I chose this hotel to host a Master's Program reunion and I'm so glad that it was our home for 4…read morenights. The Swissôtel Bosphorus is the epitome of luxury and location. Prior to choosing this hotel I requested proposals from multiple hotels in Istanbul, but what made this so special was the view of The Bosphorus. I want to thank Mustafa and Gozde for being great in presenting, proposing, and answering the countless questions that I had about this property before our arrival. The hotel exudes class, modern facilities, and something for all types of travelers. From the moment you arrive at the hotel you feel safe. There is a security checkpoint for all vehicles and a metal detector in the lobby for all visitors. This made my group feel safe and prior to my arrival 2 of the members of my group were thoroughly impressed with the hotel and thanked me for choosing it. Our first night there we dined at Madhus as a welcome dinner. It is an Indian fine dining gastronomic experience that set the tone of our stay. The food was delicious, the presentation was excellent, and the service was impeccable. We all enjoyed our meal there and when you stay at this hotel you must dine here. All of us enjoyed our respective rooms. Whether they were the Swiss Advantage Garden View Room or Swiss Bosphorus View the rooms were clean, spacious, and comfortable. The Purovel products in the bathroom were a good quality for a hotel. The housekeeping team kept our room clean and stocked upon request. We all had a great experience here. I would like to think that my group thought everything was amazing- the views of the Bosphorus, the hotel amenities, dining offerings from breakfast and fine dining at Madhus and 16 Roof were all excellent. From the lobby to the reception and concierge everything and everyone was delightful and extremely helpful. On behalf of my group, I would highly recommend this hotel and would love to return just so that I personally can use their tennis court.

This is one of the 5 star hotels in Istanbul by the water on the European side. The service here…read morefor reception and restaurant is definitely 5/5. The lobby is absolutely beautiful, very clean, the bellmen are attentive and sees to you immediately every time we asked for a taxi. The restaurant is where we spent quite a lot of time in using the AYCE for an extra 50 for breakfast and dinner. The food here was really good, I would say above average so far compared to outside food. The Risotto is okay, I wouldn't order it again. The Manti is amazing and lentil soup is divine! The only reason why it's getting a 4 instead of 5 star is because of the smoking but I guess that's just the city/country itself. Our room was non-smoking but still smelled like smoke. The outdoor seats where everyone is always seated is a smoking zone. Eating with cigarettes just ruins the food overall and makes me nauseous. Our room's laundry was broken, no scissors available as well. Wild but still a beautiful place. Will likely come back here again if I come back in this area of Turkey! Shoutout to - didn't mention all, forgot names :( - Selem, Saliha, Mustafa, and Gabor staff. Perfect service, always top notch, kind, professional.

Sirkeci Mansion Hotel is amazing! It is very centrally located in the historic district near most…read moretouristy places in Istanbul. It is steps away from the lovely Gulhane Park. Few minutes walk to Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cisterns and Blue Mosque. It is also a short walk to Grand bazaar and spice market. The tram station is steps away so it was easier to go around the city. The hotel itself was clean and comfortable. We had booked the family room and it was great for our trip. The room was comfortable with all the amenities we would need for the stay. Their breakfast buffet was amazing and had a lot of options with continental and turkish items, and we had enough vegetarian options too. They also had afternoon tea daily which was wonderful touch and much appreciated. The staff was wonderful. Everyone we met at the hotel was very kind, friendly and helpful and went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable. They also have Hammam and massage services in their spa. My friend had tried their massage and she said it was wonderful. The hotel is pretty historic and does seem a bit outdated and not as polished at first glance, but the rooms and facility is clean and well maintained. I would definitely stay here again if I am back in Istanbul as the location and staff are a 10/10.

Sirkeci Mansion Hotel is the best! It is in the historic district near most of the must-see places…read morein Istanbul. It is close to Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cisterns and Blue Mosque. It is a short walk to the Grand Bazaar, Spice Market, and around the corner from a train station. The rooms are comfortable and the staff AMAZING! Our warmest "thanks" to Sukru Araz at the desk, Fatime in the lobby and dining area, and Sevcan in Housekeeping...They are some of the most caring and friendly people we have ever met on a trip! Do yourself a huge favor if travelling to Istanbul...STAY AT SIRKECI MANSION HOTEL.

Small cosy hotel in Istanbul. Great location, within walking distance to museums. Also, there are…read moremany restaurants of any kind, just a couple of minutes walk away. Views to the sea. I was lucky to witness snow in Istanbul earlier this year. Really enjoyed the views from the top floor of the hotel. Friendly staff. Cards accepted. Not very expensive. I would stay here again. Totally recommended.

We had a lovely stay at the Marmara Guesthouse for three nights in January. This was my first visit…read moreto Istanbul; my husband had been there decades ago. LOCATION (5/5). Given that our stay would be short, we wanted easy access to the major sites in the Sultanahmet district, or "Old Town." This location put us in walking distance (some uphill on cobblestone streets) of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and more. Many restaurants and shops were also nearby and, with a longer walk, we were able to walk down to the Golden Horn and to the Galata Bridge. GUESTHOUSE (overall, 4/5). GUEST ROOM (4/5). We had a nice clean room (standard, double) on the 2nd floor with a double bed with attached private bathroom. The room had everything we needed, including a comfortable bed and pillows, desk, large wardrobe with safe, and bedside tables. It was tastefully decorated with Turkish cloth on a canopy bed. We would've rated higher had there been more space in the room. While there was a stand for one piece of luggage, we didn't use it because space was too tight. Our view was of a neighboring guest house, which allowed others to see into our room when the curtains weren't pulled. The bathroom was clean, well-maintained, and newish, and had a small shower, sink, and toilet but again relatively little space. COMMON AREAS, except terrace (see later). (3/5). Again, very tight. Upon entering, there is a small reception area, really only a desk and some file cabinets, where a staff member sits 24/7. There is a small room off this with some small couches, and reading materials (including tour and other books that can be borrowed and tourist brochures. Nice touch!). This also serves as a luggage storage area for guests who arrive early or late. Stairs up to many of the rooms and the terrace where breakfast is served are narrow and have low ceilings. My 6' husband bumped his head on his first trip up. BREAKFAST on the terrace. (5+/5). This was included in the price of our room, but was also available for 5 Euro for guests. Both the food and the view were amazing! There was a wide selection of traditional Turkish and other foods to choose from, including homemade jams, and a nice selection of juices. During breakfast, one could watch the sun rise over the Marmara Sea (which connects to the Bosphorus). Note that free self-serve coffee and tea were available all day, so we also visited the terrace to see the water view at other times of day. PRICE (Jan, 2023). (4/5). Our total bill was euros 156 (about $170) for our 3-night stay in a standard double room at this 2-star guesthouse through Hotels.com. The same room is available at a cheaper rate if you're okay with a non-refundable reservation. Note that Turkey was experiencing very high rates of inflation during our visit. TRANSPORTATION/PARKING (3/5). With reservations, the hotel can arrange for transportation to/from Istanbul airport at 40 Euros per vehicle each way. We used the service for our return trip as we had an early morning flight. The vehicle could have easily accommodated 8 passengers, so it was bigger (and more expensive) than we needed but we were happy that the option was available to us. Parking seems difficult on the side street where the guesthouse is located. STAFF. (4/5). Staff were helpful when asked specific questions but no one stands out as truly extraordinary. All front desk staff spoke a sufficient amount of English to answer our questions. There were visitors from many other countries during our stay. Staff handled our luggage on the narrow staircase. Staff also booked a morning cruise for us on the Bosphorus. SECURITY. 5/5). The neighborhood and the guesthouse felt safe. Access to the property was through a front door that was locked most of the time, and guests needed to pass a close-quarters desk that was manned 24/7.

Arden City Hotel is located in the old city part of Istanbul. It is a very nice hotel. The hotel…read moreattendants will take your bags to your room. They accommodated my early arrival which I really liked. The rooms were so pretty. The first night I stayed in a suite which looked like it came out of an Aladdin fairytale. On the top floor, they have free breakfast for their guests which had a plethora of Turkish breakfast options and european options. The top floor also is a bar and has a really amazing view of the city. The only complaint I have about this hotel is that my friend and I needed twin beds and our travel agent told the hotel this; however, we show up and there was no twin beds available. Also, the heat in our room didn't work and after our long late flight, there was no one to fix this issue so we spent an hour trying to figure out the radiator. The manager didn't help out when we tried to ask for a partial refund (which they should considering we had struggled to find heat after our long flight).

my sister and I visited istanbul for just over a week and stayed here and it was the best decision!…read moreFrom the location to the charm to the staff this place really hit the mark. Omen at the front desk especially, was so incredibly helpful and welcoming. This hotel is 10-20 minute walk from all the hot spots and so many cool restaurants and beautiful rooftops. If you're looking for safety and comfort in a beautiful spot this is definitely the place to stay!

Dates of stay June 4-10, 2021 Floor/Room: 3, 319…read moreFree Wi-Fi Room features: King bed, medium firm support, 2 firm pillows, TV, 2 night stands, luggage stand, 2 sitting chairs, beverage table, full length mirror, storage & closet for hanging cloths, shower, single sink, electric hot water pot. 2 windows that swing open & open like an oven door partially. The room looks down to the open sitting area below, as well as a covered enclosed area. Views of the Sea of Marmara, and the cityscape/nightscape fantastic. Istanbul has cats roaming all around. This is just the way it is and you should be prepared for this in your travels. Cats are very special here and protected for religious reasons. Why is this info in this review? Because no matter what room you are in, at any hotel you will see and hear cats fighting and screaming 15+ times a day. Room 319 for all of its greatness has this even more so due to the cats lounging below on the patio or roof below. The staff are great and super helpful. However one desk staff member needs to learn to relax on pushing you to go visit a rug and decor store he claims is owned by the same owner of the hotel. Each time I interacted with him it was a constant push to setup a time to go visit the store. If I tell you I don't want or plan or need rugs or home decor leave it rest. Stop pushing it over and over. Please address this whomever owns this Hotel Azade. I am fine with tour recommendations. They have cleaning service coming through each day, and if you choose to they will swap out anything you need. The building is quite clean. To go between floors they have a lift large enough to accommodate 2 people and a couple bags of luggage. There are stairs also. The lobby area is quite large with a few sofas and chairs, art work, etc. Next to the front desk is a metal stand full of different tourist brochures available around the area. The breakfast spread you see in some of the photos definitely isn't what is going on right now. The only place I have encountered almost inedible food since I have arrived in Istanbul is at their morning breakfast. Yet somehow it seems to get worse each day. They have tables setup with the following options. One hot warmer has boiled eggs and reconstituted overly wet particles of scrambled eggs. The next warmer has French fries and some mystery mix you can put over the fries. It has hotdog pieces, green peppers, tomato spices, some French fries on some days or potato on another mixed in. The next warmer has French toast but there is absolutely no syrup to go over on any day. In the same warmer is biscuits. On a table nearby is oranges. Another table a toaster with 3 bread options. Another table cold plates with two very small pieces of what looks like Boulogne, 2 small pyramid chunks of cheese, tomato, lettuce. A drink stand with hot water, cold water, sour cherry juice, peach juice, orange juice all in boxed form. There is a Nescafe machine which will make you shots of Espresso or coffee and cream. Extremely processed foods, and not very tasty in anyway. I really go back up each morning really to see if it will be like in the pictures others have posted, instead of what looks and tastes likely as good as prison food. This really needs to be changed or just don't offer free breakfast, it is that bad. On one of the days they apparently ran out of hotdogs. So they substituted carrots and Persian tiny pickles... On one of the days something was off with the breakfast food. Within an hour my stomach started churning, gurgling and I broke out in heavy sweats. I am ever so thankful I stayed in my hotel room for the day. It was an all day event taking place, and you can read between the lines why. Synopsis: Would I stay here again? Absolutely. The price point was great, the wifi perfect for standard use, the view from the roof terrace and my room spectacular, most of the staff very helpful and friendly, clean. Would I ever eat breakfast here at the hotel? With the exception of the fresh oranges, coffee, and water, absolutely never, ever ever

This place is wonderful! Very conveniently located in the historic center - an easy walk to most of…read morethe sites and a short walk to many of those. More than that, the beds are soooo comfortable! Sturdy mattress, fluffy comforter, temperature control, modern bathroom and above all helpful and pleasant staff. Why not five stars? I think the bathroom amenities are tampered with (water added). Bring your own soap, shampoo and conditioner or you will be disappointed. I had to open three complimentary shampoo containers before I got one that actually had enough shampoo to create any suds. The overhead shower head didn't work, but the hose shower head did. Lots of hot water - not good drainage. Lights are pretty dim. If you read at night, bring a booklight. Some of the lights in the room didn't work, and we were in the Premier section. The suites are probably nicer. The roof terrace - where the complementary breakfast is served - has amazing views. The clerk suggested to us a guide whom we hired and it was the best, quickest, most economical (time wise) way to see and learn many things in one day. This city is not to be missed! And this hotel makes it even better. I would mos def stay here again! And I'd hire Neami again, too! Call him at +90 (532) 366 36 56 if you want an amazing and licensed tour guide for the city.

The hotel location is perfect very close the blue mosque and Aya Sofia mosque, close the…read morerestaurants and small bazar . The hotel itself very clean the staff are very friendly the breakfast is delicious. We loved being there and definitely will choose the same hotel if we visit İstanbul again !

Let me start by saying I don't usually write reviews, but I had to for Seraglio Hotel & Suites…read more This was our first time in Istanbul, we decided to stay in Sultanahmet for easier access to the sights & sounds of the Old City. I cannot recommend this hotel enough. In fact, just book this hotel right now! They are recently renovated, modern, clean, reasonably priced, GREAT location, rooftop terrace for breakfast (superb Turkish breakfast [buffet] included) has AMAZING views, and the real stars are the STAFF. From front desk, to servers, to chef -- everyone treated us like family. I have a 7-month daughter and she loved the staff and they loved her. We were so well taken care of - anything we needed our friend Mr Kenan at the front desk made it happen. I am forgetting the names of all the amazing staff, literally they were all amazing, the chef, servers, concierge, cleaning -- bottom line is my review of my recent stay should sway you on the quality of this hotel. I will absolutely be coming back here for my next trip to Istanbul.

Had a great stay at Armada Hotel recently…read more Great location, a short walk to Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque. Near the water (Sea of Marmara), close to Kennedy Cad. walking through old archways to the shore. You can see the seas from the windows in your room (if you're lucky to get one facing that direction), from the great rooftop terrace or the breakfast area - one side views of the water (even spotted dolphins one morning), the other, views of Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Nice lobby, with a small pond of turtles, memoiabillia, historical artifacts. The room (Queen size bed) was clean, comfortable, cutely decorated with nice touches (like paintings on furniture), nice colors, slippers, plenty of soaps in the bathroom, lots of storage, best bath towels (absorbent and big), teas, coffee, water bottle and another one in the mini fridge. We had room cleaning once and the lady did a great job, bringing more water, swiping the floors, making the beds, putting the bathroom back together. Nice touching gifts - like the nice bookmarks we found on the nightstand! Staff was nice and attentive, from the booking phase, to check in, they brought us lemonades till they finished cleaning our room, to every day help. At the end, they were nice to call for a taxi for the airport on our behalf and they helped with luggage and all, made sure we left early to make our flight due to road closures for May 1st holiday. Even if the hotel is lively, has a bar and a restaurant, it was quiet, no issues at night, got great night sleep. Comfy bed, pillows, comforter. The breakfast buffet is one of the best we ever had, they do put lots of hotels in US to shame! You can get your regular cereals, omelet, boiled eggs, but you have great fruits (best watermelon) and fresh vegetables, Turkish pastries, cheese-s, jellies (quince, apricot, orange), tahini, home made yogurt, local treats. Nice coffee, try the Turkish chai/tea and the Cherry juice is a must! Once again, nice service and great views all around. Great hotel to stay while visiting Istanbul. Affordable, pampering, nice experience. And since it's Istanbul, the hotel has its own cat that greets you! Wonderful location, staff, view, local touches!

This was a beautiful hotel with a breathtaking rooftop view of the Blue Mosque; clean, spacious,…read morenicely decorated rooms; and friendly staff! I enjoyed my stay for the most part, however there was one thing that made the stay extremely unpleasant. There's a fountain in the lobby where several aquatic turtles are kept, and all of them were sick due to improper husbandry (no UV lights or heat, no exposure to sunlight, lobby lights on 24/7). The turtles were pale and one of them had pneumonia (floating sideways in the water); another was extremely weak and minimally responsive. I own several aquatic turtles and am a veterinarian with special interest in reptiles, and seeing these sick animals with improper housing really upset me. The staff seemed receptive when I offered suggestions for improving their housing and welfare, but it's hard to say whether anything was done after I left. Also, there were several songbirds in dark, dirty cages, also with no exposure to sunlight or UV light, who looked depressed and did not appear healthy. Several other visitors I spoke with felt the same way about the welfare of the animals at the hotel. If these animals can't be housed properly, then I don't see the point of displaying them. It's a turn-off to tourists who care about animal welfare. Keeping reptiles and birds healthy in captivity involves specialized care and lots of research. I truly hope the hotel owners/staff can either improve their living conditions or rehome them altogether and avoid having exotic pets on display going forward. I've been thinking about these poor animals months after my visit, and I hope they're not still suffering.

This is my second time staying here and I can't rave enough about their outstanding service. The…read moreroom is immaculate and the location is 10/10. Literally minutes walk from Haifa Sophia, Blue mosque and surrounding by cafes and restaurants so so vibrant. The rooms are luxurious and every staff member is so attentive and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's breakfast. I highly recommend this for its fab location and maintaining their standard. It's not a super huge property seems more like a boutique hotel. Overall super comfortable stay so far. I do plan on coming back again.

Service and food are highly importantant to me. If the service wasn't so impeccable, I would have…read morerated two-stars. However, at this Four Seasons location the Manager: Muhammed, Server: Melike and Bartender: Onur went out of there way to make sure we had a great dining experience--even though the first Mushroom Risotto that I had added Short rib had no mushrooms, basil and was WAY too salty, the manager Muhammed insisted on having the chef redo this dish, once it was redone, very delicious, unfortunately, I was a little turned off from the first version so I only had a bite however, if this redo was what should have been made--I would've eaten the whole thing. My partner had From the Wood Oven: PULLED SHORT RIB--Smoked Beef Short Rib, Potato, Sour Cream, Chestnut Mushroom, Aged "Kars" Gruyere--which he thought was just ok. The holiday dessert was AMAZING!!! Best part of our lunch!