"We can´t say enough good things about this small designer hotel. In a great position just up from the Hippodrome, its owners have managed to straddle the divide between sleek modernist and antique Ottoman with great success. Parquet floors, crisp white linen, marble bathrooms and gold mirrors make the smallish rooms distinctive, and the building´s marble spiral staircase and central ornamental lightwell are super classy. After enjoying the excellent breakfast, served in the downstairs kitchen with its stainless-steel bench and olive-green walls, guests often have to be encouraged to leave the building - the alternative option of sinking into one of the foyer lounge´s leather couches and enjoying a quiet read is just too tempting." From Lonely Planet´s Istanbul, 2005 edition.
Here, Ibrahim Pasha is singled out as one of the best Ottoman hotels and is on the list of "Top Five Hotels of Istanbul".
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Galata Antique Hotel sits in the heart of Galata, one of the oldest trade centers in Europe, and is conveniently situated in Beyoglu, a crossroads of culture.
A.Vallaury, a famous 19th century architect, who has also built Pera Palace and Istanbul Archeological Museum, builted "Galata Antique" as a mansion for a French businessman in 1881.
The building is renovated by preserving the original architecture in 2001. The hand engravings have been created by the arts faculty staff of Mimar Sinan University.
In 1977 Yesil Ev (an old Ottoman mansion) was up for sale and was taken under control by the Turkish Touring and Automobile Association. The old wooden building was so far beyond repair that, with the consent of the Commission for Ancient Monuments, it was demolished and rebuilt. The nineteen rooms and layout were carefully preserved and the exterior remade as an exact replica.
The furnishings have been created in the style of a 19th century winter mansion. The building has an absolutely unrivaled location between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, and at the same time offers visitors the warm, friendly atmosphere of an old Istanbul home.
After the opening of this unique building in March 1984 as the Yesil Ev, it very quickly attained a world-wide reputation and was awarded in 1985 the medal for the year by “Europa Nostra”. Yesil Ev had, indeed, introduced the concept of true comfort and hygiene to this “derelict” district and opened a new epoch in Turkish tourism by combining modern standards with historical style.
Boutique Hotel: Best Western Citadel Hotel, situated on the shores of the old city, leans against the historical city walls of Istanbul.
With its pleasant atmosphere, Citadel offers you a breathtaking view of Sea of Marmara. The stained glass enterance welcomes you with the traditional Turkish hospitality. You are assured to experience the mystical life and exotic culture of this city firsthand at our hotel, which is in walking distance to St. Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and other historical monuments.
You´ll have a pleasant stay in our authentic, yet well-equipped 25 rooms and 6 suites with satellite TV, radio, direct dial phone, hairdryer and minibar.
Boutique Hotel: Hotel Historia, a renovated Ottoman style Turkish Mansion, lies in the shadows of the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia in the historic district of Sultanahmet
Hotel HISTORIA has 27 rooms , 12 standard rooms, 15 rooms with magnificent sea views and balconies all perfectly designed for ultimate guest satisfaction.
Each morning a special buffet of various fresh fruit and vegetables, daily baked bread, Turkish meats & cheeses are prsented in our GARDEN Restaurant.
Taksim Square Hotel situated in Taksim Square, as it is named after, in Taksim, where is the most important center of Istanbul in the cradle of many civilizations.
Taksim Square Hotel is only a few steps away from Pera-Beyoðlu, well-known with its cafeterias, historical restaurants, theaters and shops and from Atatürk Kültür Merkezi (Atatürk Cultural Center), where art galleries, classical Turkish and European music, opera and ballet performances are exhibited and serves with total 87 rooms, 31 of which have Bosphorus and 56 have Taksim Square panorama.
BW Saint Sophia Hotel has one of the best locations at Sultanahmet Square in terms of proximity. It is situated right next to the Saint Sophia Museum.
The hotel was a former Ottoman mansion, which was built for Ahmed Pasha in 1845. It was renovated, and opened in 1999 as a small but elegant boutique hotel.
Hotel Saint Sophia provides you with Best Western quality along with Turkish hospitality and offers warm and quite family atmosphere, professional service and modern facilities.
On-site amenities include a bar, a restaurant and a Wi-Fi Internet Point.
Ayasofya Mansions (Konaklari) formerly known as Ayasofya Pensions (Pansiyonlari) is a special category hotel which is designed in Ottoman Style, consist of nine buildings in the center of old city Istanbul by the Topkapi Palace.
Ayasofya Konaklari situated in the narrow street called Sogukcesme Sokagi which is between the Topkapi Palace Walls and Hagia Sophia Museum.
The houses build backed the Topkapi Palace Walls from part of a complex that includes the fountain dated 1810 that gives the street its name and a cistern forming part of the chain of great water depots from the Roman Empire era, the whole reflecting the character of a city that has served as capital of three great empires.
There are nine hotel buildings consist of a row of guesthouses with a reception office between the cistern and the library.
Arasta Boutique Hotel, is furnished as a new `Special Class Hotel` in ISTANBUL, the capital of three big empires, ROMAN, BYZANTINE and OTTOMAN. This family hotel, lies in the shadows of the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia, in the historic district of Sultanahmet. Literally within walking distance of the Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Ancient Hippodrome, Underground Cistern and Topkapi Palace.
Airport 18 km(12 miles), train station 0.5 km and the sea port only 1 km.Turkish traditional fine hospitality, comfort and elegant traditional Turkish style service is what you will experience at Arasta Boutique Hotel.
The rooftop sitting and also breakfast room is a cosy place in winter with view of St Sophie, Blue Mosque and Marmara Sea under snow. In summer you`ll be out on the terrace enjoying uninterrupted views of the Blue Mosque or the Sea of Marmara.
Hotel Yigitalp is a superior 4 star Hotel located in the center of the old city. This is a perfect location for tourists as they can reach easily to the major historical and cultural sites like Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome Square, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque and Basilica Cistern.
The Hotel has 83 comfortable and modern rooms, including 3 connected rooms for large families. All rooms are equipped with the latest technology.
You can enjoy the traditional Turkish Cuisine and International dishes in our restaurant with 100 pax seating capacity. The “Alp Bar” offers you light snacks and coctails.
Wake up to colorful Turkish textiles not only covering your bed, but also forming a luxurious canopy over your "sultan´s bed." The clean, modern room is furnished in the 18th century Ottoman style. You open the window to hear the dueling muezzins from the neighboring Blue Mosque and the other mosques of the Sultanahmet district, and see the colorful markets on the street below.
by Rosie Cohan
As you climb the steps to the outside rooftop terrace decorated with bougainvillea and jasmine, you get a view of the sparkling Sea of Marmara on your left and the Blue Mosque on your right.
Hotel Spina takes its name from the space, that is in the middle part of the Hippodrome, which had been built by Septimus Severus and had been extended by Constantine the Great. In the older times around this place, which is called Spina, the chariots raced. And today the Obelisk of Theodosuis, Constantine´s Column and the Serpent´s Column can be found on this place.
This authentic hotel is a historical wooden building in Sultanahmet.
The hotel was formed by the restoration of an old Turkish house belonging to the 19th century.
In the hotel contemporary needs are satisfied by the cultural values in a setting which is the synthesis of the Ottoman and Byzantine architecture.
It offers you the traditional Turkish hospitality and lyric atmosphere with the 24 comfortable rooms.
A melting pot of many cultures and religions. A legendary city throughout history adorned with the most beautiful monuments of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. A bridge between Europe and Asia, and a centre of global trade.
With numerous international conferences, art and music, festivals, exhibitions and trade shows, Istanbul is a cosmopolitan city of industry, culture, and entertainment.
The list of cultural and historical sights is endless, but many of them are situated within the same area, which means that they can easily be combined into half or full day sightseeing tours. Those which should not be missed are the Topkapi Palace, the centre of the Ottoman Empire for centuries, with its fascinating Harem and magnificent collection of royal treasures. Nearby is the impressive Blue Mosque or "Sultan Ahmet" as it is known in Turkish, with its six minarets, the masterpiece created by the famous Ottoman architect, Sinan. Facing it stands the Hagia Sophia, built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, with its incredible free-standing dome, which remains an architectural marvel even today - for almost a thousand years it was the largest enclosed space in the world.
Taksim Gonen Hotel which was build in year 2000 situated at the center of Taksim Square, the center for entertainment and cultural activites in modern Istanbul.
With its charming 63 rooms, Taksim Gonen Hotel offers you an utmost accommodation experience during your stay in Istanbul.
All the rooms have a fully fitted bathroom and shower, air conditioning, satellite TV, radio, minibar, direct-dial telephone, hair-dryer, safety box.
Grand Liza Hotel renovated in Summer 2006 offers you affordable rates and excellent 3 star amenities.
Grand Liza Hotel with its superb convenient location, offers convenience to visit all major prominent sights of Istanbul, such as Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, Armenian and Orthodox Churches which are located at the center of Old Istanbul. Also lots of Ottoman and Byzantine artwork and architecture can be observed around the neighborhood.
Special Room Rates(includes breakfast and tax): Single: EUR 35, Double: EUR 45, Triple: EUR 55
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Quote of the Day
A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
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Grand Bazaar