Istanbul, from the Bosphorus to the Old City
Istanbul is the city on two continents, the Bosphorus running between Europe and Asia.
Istanbul is the city on two continents, the Bosphorus running between Europe and Asia. The domes and minarets of Sultanahmet rise above the Golden Horn, the palaces and waterside mansions of the European shore run from Dolmabahçe to Ortaköy, the fashion streets of Nişantaşı climb the hill and Galataport sits on the Karaköy quay, with Üsküdar and Çamlıca on the Asian side across the water. Twelve hotels, chosen on merit: six that hold five-star standing and six four-star addresses listed at exactly the tier they hold.
Luxury hotels in Istanbul
12 hotels
The neighborhoods
Bosphorus: Beşiktaş & Ortaköy
The European shore of the Bosphorus from Dolmabahçe Palace to Ortaköy and Kuruçeşme, home to five of the twelve hotels. Along it lie the palaces and waterside mansions, the ferry piers of Beşiktaş and the mosque and cafés of Ortaköy under the bridge, with the Zorlu Center up the hill.
Sultanahmet & the Old City
The Old City on its peninsula, with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and one of the twelve hotels. All three stand around the Hippodrome; the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar are here too, and the tram runs down to Eminönü and the Golden Horn.
Nişantaşı, Maçka & Karaköy
The hill above the Bosphorus and the quay below it, from Nişantaşı to Karaköy, home to four of the twelve hotels. Up the hill lie the fashion streets of Nişantaşı and Maçka Park, Taksim and the Dolmabahçe slope; down on the water, Galataport and the Karaköy waterfront, with its ferries and museums.
Asian Side: Üsküdar & Çamlıca
The Asian shore across the water, from Üsküdar to Çamlıca hill, home to one of the twelve hotels. Üsküdar has its waterfront and mosques, with the Maiden's Tower offshore; Çamlıca hill rises above the bridge, and Kadıköy has its market streets and ferries.
Good to know
Which are the five-star hotels in Istanbul?
Six. The five-star hotels we list in Istanbul are Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, on the Beşiktaş shore; Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque; Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, on the Bosphorus at Beşiktaş; Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul, on the Kuruçeşme shore; Raffles Istanbul, in the Zorlu Center; and Address Istanbul, on the Asian side. Alongside them we keep six four-star addresses that hold four-star standing and are never called five-star: The Peninsula Istanbul, at Galataport; The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, above Dolmabahçe; The St. Regis Istanbul, beside Maçka Park; Park Hyatt Istanbul – Maçka Palas, in Nişantaşı; Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul, beside Dolmabahçe Palace; and JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea, at Ataköy Marina. Each has its own page, reached from the list above, with a concierge behind every stay.
Which part of Istanbul should I stay in?
The twelve hotels sit in four districts and one marina. The Bosphorus shore at Beşiktaş, Ortaköy and Kuruçeşme holds five – the palaces and waterside houses, with the water at the door and the Old City twenty to thirty minutes away by car. Sultanahmet holds one, between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, for the monuments on foot. Nişantaşı, Maçka and Karaköy hold four – the fashion streets and Maçka Park up the hill, Galataport on the quay – for shopping, restaurants and the ferries. The Asian side holds one at Çamlıca, thirty to forty-five minutes from Sultanahmet across the bridge, and Ataköy Marina one more on the Sea of Marmara, west of the Old City.
When is the best season for Istanbul?
April to June and September to November – the tulips of April in the parks, mild days on the water and the terraces open; July and August are hot and humid, and the Bosphorus breeze is the reason to stay on the shore. Winters are mild and wet, with the museums and the bazaars to yourself. Ramadan moves each year and changes restaurant hours in the Old City for a month – check the calendar for your dates.
How do you get to Istanbul – and do I need a car?
Istanbul Airport is on the European side, about forty-five minutes to an hour from the Bosphorus shore and Sultanahmet by car; Sabiha Gökçen is on the Asian side, closest to Çamlıca. No car is needed – the tram reaches Sultanahmet and Karaköy, ferries cross between Beşiktaş, Karaköy, Üsküdar and Kadıköy in twenty minutes, and taxis and hotel cars do the hills. The Bosphorus is best crossed by ferry.
How do I reserve a stay?
Search your dates on the hotel's page to see reference rates, then send the concierge a request. The concierge confirms exact rates and availability with you before anything is booked, and any payment and its timing are set out before you confirm.
