It’s that time of year again. Sevgililer Günü (Lovers Day) is looming and the race is on to come up with suitably romantic gestures to woo our loved ones. So how about a trip away with the object of your affection, preferably to somewhere that will get the love vibe going? Shame that SG has to fall in the depths of winter when many resorts are midway between slumbering and dead. Still, if you can’t get away now, you could still prepare the booking for the spring. And let’s not forget that the all time most romantic place in Turkey is this great city on the Bosphorus - unforgettable Istanbul.

1.  Kaleköy (AKA Simena)
Of all the romantic places to stay in Turkey, far and away, the most perfect must be Kaleköy, the near-island overlooking the Bay of Kekova, off the coast near Kaş. What makes it so wonderful? Well, in the first place it’s small and self-contained, connected to the mainland only by a rough track and visited mainly by excursion boats that return to base long before the sun sets. In the evenings, then, you’ll have the place to yourself and a handful of locals. With waterline fish restaurants, extraordinary Lycian tombs, a Crusader castle, the beautiful azure sea and, above all, no cars, Kaleköy has everything. The pensions may not be the latest in designer chic, but they’re extremely pleasant and boast unsurpassable views. What are you waiting for?
Romance factor: 5 hearts
Love nests: Mehtap Pansiyon ((0242) 874 2146), Olive Grove ((0242) 874 2234), Kale Pansiyon ((0242) 874 2111), Simena Pansiyon ((0532) 779 0476)

2.  Assos
Whether you opt to stay down in the harbour in Assos proper or up in the hillside village called Behramkale, here’s a place where you can be sure of the sort of thoroughly relaxing break just calculated to get you all loved up. Assos is half a dozen old stone houses turned hotels right on the waterfront. Behramkale is a straggle of stone cottages struggling to make it to the top of the hill, and the Temple of Athena gazes straight across at the Greek island of Lesbos. During the day the stallholders who line the path up to the temple are a pain, but they go home at sundown, whereupon the village reverts to the classic rural idyll. For boutique comforts, choose Behramkale, for proximity to the water, Assos.
Romance factor: 5 hearts
Love nests: Biber Evi ((0286) 721 7410), Yıldız Saray ((0286) 721 7025), Hotel Assos Kervansaray ((0286) 721 7093)

3.  Bozcaada
There are not many places left along the coast which retain their beautiful original architecture, but Bozcaada is an island and the cute little stone houses of the town have managed to survive almost virtually intact. The castle here is big and photogenic, the fish restaurants lively and fun. Toss in a couple of decent cafes and Greek-style tavernas, sprinkle with soft sandy beaches, and the recipe for a romantic break is complete. Oh, and the ferry crossing from the mainland is a short one.
Romance factor: 5 hearts
Love nests: Rengigül Konukevi ((0286) 697 8171), Kaikias Hotel ((0286) 697 0250), Katina Hotel ((0286) 697 0242)

4.  Alaçatı
A hop and a skip south of Çeşme, Alaçatı, is one of Turkey’s most fashionable resorts, complete with a multitude of boutique hotels and gourmet restaurants in converted stone houses that were, until eight or so years ago, virtually forgotten. This is also surfer central – although the rollers come ashore four kilometres away from the centre. Don your glad rags to dine out here and expect to max out your credit card for rooms and food. You’ll need to wait until the spring anyway as most of the hotels close in winter.
Romance factor: 5 hearts
Love nests: Alaçatı Taş Otel ((0232) 716 7772), O Ev Hotel ((0232) 716 6150), Lale Lodge ((0232) 716 6108), Değirmen Otel ((0232) 716 6714)

5.  Bodrum
Renowned for its raucous nightlife, Bodrum might seem to have thrown off any traces of its romantic past some ten years ago, at least. That’s in the height of summer though. Visit out of season and you’re still guaranteed to fall in love with its winding, bougainvillea-draped back streets with their little white cottages. There’s great food to be had here, and a multitude of boat trips to choose from. Besides, isn’t a rip-roaring nightlife good for sparking romance – up to a point anyway?
Romance factor: 4 hearts
Love nests: Su Otel ((0252) 316 6906), The Butterfly ((0252) 313 8358), The Marmara Bodrum ((0252) 313 8130), Antik Tiyatro Hotel ((0252) 316 6053)

6.  Kaleiçi (Antalya)
If your idea of romance requires an injection of extracurricular activity, then a stay in Kaleiçi, the old part of Antalya above the harbour, might fit the bill provided you pick where you stay carefully – the quieter, classier hotels are those located farther from the harbour, close to Memerli Parkı. Not only is there a lot to see and do inside Kaleiçi itself, but you’re also within a tram ride of the Antalya Museum, one of the best in the country. What’s more, it’s easy to organize excursions to all sorts of Roman ruins in the surrounding area. The most romantic? Termessos to the north and Phaselis to the west.
Romance factor: 4 hearts
Love nests: Minyon Hotel ((0242) 247 1147), Tütav Turk Evi Otelleri ((0242) 248 6591), Villa Perla ((0242) 248 9793), Tuvana Hotel ((0242) 244 4054)

7.  Safranbolu
Maybe your idea of romance is a step back in time to the days when the Ottomans ruled the roost? In that case, the perfect place to go is Safranbolu where not only can you stroll around the cobbled streets of a townscape little changed from the 19th century, but you can also put up in Ottoman splendour in one of the converted hotels. At the end of the day, what could be more conducive to amorous action than a soak and a scrub in the gorgeous Cinci Hamamı (Turkish bath), which dates back to the 17th century? Avoid weekends when prices rise and the streets fill up with out-of-towners.
Romance factor: 4 hearts
Love nests: Havuzlu Asmazlar Konağı ((0370) 725 2883), Gül Evi ((0370) 725 4645), Çeşmeli Konak ((0370) 725 4455), Selvili Köşk ((0370) 712 8646)

8.  Mardin
Here’s one for those who like a dollop of adventure with their romance. Of all the troubled towns in the east to have emerged into the full glare of tourism recently, Mardin, with its honey-coloured houses tripping down the hillside has to be the finest. The market is lively and original, there are old churches and medreses tucked down the back streets, and, surprise, surprise, there’s even gourmet food to be had here at the lovely Cercis Murat Konağı. Be sure to book ahead as accommodation can be tight.
Romance factor: 4 hearts
Love nests: Erdoba Konakları ((0482) 212 7677), Artuklu Kervansarayı ((0482) 213 7353), Tatlıdede ((0482) 213 2720)

9. Cappadocia
There could hardly be many places in the world more romantic to spend a few days than Cappadocia, the heartland of Anatolia, where the only thing crazier than the rock formations are the many uses to which the locals have put the caves – frescoed churches, private homes, wineries, even complete underground cities. Once famed for its backpacker pensions, Cappadocia now has more boutique hotels than anywhere in the country, besides Istanbul and Bodrum. Most are inside cave complexes, allowing you to play at being a troglodyte for a day. The ultimate romantic experience? Floating over the landscape in a hot-air balloon (you can even get married in one if you like), although having a scrub inside a cave-cut hamam rates pretty highly too.
Romance factor: 5 hearts
Love nests: Sacred House (Ürgüp (0384) 341 7102), 4Oda Cave House ((Ürgüp (0384) 341 6080), Les Maisons de Cappadoce (Uçhisar (0384) 219 2813), Museum Hotel (Uçhisar (0384) 219 2220), Anatolian Houses (Göreme (0384) 271 2463), Kelebek Hotel Göreme (0384) 271 2531), Gamirasu (Ayvalı (0384) 341 7485)

10.  Blue Voyage
And finally, it may not be a place exactly, but what could be more romantic than putting to sea in one of Turkey’s gorgeous wooden gülets (yachts)? Drifting along the glorious Mediterranean coastline, stopping to swim, snorkel and, perhaps, explore a few ruins, then dropping anchor in a beautiful bay and tucking into a perfect fish supper before falling asleep under the stars - all the elements of romance rolled up into one perfect package. Just don’t opt for one of the cheaper outfits, and risk soiled sheets or arguments over what’s included in the bill.
Romance factor: 5 hearts
Love boats: Cavur Ali (Bodrum – (0542) 595 7377), Grand Acar (Bodrum – (0532) 436 3473, Cobra Queen (Bodrum - (0252) 316 3189), Carpe Diem II (Bodrum - (0252) 316 2148