This is a great hotel if you want to be a tourist in Istanbul. It's walking distance to some of the…read morebiggest attractions such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and is surrounded by hundreds of restaurants and cafes. You also have a subway and tram stations nearby to get to anywhere in the city without sitting in traffic. Moreover, it's not a typical Hilton / Marriott / Hyatt - the building used to be an old tobacco factory and has beautiful features. There's also a nice restaurant, a sauna, and a gym onsite. The staff at the hotel was incredibly welcoming and friendly. Our concierge Gökhan was very helpful and made sure our stay was memorable and smooth. The housekeeping personnel did a wonderful job keeping our rooms clean and tidy. Only reason for 4 stars is that both rooms we booked were quite small and needed some minor maintenance which could have been proactively done prior to our arrival. Other than that, it was awesome and I'd stay here again!

The boutique hotel is gorgeous. it's the staff at the reception desk that was the problem. My tip…read moreis to double check the type of room as I got stuck with a loft on the 4th floor (no elevator to that floor level) and the room had no window. I had booked it through my work portal for 6 nights and they charged me for the full amount when I checked in so was stuck otherwise I would have moved hotels due to poor quality of service. The hotel is centrally located in Old Town but for any small thing, the reception desk was not helpful from asking for restaurant recommendations to even asking if the restaurant in the same hotel was available, I was told I should go and check myself. The breakfast was pretty good but surprised by the surcharge for a Nescafe or even Turkish coffee. I would not recommend this hotel purely based on the staff that worked the reception desk, they ruined my experience but was there for work so barely had any down time.

My husband and I stayed here from Sept. 7-11, 2015. It is in a quaint, bohemian, very musical…read moreneighborhood. We absolutely loved it. We had the 2 bedroom called Sahkulu!place II, which was on the 1st floor, so our entry was just one floor up from the street which worked for us as my husband had knee replacement surgery last year. The restaurants in the neighborhood were fantastic and we could feel the soul of the city--unlike had we stayed at the Ritz or Four Seasons or one of the big American chain hotels we considered. We especially loved eating just around the corner at a place called "Privato"--very typical Turkish cuisine and the "Village Breakfast" was amazing. Lunch was great to; OK and dinner. We ate there often! The owners were really lovely and very responsive. The apartment was clean and well maintained and the bathroom was large for a 2-bedroom apartment. It is just around the corner from the Galata Tower and a great street called Istiklal--if I got that right--with wonderful atmosphere and pretty good food and lots of music at night. The shopping in the area was really nice too. It was close to everything we wanted to see, i.e. the Blue mosque, Hagia Sophia, some smaller more intimate mosques, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice market. Bottom-line--we loved it, got much more than we paid for--and would come back or recommend it to friends and family in a heart beat.

The apartment was outstanding and located in a lively hip neighbourhood. It's very spacious and…read morebeautifully decorated with a good-sized kitchen and lounge area, making it ideal for a family or small group of friends. The views from the apartment are charming and the area around Galata Tower is really interesting, with lots of independent shops and restaurants. I can not wait to visit again :)!

We spent three nights in Istanbul at 10 Karakoy as our first stop on our tour of Turkey. With so…read moremany accommodation options in Istanbul, I'm happy we selected this hotel. The hotel's location was excellent. It was a very short walk to the marina and dozens of restaurants. It was on the main boulevard making it easy to find. The check in and check out was a breeze, and all of the staff members were helpful and friendly. One staff member, AYKUT, in particular was super helpful. He took the time to explain how the train system worked and how to obtain a card for payment. He also provided detailed directions and made other transportation suggestions. We really appreciated his help. Regarding the room, it was big enough for us, well-decorated, clean, and functional. We also had a decent view of one of the prayer towers. The hotel also had a rooftop where you could take your drinks to and view the city. Overall, we had a five star experience and would stay at 10 Karakoy again.

I love this hotel. It's BEAUTIFUL and the staff is amazing. The restaurant is one of the best in…read moreIstanbul and the lounge is cool. What's even more amazing is the customer service. I broke my foot (at the metro station) during vacation in Istanbul. I tried to champ it out in my room thinking it was a sprain but I was in excruciating pain and the wonderful staff finally convinced me and sent me off to a great hospital. Upon my return from the hospital they literally catered to me and were so empathetic while I was in crutches and a boot. They sent free food to my room, had their concierge fill my prescriptions for the pain meds, they walked my friend and I to a restaurant and had patience while I was struggled the crutches!!!! They really went above and beyond. I am forever grateful to the kindness the staff and management have shown. I cannot wait to go back and just bring gifts back for the great staff. If you're ever in Istanbul, please stay at the 10 Karaköy.

The Basilius Hotel was my home away from home whilst in Istanbul. My mom and I had a wonderful trip…read moreto Istanbul, and the staff at the Basilius had a major hand in making it so great. The staff provide five-star service for an incredible value. We were here for about a week, so the hotel arranged a shuttle to pick us up from the hotel. I'm a little embarrassed (though I'll get over it) to say that I was filled with glee when we got to the entrance of the airport and there was someone holding a sign bearing my name! (I even kept it for a while, but it has been lost since we were in Istanbul in 2013.) I appreciated them setting this up since that took away one headache of trying to navigate our way into a city upon arrival. Coming to the Basilius was like arriving at a friend's house. We were a bit early for check-in, so we had a seat and chatted a bit, with my mom going to use a computer briefly to let folks know we'd arrived safely. We were checked into a room as soon as one was available, and it was a very comfortable. After we got our stuff put away we went to get some tips from the desk staff and they suggested we visit the Kucuk Ayasofya down the street, and we were off. The "little Hagia Sophia" was down the block, only one or two minutes away, and was a nice start to our time in the city! Breakfast was great. Omelets were on offer, as well as a generous spread of cheeses, yogurt, fruits, breads, olives, juices, coffee... it was unbelievable. I also had what I think was my first ever cup of coffee whilst at breakfast here... and yeah, I still don't like coffee. The breakfast room was never completely full while we were there, so it was nice not to feel pressed to leave quickly. There was a small refrigerator filled with soft drinks and water. I can't stress enough how hospitable the here staff were. Most evenings we would briefly relax in the lounge area and talked with Omar, who had actually spent a year abroad in Wisconsin. He and other staff offered several suggestions for what we should do, and explained how to use the public transit system to visit areas too far to walk (like Eyup Sultan mosque, Chora Church, Galata Tower, and St. Stephen Church). We were able to navigate relatively easily with their instruction. We were greeted each time we arrived, and wished well when we left to sightsee for the day or were off for dinner. When our time in Istanbul concluded we were out pretty early (we got up around 3 am to get ready to head to the airport) but the owner bid us goodbye before we left the hotel the day prior to our departure, in case he missed us later. Omar woke us up an hour before our shuttle arrived and, after hugs and thank-you's, we left in the shuttle they had helped us arrange (the return shuttle wasn't included, but they helped us get one set up). They have a laundry service for a small fee. There wasn't a drink machine in the hotel but there are a couple small shops nearby, and as I mentioned, they had in the refrigerator. Rooms are very clean and comfortable. The Basileus is in a great location. It took us about ten minutes to walk to the Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia. The only time we used public transport was when we visited Eyup and Edirnekapi, Galata Tower and the spice market, and when we saw whirling dervishes (because it was in the evening). I'd like to visit Istanbul again, and when I do, I won't consider staying anywhere but the Basileus unless they are booked. I will wholeheartedly the Basilius to anyone visiting the city. Review #634 - January 23, 2022 15/2022

Wonderful fantastic stay! Great customer service! Location is great and convenient. 10 minute walk…read moreto the Blue mosque and Hagia Sofia. I had a long layover in Istanbul and booked Basileus Hotel at the last minute. So glad I did. Breakfast was fantastic. So terrific! The price was so affordable! Staff is fantastic and so helpful. They booked transportation airport shuttle at a great price. They made my long layover into a wonderful mini getaway!!! Wonderful hotel located in a great place in Istanbul with kind helpful staff!!!

I'll start with WOW and go from there. I've done a few of the free walking tours with the…read moreSandeman's folks and they did a great job in Edinburgh and Prague but they're not in Istanbul so I turned to Yelp and found these folks. Meeting by the Cistern, we walked a solid 20,000 steps (according to my Fitbit) through a half dozen of Istanbul's best known sites including the Topkapı Sarayı, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia. Along the way, we made several stops and there were a good number of spots where our super tour guide gave us time to explore on our own. When she led us around, she had constant knowledge of the sites and the city of Istanbul and of Turkey. A vast and deep knowledge. I was impressed. Our tour was well organized and well run. The lunch spot was excellent. A couple of tips. - Bring a backpack and a bottle or two of water. - An umbrella is a good idea as the tour runs even if it's raining. - Sunscreen! - Comfortable walking shoes that have a good tread. Istanbul's streets are smooth stone and you don't want to slip and fall. - For the Blue Mosque, you'll be expected to dress appropriately. There are free head coverings. - Extra batteries for your phone/camera. You will take a lot of pictures in six hours! - Pay attention to the meet up spots after the self-exploration. A certain Yelper *cough* Bruce K. *cough* got himself separated from the tour and was nearly stuck on his own until he spotted the green umbrella!

In the past year I've had some pretty fun adventures all over the USA, in China, Korea, Australia,…read moreNew Zealand, Canada, Germany, the UK, Spain, the UAE, and now Istanbul. While I've had a lot of fun in all those places, I can say unequivocally that my Istanbul Classics small group tour with Metin has been the best $90 USD I have ever spent on any activity in any of those places. If you are considering a tour of Istanbul and questioning whether you should do it with Daily Istanbul Tours, with some other tour organizer, or on your own, I can assure you that the best decision will be to book with DIT and be sure to request Metin as your guide. I won't bore you with details of the sites we saw, since you can get all of that information from their website. What I'll do instead is share a little about why this tour ended up being the highlight of our holiday: * It's easy enough to find and get into the sites, but there is so much information out there about them that it's really hard to distill it all into useful material. Metin is an expert on each site and knows exactly what the most interesting and relevant details are; he'll definitely help you make the most of your time at each place you go. Going on our own would be been stupid; we would have wasted hours wandering around, not really knowing what the more significant parts were or what we were looking at, etc. With so little time and so much to see, it was important to use our time efficiently, which we definitely did. * There can be something intimidating about being in a foreign country, especially if you are easily recognizable as a foreigner, don't speak the language, and aren't traveling with a group. Spending a day with Metin lets you truly relax and focus on the amazing sites without having to constantly watch your back or worry about getting screwed (which is a concern in any major city). With Metin, there's no pressure to buy any random crap, no worries about cultural faux-pas, and nobody bothering you at all when they see you are with him. If someone does approach you, he will dispatch them quickly. * Whatever random questions you have, I guarantee Metin will be able to answer them. Want to know what material a wall was built from? Metin knows its chemical composition. Want to know what year a building was constructed? He can tell you when each part of it was created, how long it took, how it was made, who made it, how many times it has been destroyed, where the materials came from, etc. Curious about some Turkish or Islamic history? Metin knows the years, the people, the hows, and the whys. And don't worry about being able to understand him and communicate easily; his English is fantastic, with a slight British accent on some words, which is an extra bonus for us Americans who don't get to hear real English very often * Metin is very personable and took a sincere interest in making sure we had the best possible time in Istanbul. When I mentioned that I really wanted to smoke some narguile, he made sure we were able to get some after our lunch. While we were hanging out at the café, several of his friends happened to be passing by or were around, so he introduced us to all of them and we ended up having some very interesting conversations. We had such a great time on the tour but didn't have any plans later for our last night in Istanbul, so Metin invited us to meet up with them later since they would be hanging out along Istiklal near our hotel. We ended up spending another few hours together that evening and into the early morning hours talking about all sorts of interesting topics, exploring some really fascinating areas that we would otherwise have missed, and meeting more people. This was advertised as a 4 to 6-person small group tour, but due to the season and perhaps people's irrational fears about coming to Turkey, it ended up just being me, my dad, and Metin. This definitely helped contribute to the awesomeness of the experience, but I have no doubt that a group of any size would get great value out of a tour with him as well. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Daily Istanbul Tours and Metin for making our trip to Turkey so memorable.

Can't say enough about this wonderful little hotel. On a…read morequiet street in great location to restaurants and shops. Staff so helpful in making suggestions as to where to eat and NOT to shop. Rooms spacious and clean. Good Wi-Fi. Fridge in room. Good a/c. Pretty rooftop terrace available 24/7. Daily full breakfast with large assortment of cheeses, fruit, vegetables, eggs, bread. I cried when I had to say goodbye to my new friends, hosts Ali and Jacob!

Little hotel with big heart. They treat you like family. Ideal location steps away from the…read morehighlights but on a lowkey side street. Beautiful views of the coast from the rooftop. Comfortable and clean.

Our group of 20 stayed at this hotel in Istanbul. We were welcomed by the gentleman in charge and…read moreprocessed to our rooms which were clean and comfortable. My room was situated facing the street and it was a lovely room with a balcony. I could open the balcony door and see the stores and restaurants across the street. In the distance I could hear the hustle and bustle of passersby and the voice of people praying at a nearby Mosque. It was quite calming. There was breakfast offered and it was quite a spread. Everything looked fresh and lots to choose from. I would definitely recommend this hotel. It is centrally located.

Jan 2023 * Friends Istanbul Vacation 5 nights 3rd Jan-7th…read moreJan 2023. My wife & I with our friend traveled from Seattle to Istanbul. The hotel was in a excellent location near many restaurants, shops and tourist locations within walking distance. You don't need a cab to explore this area. The rooms were very clean & comfortable. They were also cleaned daily. We had a balcony room as well as our friend traveling with us. She was in the room next door. The staff was great very friendly and helpful. The breakfast was excellent. I would highly recommend staying here. Some of the other reviews some people complained about the outside noise. Sure it can be noisy a little at times but your in a major city it didn't bother us. I would definitely stay here again in the future:).

This hotel had a good location. It was not to far from the Bazaar and many other things. I was…read morehappy with my stay. The room was nice. It was a good size. The pillows a little hard. It was an awesome surprise to see the big welcome sign with my name on it on the TV. It was a really nice touch. It made my day. The breakfast buffet was good. They had a good variety. The kitchen staff was wonderful. The table service was good. I found the staff friendly.

We had booked four nights at the Renaissance Istanbul Polat Bosphorus Hotel, but ended up checking…read moreout after just one night--that's how unbearable the experience was. We were traveling with a family of four and a family of three, and had reserved appropriately sized rooms. Instead, we were given tiny, cramped rooms that barely fit two people. Yet the hotel still charged us extra for the additional guests--with zero regard for the fact that the rooms were completely inadequate. Even worse, the rooms--and the hallways--were filled with a strong, nauseating smell of cigarette smoke. The rooms were supposedly non-smoking, but it was clear that nothing had been done to enforce or maintain that standard. If we had stayed longer, our young daughter would have gotten sick from the constant exposure to the smoke. It was that bad. The management was nowhere to be found, and the staff showed absolutely no concern or effort to fix anything. Every complaint was met with cold indifference. Not only were we forced to leave the hotel due to the conditions, but we are still fighting with the hotel to receive a refund for the remaining nights they failed to deliver on. This hotel is a disgrace to the Marriott name. It is run with no care for the guest experience, no attention to cleanliness or comfort, and absolutely no accountability. If you care about your health, your comfort, and your money--avoid this hotel at all costs. There are far better options in Istanbul. This was the worst hotel experience we've ever had.