A process for preparing cyclohexanol from benzene by:

• a) preparing cyclohexene by hydrogenating benzene in the presence of a catalyst, and
• b) preparing cyclohexanol by hydrating the cyclohexene in the presence of a catalyst, comprises:
  • carrying out steps a) and b) in a reaction facility which has a bottom region at the lower end,
  • a top region at the upper end, and
  • a reaction zone between the top region and the bottom region which contains the catalyst according to steps a) and b),
  • evaporating a portion of the benzene using the heat of reaction in the reaction zone, condensing it in the top region and returning it to the reaction zone, and
  • withdrawing a reaction mixture containing cyclohexanol in the bottom region.