Taşhan is a 16th-century Ottoman stone caravanserai in the commercial quarter of Amasya's old town, one of the best-preserved examples of a traditional han — a roadside inn and trading post — in northern Turkey. Built during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the structure is a characteristic two-storey courtyard building: the ground floor provided stabling and storage for merchant caravans, while the upper arcade of rooms served as overnight lodgings for traders passing through Amasya on the east–west Silk Road routes. The construction is of well-dressed limestone ashlar, giving the interior courtyard a robust, atmospheric quality that survives largely intact. Now converted to a boutique hotel and restaurant, Taşhan retains its original vaulted stone arches and cobbled courtyard while offering modern hospitality within the historic shell. The central courtyard is open to non-guests for meals and tea, making it one of the most accessible historic interiors in Amasya for passing visitors. The restaurant serves Turkish cuisine in the atmospheric setting of the original vaulted ground-floor rooms. Evening tea or coffee in the courtyard — where the stone walls are softly lit — is one of the most pleasant ways to conclude a day exploring Amasya's old town. The han is located in the covered bazaar area, a short walk from Gök Medrese Camii and the Bimarhane Museum.