Small cosy hotel in Istanbul. Great location, within walking distance to museums. Also, there are many 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. read more

We had a lovely stay at the Marmara Guesthouse for three nights in January. This was my first visit to 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. read more

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Our one night at Marmara Guesthouse fell at the end of our honeymoon when we had a long layover in Istanbul and wanted to explore a bit. The guesthouse is so close to the Aya Sofia, Blue Mosque, and Basilica Cistern. We happened to be in town at the end of Ramazan and their large market was up and running. It looked like a western Christmas market! I need say no more- the location is perfect if you want to be close to the big attractions. The neighborhood also felt very safe and there are plenty of good restaurants and shops nearby to choose from! As far as the guest house goes, it was extremely clean and well managed. It was a very refreshing place to stay. The host was very friendly and gave us directions to restaurants and attractions we were interested in. The complimentary breakfast was very nice too. Overall a lovely place to stay and I'm sure we will be staying here again very soon to see more of the beautiful city of Istanbul! read more

We were wary of Marmara's cheap price, assuming that cheap meant bad, but we were so wrong! Marmara's was extremely nice, clean, and comfortable, and we could not have found a better place. The house is very secure, with a locked door at night, security cameras, and a 24 hour guard. The concierge was very helpful in giving us both tips for places to go and for arranging a taxi to the airport. Our room was very comfortable with AC, a nice bed, and a nice bathroom. Free breakfast in the morning on the rooftop with a gorgeous view over the Golden Horn. The guesthouse is only a 5 minute walk from all the big sights, but is far enough away that you don't have any noise pollution in the house itself. I will definitely stay here again read more

Charming family owned Hotel (Guesthouse) located very central in Istanbul. You can reach all hotspots by walking; Aya Sofia -/ Blue Mosque -/ ... just ten minutes far away!! We took the Hotel Airport Shuttle for around 20€ and arrived with a very warm welcome from the manager. Rooms are equipped with air condition and a bed which could be a bit larger. The inventory is ok, nothing special. We have had issues with our shower, thats why I have not given five stars. Outstanding is the roof top breakfeast area, which is overlooking the Bosporus and can be used for a nice relaxed evening with good drinks. Drinks can be purchased via self-service from the fridge. Payment will be done later according your notes. Breakfeast is included in price and offering a very large variety of home made specialities. WLAN is free of charge. I can definitely recommed the Guesthouse!! read more

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Without a doubt, this is the finest place I have a lever had the privilege of laying my head. I can't thank the staff of Marmara Guesthouse enough for making my time in Istanbul as amazing as it was. I visited Istanbul with two friends on a college budget. We instantly gravitated towards finding the most affordable place to pass out every night after exhausting ourselves exploring all the nooks and crannies that Istanbul has to offer. We were so excited to find the Marmara because not only is it affordable, but it's within walking distance from every major landmark of Istanbul's old town (or the tram stop for anything further afield). On top of that, Marmara offers a complimentary breakfast every morning, with traditional Turkish items. The food is always delicious and it's a great way to get the day started. One should also note that some of the jams are home made! Awesome! We expected Marmara to be a hostel, but we felt like we were staying at a 5 star hotel. The staff was always welcoming, and always interested in how our stay was going, ready to offer advice or suggestions for activities or places to eat like a local. Our room was always spotless. We were mortified, because our bags had basically exploded the first night and we came home to find everything folded neatly and organized, but it was so nice to come back to a tidy space and fresh towels after walking around all day. The Marmara offers all sorts of helpful little extras to make your stay that much more convenient: low cost airport transfers, affordable laundry service, printing and computer access, day trip and overnight bookings for those looking to get out of Istanbul - anything you could look for in a place to stay, the Marmara Guest House has it, and I recommend it with all my heart. read more

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If yelp allowed 10 stars I would give a 10. I stayed at Marmara Guesthouse with my aunt and highschool friend. Excellent location. This is a family owned business (same couple owns Saruhan) and I stayed at both places on different occasions. Very clean, staff is very nice. Typical Turkish breakfast, very tasty. Home made jams, everything is fresh. I found this location to be a lot more fun that the Saruhan's. The adjacent street is full of restaurants. Rooms are small but you must consider where you are. Closer to Blue Mosque and St Sofia. Can't wait to go back!!!! Miss you all :). read more