Hotel Venera Istanbul: Our Experience near Sultanahmet

There are hotels about which, after the trip, you say: “It was okay.”

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Our honest experience at Hotel Venera Istanbul: family room, big breakfast with a view, indoor pool and only a few minutes to the tram towards Sultanahmet.

And then there are hotels about which you still think months later: I'd go back there straight away.

For me, Hotel Venera clearly belongs to the second category.

We were there as a family of four and had a family room – more precisely, two connected rooms with a shared bathroom. And honestly: that's exactly how I imagine a family room.

Not squeezing four people into one room somehow and then pretending that's “comfortable”. But space. Two proper rooms. The children have their area. We have ours. And yet you're together.

The Location: Not Right in Front of the Hagia Sophia – and That's Exactly What I Found Practical

The hotel is in Laleli/Fatih, in the area between Aksaray and Sultanahmet.

The official address is: Mimar Kemalettin, Mesih Paşa Caddesi No:72, Fatih, Istanbul.

What was much more important to us than any neighbourhood name: the tram stop Laleli–Üniversite was only about a three to four minute walk away.

And then it's really uncomplicated: Laleli–Üniversite → Beyazıt–Kapalıçarşı → Çemberlitaş → Sultanahmet. So three stops – and you're at the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia.

For me that is a really good location for someone visiting Istanbul for the first time who wants to see the historic sights but doesn't necessarily want to sleep in the most touristy area.

Cleanliness: A Really Big Topic for Me

With hotels I'm really sensitive about cleanliness. A beautiful entrance area honestly interests me only to a limited extent if the bathroom isn't tidy or you get the feeling the room was only superficially prepared.

At the Venera I didn't have exactly that problem. We experienced the hotel as very clean.

The Breakfast: One of the Reasons I'd Come Back

Now we come to one of my favourite points. The breakfast.

I love hotels with a really good breakfast. And by that I don't mean three slices of cheese, two olives and a tomato that looks as if it had lost the will itself. 😂

At Hotel Venera the buffet was really big and varied for us. There were savoury things. Sweet things. Fresh things. Eggs were freshly prepared. Pancakes. Various breakfast options.

The current hotel website still confirms a rich open breakfast buffet on the terrace floor.

Breakfast at the Very Top – and That View!

Breakfast is served at the top of the hotel. And that view was really one of the things I remember most strongly from the Venera.

In the evening we kept going up there too. Tea. Coffee. Sitting. Looking. Simply doing nothing for a moment.

The Small Indoor Pool in the Basement

The hotel also has a wellness area with an indoor pool. The pool is not the reason I fly to Istanbul. 😂

But if you're travelling with children or simply want to wind down after a long day, it's great to have this option.

Our Family Room

Our family room consisted of two connected rooms and a nice bathroom. That was really ideal for us. The official website still lists family rooms/family suites.

Who Would I Recommend the Hotel To?

• are in Istanbul for the first time
• want to reach the historic peninsula quickly
• like to have a proper breakfast in the morning
• value cleanliness
• like a pool or wellness area as a bonus

What Should You Know?

If you want to tumble out of the hotel in the evening and be right in the middle of İstiklal immediately, then this is not the right location.

But if your focus is Sultanahmet, the Grand Bazaar, the historic peninsula and good tram connections: then I find the location really strong.

And if you eat there rather than just sleeping: in our guide to restaurants in Sultanahmet & Eminönü you'll find our own tips for the area.

Not sure yet whether the area suits you? Which neighbourhood in Istanbul suits your trip?

Would I Book Hotel Venera Again?

Yes. Without thinking long.

Cleanliness. Rooms. Breakfast. View. Pool. Public transport. And that feeling of sitting up there in the evening looking at Istanbul.

That stays.

We stayed at Hotel Venera ourselves. Prices, room categories and services can change – please check current information before booking.

If you would like to look at the rooms, location and current prices of Hotel Venera yourself, you can check availability here.

– Amra