We had an amazing experience at Hotel Nena. The hotel is centrally located and walking distance to…read moremany sites, transportation, restaurants, drug store, etc. We stayed in both a superior room and the top floor luxury room. Both are a reasonable size (not large) with comfortable beds. However, the top floor room had a balcony and an amazing view of The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, and where the Bosphorus joins the Sea of Marmara. Most important, the service was excellent. I want to name Gokhan, Aziz, and Mehmet and the lead housekeeper who were all extremely pleasant and helpful to us. Gokahn was responsive and helpful in setting up our reservations and transportation on arrival at Istanbul Airport which is the largest airport above ever seen. Communication was clear and we had no issues arriving (or leaving). We had picked up a bug just before leaving the USA, though we didn't know it at the time. Aziz and Mehmet were particularly helpful when I got very sick. They checked on our well being daily and offered the help of a doctor the hotel has on call, if we needed one. We are so grateful to you all for such caring attention. It made all the difference in turning what could have been a negative experience to a positive one. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!! Philip & Ricardo

Wonderful position. Is at the center of old city, 5 minutes from Aya Sophya and Grand Bazaar…read more The view from the terrace is amazing, you are exactly in front of the Blue Mosque. The staff is kind and the breakfast is complete european, but you will not find espresso coffee. Ataturk airport is at 20-30 minutes of taxi.

Nice hotel in a wonderful, central location. It's a little tricky to reach by taxi since it's on a…read moreone-way, touristy street -- but that's a small tradeoff for such a central spot. The room was a decent size, clean, and comfortable. Breakfast was included in our rate and was surprisingly good.

We had a great stay here, you are in short walking distance to many of the major sites of Istanbul,…read morethe staff is absolutely lovely very helpful and many are multi-lingual. We stayed here 3 nights and the room was comfortable for my husband and I although it was a bit tight because we had two suitcases each that we had checked in. We also ordered room service two times because we were just lazy about going out, and the food was excellent with a variety of items to choose from. Would absolutely stay here again.

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!!!

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.

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.

sites and many shops, restaurants, and a tram stop out front…read more Our room was small, but came with a terrace a couch that turned into a bed. It was perfect for my wife, five-year-old and I. Breakfast was plentiful and the cookie at check in was great. Staff were attentive and kind!

We stayed at the hotel four nights. Easy access to the train. In the middle of a very lively area…read more As a diamond member, Complimentary breakfast was nice to have. Service and staff were friendly and accommodating. Shout out to Gonca for checking on us during our breakfasts. Only downsides are that the hotel does not offer wash cloths so we had to buy bathing sponges from a pharmacy. Also, at night, it was very noisy until about 10p. Lots of banging doors and banging sounds. We were perhaps very near a service room or something like that. Just to note, the hotel is located in a great location in Old Town. Good for sight seeing and transportation. However, there are some panhandlers nearby and sellers. The street is bustling with people. Good news is, the hotel's personnel take's guest security seriously.

This is a hotel in Istanbul that looks and feels for all the world like you have stepped into…read moreluxury. Hotel Ibrahim Pasha is a converted 19th century townhouse (in fact, it is 2 converted) that has all the modern luxuries you need. I only stayed for one night but was made to feel welcome from the first second to the last. This is a boutique hotel to match all of the others in the world. I was amazed at the way the place looked and the support I got from all members of the team. I stayed for one night on my own and the room was perfect for me. The hotel has a reputation for being booked out well in advance, so make sure you get in there as soon as you can to avoid disappointment. The view of the Blue Mosque from the hotel is pretty spectacular and this makes the stay all the more engaging. The hotel is really close to the Hagia Sophia and a short walk to this sight is always a pleasure. Getting into this hotel is highly recommended - don't miss out on a booking or you may regret it.

Such a wonderful, modern, boutique hotel located in the Sultanhamet area of Istanbul literally a…read morecouple hundred feet from the main square with the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque and a little bit further to Topkapi Palace. The location can't get much better since it also happens to be on a somewhat quiet street so you can still get your snooze on until the infamous and mind blowing Istanbul 5:30AMish wake up call: the call to prayer. Pro-tip: Actually get out of bed when the call goes off and head up to the hotel's roof deck for an amazing view of the blue mosque. While the world at large is asleep, enjoy the stillness, the beauty and the magic. The hotel: really hip and decorated perfectly. Whoever did their interior design needs a Yelp listing and a 5 star review, stat. Whether you want to cozy in the library nook and read you travel book in front of the fire or set up at the huge farm table, there's lots of great open space. They give you a customized tourist map to the hotel with really useful information from recommended restaurants, ATM's, salons and even add a blip on how to get to the hotel in Turkish that you can show your taxi driver. They pay attention to detail and they get it. The breakfast was simple, plentiful and fresh. Basically you get some simit (think a Turkish bagel) and the most incredible array of jams and honey, along with borek (um, yes.), hard boiled eggs, cereal and some fruit. Coffee was good. The room we stayed in was TINY. Not that we were in the rooms for that long, but they were very small along with the tiniest of bathrooms. The beds were comfy (we accidentally booked 2 twins) and the television had the BBC. We stayed during the off season and prices were super reasonable. I'd definitely recommend staying here. If you happen to be a tall/big guy or gal, I'd opt for a bigger, most likely more expensive room. * Wifi was strong! ** Fresh fruit and Turkish delight in the room as a warm welcome

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.