11 Best places to stay in Istanbul

Built in 1892 at the terminus of the legendary Orient Express, the Pera Palace is a historic monument and the most famous hotel in Istanbul – this is where everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to the Kennedys bedded down in the golden age of travel.  

A four-year, $23 million restoration has added mod cons including a spa and indoor pool, while maintaining many of the original Neoclassical French-Oriental furnishings – look out for the original lift and dazzling Murano chandeliers. Spies, intrigue, heads of state – this museum hotel oozes 120 years of history.  

The upper west-facing rooms have balconies with spectacular views over the Golden Horn – room 411 is where Agatha Christie wrote Murder on the Orient Express.

Cocktails on the terrace as the sun sets behind the Golden Horn are a real treat; and there’s a superb buffet breakfast served in the Agatha restaurant, with its polished checkerboard flooring and black-and-white photography.  

Don’t miss afternoon tea (3pm-6pm) in the atmospheric Kubbeli Salon, with divine French pastries served to the tinkling of a Schiedmayer grand piano. 

Ever since it opened in 2011, this sophisticated, superbly managed hotel has been recognized as one of Istanbul’s coolest hangouts.

Housed in a handsome 19th-century Parisian-style apartment building, it’s located near the Galata Tower in Beyoglu, within easy walking distance of some of the city’s most happening restaurants, art galleries, shops and nightlife.  

Inside, Georges is all smart-casual boho chic: a mix of intact original features and spaces stripped back to bare brick, stone or wood.

All 20 rooms have balconies, although the best views of all – stretching as far as the Princes’ Islands in the Sea of Marmara – are from the rooftop bar and restaurant, renowned for its exquisite cocktails and contemporary Ottoman cuisine. 

It’s one of the best hotels in town for a romantic city break, but families are made to feel just as welcome. 

This sophisticated little boutique hotel fills two early 20th-century townhouses, a minute’s walk from many of the city’s top sights.

Rooms are prettily designed with underfloor heating, rain showers and queen-size beds. The public areas are charming – there’s a cosy, book-lined lobby with leather sofas by the fire, and a rooftop terrace bar with enchanting views over the Blue Mosque and Sea of Marmara.

Friendly staff know the city intimately and love to share their knowledge; a great continental and Turkish buffet breakfast is included in the rate.

Plump for a more spacious deluxe room, with a balcony and plenty of storage – it doesn’t cost that much more; and take advantage of the hotel’s very reasonable airport transfer service, especially if you’re arriving late at night.

The hotel is on a quiet side street in the historic Sultanahmet quarter, the tourist heart of Istanbul, busier with people than with the traffic that plagues the rest of the city. It’s a great choice for first-time visitors.

This affordable boutique hotel is a short funicular ride from Istiklal Caddesi, the very heart of Beyoglu – Istanbul’s hip shopping and nightlife district.

Housed in a late-18th-century building, it’s the pet project of wealthy art collector Oner Kocabeyoglu, with industrial-feeling exposed bricks and pipes spruced up with lashings of contemporary Turkish art.   

Rooms come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the best – on the sixth floor – have extraordinary views over the Bosphorus.

If you want the buzzy, artsy feel of 21st-century Istanbul with a touch of classic architecture, look no further. 

In easy walking distance of top sights such as the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sofia and the Grand Bazaar, this traditional neoclassical-style hotel is a perfect base for first-time visitors to the city.

The super friendly service – totally geared to helping you get around and enjoy the best of the city – is a huge plus, and when you’re finished pounding the pavements, the hotel’s Sultan Spa, with an indoor swimming pool and traditional Turkish hammam, are just the ticket.

The comfortable prices, exceptional buffet breakfast and celebrated rooftop Olive restaurant (with lovely views over Old Istanbul) make this hotel a guaranteed winner for both couples and families.

Right on the water’s edge, in the up-and-coming Besiktas district, the luxurious Shangri-La is a destination in its own right. The building was first constructed in the 1930s – then relaunched in 2013 under the swanky Shangri-La brand.

The glittering interiors, extraordinary service, elegant bars and restaurants and hedonistic spa (with a hamam and beautiful underground pool) cater to a crowd that wants all the creature comforts of a 5 star when not exploring this lively, down-to-earth city.

Many of its silvery-white suites are blessed with mesmerising views of the Bosphorus.

Overlooking the tall trees and flower-trimmed avenues of Gulhane Park, this traditional, affordable and charming hotel is ideal for a first visit to Istanbul – it’s within walking distance of nearly all of the city’s best-known sights.

Set in a traditional Ottoman-style mansion (konak) filled with stylish local details, there’s a breakfast buffet with savoury Turkish pies and other authentic goodies as well as a lovely outdoor terrace for breakfasts and sundowners.  

The owners are firm believers in responsible tourism and sustainability, and go out of their way to help you experience the best of the city.

The hotel offers free activities every week – just for hotel guests – including Turkish cooking lessons, wine tastings, foodie tours and neighbourhood walking tours.

There are special family-sized rooms, and kids are treated like royalty. A great-value, local-feeling place to stay. 

Set on the Bosphorus, this large, five-star luxury retreat is set in an opulent 19th-century marble Ottoman residence, spilling out into several newer buildings.

The main palace building houses seven suites, popular among visiting royalty, heads of state and Hollywood stars.

The Ciragan Palace provides guests with every conceivable mod con – indoor and outdoor pools, a hammam, fitness centre, gardens, and even the occasional classical concert – alongside mesmerising views of the Asian side of town and the Bosphorus Bridge.

There’s a superb breakfast buffet, too – pricey, but could keep you going until the evening.

Lounging in the hotel’s heated infinity pool, watching ships sail down the Bosphorus strait, is a total luxury. After all, you are staying in a real Sultan’s palace.

Located in the buzzing, boutique-filled quarter of Nisantasi, the Art Deco Macka Palas (built in 1922) is perfectly positioned for business travellers, convention-goers and shopping fiends.

The rooms are sleek and high-tech with Art Deco touches, and after a hard day you can relax in the hotel’s spa, fitness centre and outdoor pool – a rarity in the city centre.

The onsite restaurant and bar are top-notch, and there are many other choices in walking distance – summer evening cocktails at the Nusr-Et Terrace are a must.

No place has better views over the Bosphorus and European Istanbul than this contemporary boutique hotel, occupying a mid-19th-century Ottoman distillery outside the traditional Bosphorus village of Cengelkoy.   

The wonderfully light-filled rooms and suites (including three designed for families) have big windows overlooking the famous Bosphorus Strait.

The fireplaces in the rooms are lovely to come back to in winter; and having breakfast in your room, watching the ships sail past, is a mellow start to your day.   

Or relax in the hotel’s marble Turkish hamam – opt for the full works, including a sublimely relaxing foam massage.

A regular ferry and hotel shuttle provide easy transport to Kabatas and its tram stop, allowing guests to enjoy both the Sumahan’s waterfront tranquility and stay connected to the city’s most popular neighbourhoods. 

Built in 1919 to house crooks and dissidents, this former prison building has been stunningly restored as an intimate, 65-room hotel with lashings of luxury, its deep yellow walls preserving airy Neoclassical styling and a peaceful garden courtyard (the former exercise yard).

There’s no pool at the hotel, but guests can use the facilities at the sister hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, a few minutes away.

Cocktails on the rooftop terrace, watching the sun set behind the Blue Mosque, are a highlight; another is the exquisite, extremely varied breakfast buffet.

It’s deal for first-time visitors wanting to explore the city’s iconic monuments while enjoying comfy, cosseted hospitality.