Hotels in Istanbul, Turkey

Which neighborhoods in Istanbul should I stay in if I want access to public transport?

The city of Istanbul has a robust public transportation network that includes trams, trains, and buses. If you’re looking for a more personal form of transport, there are also taxis and ride-share services. So, no matter which Istanbul hotel you choose to stay at, you’ll have options for moving around in the city. The Old Town, where you’ll find the Sultanahmet neighborhood amongst many eating spots, has a few metro stops on the blue T1 line. From the Old Town, you’ll have access to the rest of the city, including Karaköy, home of the Grand Bazaar. For an upscale visit, stay in Nişantaşi and experience its high-end shopping. The 129T and 28T buses run nearby.

What neighborhood in Istanbul should I stay in based on why I’m traveling?

If you’re traveling to Istanbul on vacation and want to be at the heart of the excitement, we recommend you stay in one of the neighborhoods closer to the Bosphorus, like Sultanahmet or Karaköy. These are central to some of the significant tourist attractions and restaurants, so you won’t have to make long trips on public transportation to get to Hagia Sophia or the Grand Bazaar. For a posh experience or a couple’s vacation, the hotels in Istanbul in Nişantaşi put white-table-cloth restaurants at your doorstep. If you’re traveling to the city for business, you may expect your engagements to take you to Levent or Maslak, where many large companies are headquartered. Business executives book hotels in Istanbul near this region to shorten their commute to meetings.

What are the most popular attractions in Istanbul?

You can find cheap hotels in Istanbul that provide a great deal of luxury and easy access to the exciting attractions in the city. No visit to Istanbul is complete without a visit to Hagia Sophia, which sits across from the Blue Mosque and is the dominant feature of Sultanahmet. Originally built in 537 AD as a cathedral, the edifice has functioned as a museum but operates today as a mosque. For a lesson on the city’s history, head over to the Istanbul Archaeology Museum near Alemdar. If you’re looking for an experience that’ll excite all five senses, we recommend you visit Kapali Carsi; the bazaar is free to visit and sits in the Karaköy neighborhood. Once inside, have fun bartering with merchants and watching them entice customers. You can get here from the Marmaray train, the M2 tram, and numerous buses.

Which neighborhoods in Istanbul have a large selection of bars and restaurants?

If you’re looking for upscale restaurants, head to Beyoğlu, stopping at Tophane on the blue line, where you’ll discover fine-dining options like Nicole, which serves contemporary Mediterranean food and has beautiful views of the Bosphorus. For an even broader selection of restaurants, you may want to wander around Old Istanbul on the blue or black line and see what strikes your fancy. The area has neighborhoods that are charming and quaint: in Sultanahmet you’ll find restaurants that cater mostly to tourists, serving Istanbul cuisines; in Eminönü, accessible from the Sirkeci metro stop, you’ll find restaurants with traditional Turkish foods, including grilled meats and fish sandwiches. Head to Ortaköy using ride share and experience the city’s vibrant nightlife.

What popular events take place in Istanbul?

Around March and April, the city hosts the International Istanbul Film Festival in areas along the Istiklal Caddesi in the Beyoğlu neighborhood. Tickets are inexpensive and the films range from Art House genres to films from around the globe. From April into May, you can enjoy the Istanbul Tulip Festival, where you can see the beautiful blooms around Emirgan Park and along the Bosphorus. Entrance is free. Another cultural entertainment experience is the International Istanbul Music Festival, which runs around June and July. This is the most esteemed festival of the year; upwards of 30 acts perform opera, dance, and classical music over multiple days and across multiple venues, including the Hagia Irene Church near the Alemdar district.