36 Best Hotels in Istanbul, Turkey

Offering all the opulence and sophistication expected of this world-class brand, the Shangri-La Bosphorus overlooks the water, with a glittering lobby that features a two-story crystal chandelier, richly colored marble flooring, and gold-rimmed furniture. The well-appointed rooms are more understated, with muted colors, simple Chinese brushwork art, and furniture in black lacquer and off-white marble; bathrooms are wonderfully luxurious. Higher-category rooms have views of the water, while others face the city or a Parisian-looking interior atrium. Other highlights are the attractive indoor pool; the brand's signature CHI, The Spa; the Cantonese-style Shang Palace restaurant; and a lobby lounge offering tea service.

The comfortable and inviting room decor emphasizes local character, while the bustling, ornate lobby and warm, helpful staff convey feelings of refined luxury. Smallish standard rooms have wooden furnishings, hanging Ottoman-style brass lamps, traditional artwork, and kilims, while the similarly decorated higher-category rooms are larger, and some have balconies overlooking Gülhane Parkı. An indoor plunge pool, Turkish bath, sauna, and small fitness room are on the premises, and the hotel offers complimentary Turkish cooking classes and neighborhood walks (sign up in advance, as space is limited), an afternoon meze buffet, and other perks.

This charming turn-of-the-century hotel (built in 1908) is the grande dame of Büyükada, with old-fashioned furniture, large rooms—including those in the front with stunning sea views—and a blend of Ottoman and Art Nouveau styles. The elegant building is topped by twin white domes modeled after Hotel Negresco in Nice, and all of the rooms have a tiny private balcony, regardless of whether they face the waterfront, the neighborhood, or the pool in the back. It's difficult to get a room on summer weekends unless you book ahead.

This ultrastylish addition to Istanbul’s ever-growing array of luxury hotels has large, beautifully designed, Art Deco–tinged rooms and suites and a prime location in the heart of the Nişantaşı shopping district, overlooking the dense greenery of Maçka Park. Contemporary art decorates the dramatic lobby and is integrated throughout the hotel. All guests are assigned a “butler” for more personalized service. A rooftop bar, the first international branch of Wolfgang Puck’s Spago restaurant, and a lavish day spa facility are draws for nonguests as well.

The sultans meet Las Vegas in this glitzy re-creation of an Ottoman palace, where grand marble stairways, columns, Greek statues, and fountains grace the public spaces, and rooms have touches like ornate ceiling moldings, arched windows, and cushioned divans for reclining and gazing out the windows. Lower-level rooms are larger and have bathtubs, while upper-floor rooms tend to be smaller, with hammam-style bathrooms lined with marble. Four deluxe rooms have sea views, and a few rooms have small balconies. The restaurant—where breakfast is also served—has an attractive terrace looking over the Sea of Marmara.

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.