Most of Istanbul’s hotels are clustered around three primary areas: Sultanahmet, Taksim / Beyoğlu and the Bosphorus.
Sultanahmet
In the Sultanahmet neighborhood, you will mostly find small, boutique hotels that occupy restored historic buildings. There are a few international chains in the neighborhood, but the majority of hotels are locally owned and operated. Rooms in these hotels are typically cozy and do not have views. However, many do have rooftop terraces with fantastic views of the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus strait, the Blue Mosque, and / or Aya Sofya. Breakfast is also usually included with your room.
The benefit to staying in Sultanahmet is that you are within walking distance of most of the major historic tourist attractions and can easily access the tram. The downside is that the restaurants in the area cater mainly to tourists, resulting in “authentic” food that is generally sub-par. Bar / nightlife options are also more limited and take the shape of hookah lounges or British-style pubs.
There is one notable international chain in Sultanahment – the Four Seasons Sultanahmet. The hotel is just a block from Aya Sofya and is located in a renovated prison. It is a life goal of mine to stay at this stunning hotel sometime – I just need to start saving my pennies!
Below are two boutique hotels in Sultanahmet that I have personally stayed in and would recommend (I slightly prefer Şebnem). There are also tons of similar hotels in Sultanahmet that I’m sure are equally nice. I have heard good things about Sirkeci Mansion, Hotel Empress Zoe, and Hotel Daphne. My parents also recently stayed at the Magnaura Palace and raved about the location, service and rooms.
- Şebnem Hotel – the Şebnem breakfast buffet is ridiculous – I have never seen so many pastries in my life. They serve it on their lovely roof terrace that has killer views out to the Marmara sea. Rooms are of a decent size and are cute. The hotel is just a couple blocks from Aya Sofya and is set back from a lively street that contains many restaurants (Akbiyik St).
- Hotel Nomade – their roof terrace is small but has amazing views of the Blue Mosque. Location is very good – just a block from the Sultanahmet tram stop, but set back from the busy street. My room was bright and comfortable but the bathroom was tiny.
Taksim / Beyoğlu
Taksim square is the central “hub” of Istanbul. Beyoğlu is the broader name for the neighborhood that is across the Golden Horn from Sultanahmet. In Ottoman times it was the “European” area of town and was full of consulates, diplomats, etc. You will find many of the big international hotels in the Taksim area, including the Hilton, InterContinental, Radisson, Ritz Carlton, Marmara, and Divan (the last two are Turkish chains). Many of these hotels have fabulous views over the Bosphorus and / or the Golden Horn
If you want to stay in a large hotel with more services, then this neighborhood is a better bet than Sultanahmet. The Taksim area gives you access to better restaurant and nightlife options with Istiklal St right at your feet. You can get to the historic sites from here via public transit but it’s a little further and slightly more complicated. You can easily get taxis from your hotel, however, and the ride to Sultanahmet is not far. In general, hotels in Taksim will be more expensive than what you can find in Sultanahmet.
Of the big chains in Taksim, I recommend the Hilton. It is the oldest international hotel in Istanbul (and the first Hilton built outside of the U.S.) but it has been beautifully maintained over the last 50+ years. My family has been staying here since my parents spent part of their honeymoon in Istanbul in 1972. Because the Hilton was the first big hotel to go up it got its pick of real estate and is perched on a hill with fantastic, unobstructed Bosphorus views. Rooms are a good size for a hotel in Europe, all have large balconies, and half have Bosphorus views. It also has a breathtaking executive lounge on the top floor.
In addition to the big chains, there are some designer boutique hotels that have popped up in Beyoğlu in recent years. I stayed at the Witt Hotel a few years ago and thought it was fabulous. The Georges Hotel also looks amazing. I haven’t stayed there yet but it’s on my list for a future trip!
Bosphorus
The hotels located along the Bosphorus include the most upscale and expensive Istanbul hotels. These hotels hug the waterfront north of Beşiktaş and include the Four Seasons Bosphorus and the Çirağan Palace Kempinski. The latter offers you the opportunity to actually stay in an an old Ottoman palace (though it also has a more modern hotel building). I also include the Swissotel, perched on a hill above Dolmabahçe, and the W Hotel, set back from the road near Beşiktaş, in this category. There is also a waterside Radisson Blu hotel in Ortaköy.
The downside to staying in any of these hotels is that you are further from the historic sites. You will be primarily relying on taxis to transport you around town although there are buses that run down Çirağan st and can take you to Taksim or Kabataş. These hotels are walking distance to Ortaköy and Beşiktaş where you can find many restaurants and cafes.