3 Best Hotels in Istanbul, Turkey

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With the number of visitors to Turkey increasing every year, Istanbul's hoteliers are busy keeping up with the growing demand. New lodgings, from five-star hotels to smaller boutique inns, are opening all the time, while older establishments are busy renovating and expanding. This means there are plenty more options than there were in the past, but because Istanbul is such a popular destination, it's not the travel bargain it used to be. Hotels in Istanbul tend to quote their rates in U.S. dollars or euros, depending on which currency has a more advantageous exchange rate. Most lodgings, save four- and five-star hotels, include a full Turkish breakfast with the room rate.

The majority of visitors to Istanbul stay in the Sultanahmet area, where they are conveniently in walking distance to most of the city’s major sights, including Aya Sofya, the Blue Mosque, Topkap? Palace, and the bazaars. Sultanahmet has a good selection of hotels, smaller family-run guesthouses, and some charmingly stylish inns, many of which are decorated in typical Turkish style, with traditional touches like kilim carpets or old-fashioned furnishings. The rooms here generally tend to be on the small side, and bathrooms often only have showers, but what's lacking in space tends to be more than made up for in character and atmosphere. The downside of staying in Sultanahmet is that at the height of the season, the area is overrun not only with tourists but touts who will approach you at every turn. On the upside, stiff competition in the area means that Sultanahmet usually has the best deals in town; some hotels even offer a 5% to 10% discount for payment in cash, or a complimentary airport transfer if you stay three or more nights.

For a wider range of hotel options in somewhat less tourist-oriented neighborhoods, head across the Golden Horn. The Beyo?lu district, only a 15- or 20-minute tram ride or cab ride from the sights of Sultanahmet, has emerged as an attractive alternative to the Old City. Entrepreneurs have caught on to the tourism potential of the historic area and are restoring elegant, century-old buildings and giving them new life as hotels. Staying near Taksim Square or in one of Beyo?lu’s trendy sub-neighborhoods—such as ?i?hane/Tünel, Cihangir, Galata, or Karaköy—puts you closer to Istanbul's best restaurants and nightlife spots and also gives you a chance to stroll through the area’s lively backstreets.

For the most luxurious, indulgent accommodations, stay in one of the large, modern, high-end hotels that are mostly clustered in the upscale neighborhood of Ni?anta?? and along the coveted strip of the Bosphorus between Be?ikta? and Ortaköy. You’ll pay considerably more to stay in these digs but the perks can include incredible waterfront views, swimming pools and top-notch fitness facilities, and sophisticated dining options. Wherever you stay, you may notice that hoteliers are starting to embrace traditional Turkish styles and motifs; one new trend is to design hotel bathrooms like hammams. Though the setup may be less familiar than a traditional shower or bath, these bathrooms can be quite luxurious, with marble-lined tubs and heated floors.

Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul

$$$$ | Çırağan Cad. 32, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey Fodor's Choice
Çiragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Bosphorus
Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul

Once a residence for the Ottoman sultans, the late-19th-century Çırağan Palace (pronounced chi-rahn) is Istanbul's most luxurious hotel, with ornate public spaces that feel absolutely decadent and a breathtaking setting right on the Bosphorus—the outdoor infinity pool seems to hover on the water's edge and most rooms, full of Ottoman-inspired wood furnishings and textiles in warm colors, have balconies overlooking the Bosphorus as well. Large bathrooms feature marble tubs. At Tuğra Restaurant, you can dine in imperial splendor on Turkish and Ottoman specialties. Most lodgings are in the new wing, though there are 11 VIP suites in the palace itself, including the €30,000 per night Sultan's Suite—start saving now.

Pros

  • Grand setting in incredible Bosphorus-front location
  • Over-the-top feeling of luxury
  • Infinity pool

Cons

  • Exorbitant price of food and drinks
  • High rates, especially for rooms that have no Bosphorus view
  • Service can be slow
Çırağan Cad. 32, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey
212-326–4646
hotel Details
313 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

$$$$ | Çırağan Cad. 28, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey

This restored, 19th-century Ottoman palace with two modern wings exudes luxury in rooms and suites, a quarter of which have Bosphorus views (others have garden and city views), that are elegant yet understated, with soaring ceilings, muted tones, and Ottoman touches such as handcrafted mirrors. The marble-lined bathrooms, with deep tubs and separate showers, feel downright palatial. The stunning spa has saunas, steam rooms, Turkish baths, and one of Istanbul's loveliest indoor pools; the outdoor pool is just steps from the water's edge.

Pros

  • Impeccable service
  • Beautiful views and location
  • Top-notch spa and fitness facilities

Cons

  • Expensive food and drinks
  • Underwhelming views from non-Bosphorus rooms, especially considering high rates
  • Can be noisy
Çırağan Cad. 28, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey
212-381–4000
hotel Details
170 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul

$$$$ | Bayıldım Cad. 2, Istanbul, 34357, Turkey

In a superb spot just above Dolmabahçe Palace, the Swissôtel offers excellent facilities and—from most of the comfortable, businesslike guest rooms—magnificent Bosphorus views that extend all the way to Topkapı Palace across the Golden Horn. The vast, high-ceilinged lobby has terraced levels that seem to cascade down to the water, and the overall effect is that of a grand old-world hotel; service is crisp and efficient. A massive spa and both indoor and outdoor pools provide plenty of opportunities for relaxation.

Pros

  • First-class service
  • Extensive dining options
  • Huge, top-notch gym

Cons

  • Expensive food, drinks, and Internet
  • Hotel can only be reached by taxi (or on foot)
  • Fairly impersonal atmosphere
Bayıldım Cad. 2, Istanbul, 34357, Turkey
212-326–1100
hotel Details
566 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

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