Istanbul is a huge city with well over 1,000 hotels and guesthouses so deciding on which one is best is a huge challenge, especially for your first trip. When faced with a list of all hotels there is no way to know which are the best values with great locations and high ratings. That’s why we’ve created this series of recommended hotels so you can choose from a hand-picked list of just the best hotels in each city in different price ranges.
Turkey is generally considered quite a cheap country compared to most of Europe, but unfortunately hotels in Istanbul are no longer cheap, at least during the high season. If you filter your choices down to the lowest prices you’ll usually be looking mostly at hotels in the far reaches of this huge city, so we’ve picked out the ones in the heart of the action but still lower prices.
During summer the prices of these hotels will be higher, but they will still be cheaper than their lower-rated competitors. If you only have a few days in Istanbul then staying in the heart of the Sultanahmet area is critical so each of the hotels below are perfectly located there.
Basically, these hotels all…
- Are well located
- Are very good value in their category
- Receive among the best reviews in their category
We’ve spent many hours going through all the factors to choose the places we’d try to book on our own next trip.
6 Highly recommended Istanbul hotels
Note: Hotel “starting at” prices listed below were the cheapest I could find for each hotel, usually for a single room. It’s likely your dates will show higher prices, especially for a double room, but this doesn’t mean it’s not a great deal. Please compare prices you are quoted to prices of similar hotels and you’ll usually find that these are bargains.
Basileus Hotel Istanbul
–Amazing prices for this quality–
A fairly new hotel in the heart of the tourist district, the Basileus Hotel offers surprising quality and an excellent location considering their prices. During high season you’ll pay more, but every other similar hotel in the area will be charging quite a bit more than this as well and they aren’t as good.
The rooms here are quite large for Istanbul and each comes with an LCD TV with satellite channels, a mini-bar, and free wi-fi. The real highlight here is the hotel staff, which gets amazing reviews from nearly every past guest. Istanbul can be a tricky city for foreigners and having a friendly staff to help you find the best things without getting ripped off is worth a lot.
Rooms starting at €32/€43 (single/double) per night, including breakfast
Click to find best rates for the Basileus Hotel Istanbul
Esans Hotel Istanbul
–High rated cheapie with breakfast buffet included–
With an amazing location just around the corner from the Sophia Hagia temple, the Esans Hotel is a great find for the budget tourist visiting Istanbul. You’ll be just a short walk to all the main sights and still on a fairly quiet street just away from the commotion. The prices here are much lower than nearby hotels that don’t compare in quality so book early if possible.
This is a small hotel with only around 8 rooms so you get very personalized service from the hotel staff. Each room is outfitted nicely with an LCD TV, minibar, hair dryer, free wi-fi, and a dressing table. The breakfast buffet served on the rooftop terrace is varied and filling so it’s a big hit with nearly all guests as well.
Rooms starting at €45 per night, including breakfast
Click to find best rates for the Esans Hotel Istanbul
Osmanhan Hotel Istanbul
–Very affordable boutique hotel–
The Osmanhan Hotel is another that consistently gets rave reviews and then still seems to exceed expectations of those who read them and stay here. It’s a small hotel with fewer than 10 rooms, but each is individually decked out with amenities you’d expect in a larger and more expensive hotel. The rooms have a TV, minibar, iron/ironing board, free wi-fi, and an electric kettle with coffees and teas.
The location is ideal as it’s a short walk to the Blue Mosque and the other famous attractions in the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul. From the rooftop terrace you have a perfect view of the Blue Mosque as well as the sea while you are having breakfast. The service here is exceptional as the desk staff have a reputation for taking care of nearly every request of their guests. Prices in high season are higher, but still very good value for Istanbul.
Rooms starting at €76 per night
Click to find best rates for the Osmanhan Hotel Istanbul
White House Hotel Istanbul
–Upscale charm in a central location with low prices–
For those with a short time in Istanbul it would be impossible to find a better located hotel than the White Home. It’s on a quiet side street just a short walk from the Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque, and only a few blocks in the other direction from the Grand Bazaar. Everything, including abundant restaurants and nightlife, is within a short walk, yet the rooms are quiet.
There are a total of 22 rooms that are each decorated nicely in boutique rather than chain-hotel style. Each room has satellite LCD TV, minibar, free wi-fi, an in-room safe, and coffee/tea making facilities. The included breakfast buffet is served (in typical Turkish style) on the rooftop terrace, which also has great views. The staff here are known to go way out of their way to please the guests so this is among the highest rated hotels in all of Istanbul.
Rooms starting at €147 per night, including breakfast
Click to find best rates for the White House Hotel Istanbul
Hotel Amira Istanbul
–Modern 4-star hotel with special online rates–
Those looking for something special in Istanbul should be quite happy at the Hotel Amira. This is a very modern property with 32 rooms in 3 different categories. Even the smaller rooms are fairly large and all are loaded with luxury amenities like an iPod docking station, LCD TV, free/fast wi-fi, coffee/tea set, a laptop-sized safe, and a designer coffee table. Each bathroom has a Jacuzzi-style tub or a rain shower
The location is nearly ideal as well as it’s in a quiet corner of the Sultanahmet area a short walk to the Blue Mosque and Sofia Hagia. There’s also a complimentary 5pm tea buffet so guests can relax and have snacks after a long day of sightseeing and before dinner.
Rooms starting at €92 per night, including breakfast
Click to find best rates for the Hotel Amira Istanbul
Neorion Hotel
–Istanbul’s highest rated hotel is fantastic value–
Out of over 700 hotels in Istanbul on TripAdvisor the Neorion Hotel ranks number one with reviews that are almost universally excellent. Considering the price is only a bit over the middle range for Istanbul this is great value and should be a top choice for those who can afford something even more expensive. The location is in the heart of the Sultanahmet area just steps to the Hagia Sophia and all the other main attractions and still a short walk to the Grand Bazaar.
The 58 rooms here are all unusually large and outfitted with all the amenities you’d expect in a large 4-star hotel including satellite TV, free wi-fi, and high-end toiletries. In spite of it being a newer hotel, the service here is already legendary. The large staff speak very good or excellent English and offer personalized service to each guest. There’s a reason why guests continue to remark that it exceeds their high expectations so it seems like a perfect choice for those who can afford it.
Rooms starting at €116 per night
Click to find best rates for the Neorion Hotel
Interactive map of the above hotels
View Recommended Istanbul hotels in a larger map
I liked a new hotel – Pasha Port Hotel very much. Rooms have beautiful views of the old historical center Tophane, Kilic Ali Pasa Mosque, Tophane-i Amire. My room decor was just amazing, breakfast was also very delicious. Near the hotel there is a Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam with massage and spa treatments. You can relax there without crowds and waiting. Nearby you can visit the exhibitions of ?stanbul Modern Art Museum, walk near Bosphorus…