Four Seasons Istanbul Sultanahmet

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.