FREE Guide: The BEST Places to Stay in Istanbul

💎 Hotel Sultania is a boutique hotel conveniently located in the heart of Sultanahmet. 🕌 The T1 tram, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace are all less than a 10-minute walk away. 💙 The rooms are beautiful, and the decor will make you feel like a guest at Topkapi Palace; some rooms even have their own hammam. 👆 Check out their rooftop restaurant, Olive Anatolian, for great Turkish food and views. 😋 Their Turkish breakfast buffet is vast and absolutely wonderful! 🛁 The hotel also has a Hamman in its basement where you can have an authentic Turkish bath; my experience was wonderful. 🌟 Hotel Sultania's location, restaurant and unique and stylish Ottoman decor make this a great hotel, especially for first-timers to Istanbul.

🕌 The Celine Hotel is less than a 10-minute walk from the Hagia Sophia (the Blue Mosque is even closer). 💎 It is decorated with late Ottoman decor but with modern touches to make you feel completely at home. 😊 The stand out is the staff; they are helpful and kind, wanting to ensure you have a wonderful time in their city. ☕ Loved DaRoute Coffee, located on the bottom floor. 🍰 Relax in the stone-walled cafe with an array of hot and cold beverages and desserts. The perfect place to recuperate and indulge after a day of sightseeing. 🌟 The Celine Hotel is one of the best values in the city. If you want a great place to stay that is close to major sites at an affordable price, this is the place for you!

💙 I first visited the Hotel Arcadia Blue for dinner at their rooftop restaurant and was blown away by the food and the views. 😊 Was so impressed that I came back to spend the night, and the rooms did not disappoint! 👍 It’s worth splurging on a room with a view as the hotel is located close to the Hippodrome, so the views of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are incredible. 📸 Some of my best photos of Istanbul were taken from their rooftop restaurant. 🌟 If you want a great location with incredible views, a delicious Turkish restaurant and modern rooms, definitely consider Hotel Arcadia Blue.

😃 To be transparent, I have not actually stayed at this hotel. But to make my “Where to Stay in Istanbul” list complete, I wanted to add a suggestion from my brother. 👍 Both my brother and his wife raved about the Albinas Hotel Old City. ❤️ They loved their Turkish breakfast and the fantastic views of the Blue Mosque from the rooftop. 🌟 Albinas Hotel Old City is very affordable and is in a good location for exploring Sultanahmet.

💎 This is my bucket list hotel in Istanbul. It's been on my radar for a while, and I am not sure why I haven't stayed here yet. Next time for sure! 📍 This historic boutique hotel has a great location, close to everything in Sultanahmet; Hagia, Sophia, Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. ❤️ I love the brick walls and gorgeous herringbone floors. The design is elegant and modern. 🌟 If you love boutique hotels located in the Old City, consider Hotel Miniature.

🏦 Located on one of my favourite streets in Istanbul (Bankalar Caddesi), the Bank Hotel was once home to Crédit Général Ottoman Bank. 📍 It’s conveniently situated, close to the Galata Tower, İstiklal Avenue and just a short tram ride to the historical penisula where you'll find the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace & more. ❤️ I stayed at the Bank Hotel for only two nights and was sorry to leave. 🤩 The rooms are beautiful and elegant, with many thoughtful amenities. I loved the marble bathroom and comfortable bed. 😃 Their rooftop bar has incredible views of Sultanahmet from across the Golden Horn. 🌟 If you're into upscale hotels with history, with great amenities and a terrific location, you'll love The Bank Hotel.

❤️ The Pera Palace Hotel is my favourite hotel in Istanbul; I visit it whenever I’m in the city. 🚂 It opened in 1895, built for passengers of the Orient Express. 🤩 This stunning Art-Nouveau hotel was the first in Türkiye to offer guests hot running water and had an electric elevator. 💎 As soon as you walk into the lobby, you know you’re somewhere special. It feels glamorous, with old-world vibes. 😉 The place is a splurge, but if you love historic hotels, the Pera Palace should be experienced at least once! 🤩 Many famous people have stayed here, including Queen Elizabeth II, Alfred Hitchcock, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the Republic of Türkiye. 📚 Agatha Christie spent time in Istanbul in the late 1920s and 1930s and is rumoured to have written "Murder on the Orient Express" at the Pera Palace Hotel. 🍸 The hotel’s Orient Bar, with its luxe red chairs and Turkish carpet, is the perfect place for a cocktail and was once a hotspot for spies (Mata Hari), writers (Agatha Christie and Ernest Hemingway), and even royalty. 💕 MUST-DOs at the Pera Palace: 🍰 Indulge at the Patisserie de Pera, a pink jewel of a bakeshop cafe just off the lobby. 🫖 Enjoy afternoon tea in the Kubbeli Lounge with its spectacular glass domed ceiling. 🇹🇷 See Türkiye’s first elevator or the museum suite of the Republic’s founding father, Atatürk. 🍹 Enjoy cocktails at the Orient Bar. 🌟 If you love historic hotels with old-time glamour, then the Pera Palace is for you!

💕 The Pera Neuf is a tiny but charming hotel (only seven rooms) without a reception. 👉 It’s close to the metro (Şişhane), Istanbul’s pedestrian shopping street (İstiklal Caddesi;) and the Galata Tower. 🛏️ The rooms have a warm, almost Parisian vibe. And I loved having a kitchenette, even though there are many great restaurants and cafes nearby. 😊 The first time I stayed at the Pera Neuf was as a solo traveller, and I felt safe in this area, even walking around at night. The only downside is that there is no elevator, so don’t bring a big suitcase. 🌟 If you want to feel like you have your own pied-a-terre in Istanbul, choose Pera Neuf. It is one of my favourite places to stay and one that I go back to over and over again.

😊 The Baylo Suites are cozy apartments in the heart of Beyoğlu, just minutes from the Galata Tower. ☕ While the area is brimming with restaurants, I loved having a small but well-stocked kitchen in my suite. 🤩 The decor in this restored 19th-century building is lovely. It offers ample storage space for suitcases and a bathroom with a great shower. ❤️ Loved that we had access to an amazing upper-floor terrace with views across the Golden Horn. 🕌 At night, the Suleymanie Mosque would light up and loved being able to sit here and take in the views. 👉 The property is on a hilly street, downhill from İstiklal Avenue and the Galata Tower. NOTE: It’s location and lack of an elevator might make it a challenge for some people, especially if you are travelling with big suitcases. 4️⃣ There are only four units, so if this place tempts you, book early to secure your spot. 🌟 If you want your own little apartment with access to a terrace with a view, then this may be your home in Istanbul.

😊 I stumbled upon the Corinne Hotel while wandering around Beyoğlu on my last trip to Istanbul. 👉 Built by a famous Ottoman architect in 1911, I was drawn inside by its corner location and striking architecture. 👆 The friendly staff invited me to the top floor to take in the view from their rooftop. There's a covered greenhouse-type restaurant and then an open-air rooftop bar. And the views, wow! You can see everything from the Galata Tower and over to the Hagia Sophia and Topaki Palace. 😊 While I saw the rooms, I haven't spent the night here yet, but I plan to the next time I am in Istanbul.