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A brief guide on where to stay in Istanbul. There are countless hotels to choose from in every area of the city and for all budgets. The most popular areas to stay are Taksim and Sultanahmet.
I really didn’t have the need to stay in a hotel until after I moved away, but I’ve had the chance to experience a handful since then. The hotels featured in this entry are all located in the Beyoğlu district. Only the Pera Palace Hotel in Tepebaşı, one of the best in Istanbul, is not covered.
Where to Stay near Taksim Square
Most of my hotel experience in Istanbul has been in the vicinity of Taksim Square. I usually stay there for convenience after traveling for several hours, or out of necessity when traveling with a group.
InterContinental
The only hotel I stayed at while I lived in Istanbul is the InterContinental. I stayed there with family who visited and wanted to splurge for a few days, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. It’s located at the north end of Gezi Park.
The room wasn’t as nice as we expected, but the views were spectacular. We were able to see the Bosporus.
Other than that, the pool area was a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the spa looked great even though we didn’t use any of the services.
Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus
The Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus was the first modern hotel in not only Istanbul but in all of Europe after World War II. It’s also the oldest serving Hilton outside the United States. It sits on a huge property with a large outdoor pool and also has a few restaurants. While I haven’t stayed there, I know people who have and they enjoyed it very much. Personally, I’ve eaten dinner there (2010) and can say it’s a beautiful hotel.
Taximist
On a return trip to Istanbul in October 2018, I stayed one night at Taximist. It’s a nice little hotel a short walk from Taksim Square.
I arrived around 1am after about 30 hours of traveling and was very happy to get to the room. It was extremely clean, comfortable, and quiet. Unfortunately I slept through breakfast but that was expected. In any case, I’d be happy to stay there again.
The Row Taksim
Another night in 2018, I stayed at En Suites Hotel (now The Row Taksim). It’s a small suite hotel in an up-and-coming area a short walk from Taksim Square.
The room was very comfortable and spacious. There was a nice working area as well as complimentary tea and coffee. I was able to get a good night’s sleep with the blackout curtains.
Ramada Istanbul Taksim
In October 2019, I led a tour to Istanbul for a group of 23 and stayed at the Ramada Istanbul Taksim. Staff is wonderful and the hotel is in a great location near Taksim Square. A delicious breakfast is included.
Rooms are comfortable and clean. It was a great experience for most of the group, but a few had trouble sleeping because of noise from bars nearby. The noise depended on which side of the building the room was located.
Germir Palas Hotel
In May 2022, I had a late arrival and booked a room at the Germir Palas Hotel. While it doesn’t look like much from the outside, the interior features a classic combination of Baroque and Ottoman-inspired design.
My room was very comfortable and I enjoyed my stay. I had a great night of sleep and the room was quiet even with all the street noise outside. My only complaint was there was no air conditioning which made it a bit uncomfortable on a hot night. Other than that, I had a wonderful view of Gezi Park and could even see the Bosporus Bridge from my window.
Breakfast was served in the basement. There was a nice assortment of food, but the room was quite crowded. There’s a rooftop terrace which was closed for maintenance during my stay. A restaurant and bar is located on the ground floor but I didn’t visit either. Overall service was hit or miss. The best thing about the hotel was the location right on Taksim Square and just a few steps from the metro and airport buses.
Where to Stay in Şişhane
I’ve stayed at a few different hotels in Şişhane. I really enjoy staying there due to its proximity to Istiklal Street, Galata, and some great restaurants. The connection to the Istanbul transportation network is also very good.
Aspera Hotel
One of the best hotels I’ve stayed at in the area is the Aspera Hotel. I spent a night there in May 2022 after it had been open for only six months and again in November 2022.
I found the room to be modern, clean, and very comfortable. The room was silent at night even though it was situated on a very busy street. A complimentary bottle of water and sweets were a nice touch.
Staff is wonderful and went out of their way to make my stay even better than I expected. There’s a big spread for breakfast with a nice variety of fresh items available. Also, the location is fantastic. It’s only a few minutes walk to the Galata Tower and Istiklal Street, and the Şişhane metro entrance is literally just a few steps from the entrance. I look forward to staying there again in the future.
Galata Times Boutique Hotel
Around the corner on Meşrutiyet Street is the Galata Times Boutique Hotel. I stayed for one night in June 2022 when I had to meet a group very early in the morning for an airport transfer.
The hotel has a few different types of rooms. I stayed in a superior room, which was comfortable and clean yet a bit small to be called superior. Thankfully, I didn’t upgrade to a room with a balcony. That would have given me a view of an Istanbul alley with a brick wall staring me in the face. Other than the room being a bit tight, I had a great night of sleep and awoke fresh for my early start.
Staff was very friendly and prepared a box breakfast for me since I would miss the actual breakfast time on the rooftop terrace. They also gave me complimentary tea on the terrace as I enjoyed the views of Galata and the Golden Horn.
Dora Pera Hotel
A couple blocks north of Şişhane is the Dora Pera Hotel. It’s situated in a restored building and has a great location like the previously mentioned hotels. I stayed for one night in June 2022.
My room at the Dora Pera Hotel was, like the other hotels, comfortable, clean, and quiet. I opted for a room with a nice view of the Golden Horn, which added to my stay. A fresh plate of fruit and complimentary bottle of water was a pleasant surprise.
I only have two complaints about the hotel. First, the breakfast area was very crowded and I had to wait to get a table. For a hotel with several rooms, there should be an area with more tables available. Second, since the rest of my group had to leave at 3am for an early flight home, I asked the front desk to prepare a box breakfast for them to take with them on their airport transfer. When the staff member at check-out came out with plates wrapped in plastic, we knew our request had fallen on deaf ears.
Where to Stay in Karaköy
I normally wouldn’t stay in Karaköy, but I found a great deal at a nice hotel.
Nordstern Hotel
As a treat to myself for a night of relaxation, I spent a night at the Nordstern Hotel on Karaköy Square in June 2022. It’s a historic building dating back to 1889 that has been beautifully refurbished as a hotel.
The Nordstern Hotel has three types of rooms. I chose a basic comfort room, which had a view of the Galata Tower. The room was wonderful, with very high ceilings, modern amenities, and classic decor. The superior rooms have a more modern design, which in my opinion wouldn’t fit the character of the building very well.
The hotel has an excellent staff that go out of their way to help. I really appreciated the fact they greeted me by name each time I walked into the lobby. Another feature of the hotel that I enjoyed was the rooftop terrace, which is open 24 hours a day. Breakfast is served on the terrace but you have to be lucky to grab an outdoor seat with a view of the Galata Bridge and the Old City. It’s a classic Istanbul view.
