This is our overview of the accommodations where we have actually stayed as a family – sorted by location and with the things that weren't perfect.
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Hotels and apartments in Istanbul where we have stayed ourselves: location, who they suit, pros and cons and our experience reports compared.
Which of them suits you depends first of all on the neighbourhood. If you're not sure about that yet, start with our neighbourhood comparison: Where to Stay in Istanbul: Our Neighbourhood Comparison. Once the area is clear, the table here helps you choose a hotel.
Our self-tested accommodations compared
| Hotel | Location | Particularly suitable for | Biggest advantage | Possible drawback | Report | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Venera Istanbul | Laleli, three tram stops to Sultanahmet | First-time visitors and families with a focus on the historic peninsula | Big breakfast with a view, indoor pool, good tram connection | Not the location if you want to be right on İstiklal in the evening | Read experience report | Check prices & availability |
| Meroddi Pera Flats | Galata, approx. 200 m from the Galata Tower (according to the operator) | Galata fans, longer stays and everyone who wants to cook themselves | Apartment with kitchen and roof terrace, Galata Tower outside the window | Some furnishings a bit older, steep streets | Read experience report | Check prices & availability |
| Meroddi Galata Mansion | Galata, a few minutes' walk from the Galata Tower | Couples and everyone who likes atmosphere instead of an interchangeable hotel | Historic townhouse, strong breakfast, very central location | For four people check current availability carefully beforehand | Read experience report | Check prices & availability |
| Royal Tophane | Karaköy / Tophane, near Galataport | Everyone who likes Karaköy and wants to stay right in the middle of things | Special maisonette on two levels, restaurants and Galataport on the doorstep | Music and street life in the evening; the breakfast room was small at our stay | Read experience report | Check prices & availability |
| Continental Hotel Pera | Şişhane, between Galata and İstiklal | Everyone who wants to reach Galata and İstiklal equally quickly | Metro around the corner, modern rooms, restaurant with a view towards the Galata Tower | The price fluctuates – check the current price beforehand | Read experience report | Check prices & availability |
| Next2 Istanbul | Beyoğlu, quiet side street near İstiklal | Short stays (1–3 nights) and guests with an eye on value for money | Big room, central location, strong value for money | Wooden floors and thin walls | Read experience report | Check prices & availability |
| Sunway Bosphorus Suites | Fındıklı, near Galataport | Guests who can walk well and want lots of space and a Bosphorus feeling | Large modern apartments with kitchen, Galataport and water nearby | Lots of stairs, not barrier-free | Read experience report | – |
| Hotel Bossuite Kadikoy | Kadıköy, in the middle of local life | Everyone who wants to stay in the middle of everyday life on the Asian side | Location right in the thick of it, many restaurants and shops, good Turkish breakfast places nearby | Family room rather small, not a luxury hotel; for longer family stays we would prefer an apartment | Read experience report | Check prices & availability |
All information comes from our own stays. Sunway Bosphorus Suites is currently not listed on Booking.com.
Sultanahmet & the Historic Peninsula
If it's your first time in Istanbul and the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar are your focus, an accommodation with good tram connections in this area is worthwhile.
Galata & Karaköy
Galata is my personal weakness. The tower, the steep lanes, the cafés. Here, with four different accommodations, we have by now actually tested almost every price range and style.
Near Galataport & the Bosphorus
If you want water, ships and Galataport practically on your doorstep, you'll find a lot of space here – but you have to be able to live with stairs.
İstiklal & Taksim
If you want to stay centrally but still affordably, and don't mind a bit of noise coming through the walls, the İstiklal area is hard to beat.
Next2 Istanbul: big room, quiet side street right by İstiklal, strong value for money.
Kadıköy: The Asian Side
In the middle of local life in Kadıköy we stayed at the Hotel Bossuite Kadikoy – as a family in a family room, with restaurants and shops right on the doorstep. We didn't have breakfast at the hotel but at the local places nearby. Our detailed experience report on the Bossuite Kadıköy.
Our Closing Tip
Don't just look at photos and stars. Look at the location on the map and think honestly: How important is quiet in the evening to me? How many stairs do I really want to climb? Do I need a kitchen, or do I not want to cook at all?
I answer exactly these questions as honestly as possible in each individual article above – including the things that weren't perfect.
– Amra
