Tweet

Istanbul is a city of music events and arts festivals, glamorous restaurants and clubs, Ottoman palaces, and diverse crowd of residents who are gossiping, worshipping in mosques, or simply shopping at the street markets. Istanbul is a city with an amazing concentration of restaurants, shopping precincts, hotels, and major historic sights, all within walking distance.

If you plan to visit Istanbul, you are already thinking of accommodation options. The good news is that the city offers every possible accommodation – from anonymous hostels to modern, stylish hotels and luxurious top-end hotels. Typically, the cost of the room includes breakfast of the Turkish variety: sheep’s milk cheese, jams, fresh bread, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, tea, and coffee. Midrange and top-end hotels offer buffet breakfast and dinner, and plenty of delicious food is served. If you prefer to book direct, ask if the hotel has discounts for cash payments (they are usually at 10 percent). You may also ask if discounts are available for extended stays and whether a shuttle service from the airport is included in the price. Special packages are offered by most top-end hotels; so, ask when you are making reservations. All prices are in Euro.

Are you eager to visit Istanbul’s premier sightseeing area? Then, you’d better go for a hotel in Sultanahmet, the heart of Old Istanbul. If money is not an issue, check the boutique hotel Sirkeci Konak. The hotel is situated within a waling distance from the major sights, museums, public areas, and shopping locations. If you already visited an overwhelming number of historic monuments, you might just relax and enjoy some cultural activities. The hotel offers a variety of these: local wine tasting, Turkish cuisine cooking lessons, traditional faith marketplace trips, reed flute performances, and more. Rooms are fitted with air conditioning, satellite TV, safe box, hairdryers, free wireless Internet, direct-dial phone, etc. The average price per night is 97 Euro.

Not interested in top-end hotels? Look at the midrange hotels and cheap sleeps then. At Hotel Djem, the prices start at 79 Euro. Hotel facilities and amenities include 24/7 front desk, heating, safe, non-smoking rooms, air conditioning, breakfast in the room, dry cleaning, ironing service, etc. Rooms come with a flat screen, satellite TV, air conditioning, and a wonderful view of the Blue mosque. Guests are offered buffet breakfast of fresh fruits, cheese, meats, and freshly baked bread. Free parking is available, but pets are not allowed. Children under the age of 7 stay free-of-charge.

Another option for budget travelers is to stay at a hostel. Check the Oriental Hostel International, conveniently located in Sultanahmet. Rooms start from just 4 Euro, and you can book a deluxe twin en suite for as low as 20 Euro. The hostel has a restaurant and high speed Internet. The Second Home Hostel is another budget option, with rooms priced at 20 – 36 Euros a night. Hotel facilities include family rooms, non-smoking rooms, a designated smoking area, 24/7 front desk, luggage storage, safety deposit box, and air conditioning. The rooms are also equipped with air conditioning, and free WiFi internet is available. International and local breakfast is served at the hostel’s terrace café. Guests will just love the location of the Second Home Hostel – it is just 10 minutes away from Taksim and the Grand Bazaar. On the downside, pets are not allowed and credit cards are not accepted. You have to pay cash.

If you are looking for short rentals in Istanbul, these may come a little pricey. The Nisantasi Flats-Deluxe One Bedroom Apartment, for example, is offered at 101 – 105 Euros a night or 627 – 635 Euros a week. This condo apartment is located close to the ICEC Congress Hall and the Osmanbey Metro Station. The flat is equipped with a fridge, microwave, dishwasher, DVD, flat screen, complimentary fitness room, sauna, and gym, air conditioning, and Internet access. Pets are not allowed. The Vacation Luxury Platinum Flats Istanbul is another option for a short term rental, with prices at 94 – 170 Euros a night or 638 – 787 Euros a week. The flat is located in central Istanbul and close to Taksim where you can find clubs, shops, bars, and restaurants. The flat comes with air conditioning, dishwasher, fridge, microwave, DVD, flat screen TV, satellite TV, and Internet access. Pets are not allowed in the flat.

If you would rather stay close to the airport, you can book at the Holiday Inn Istanbul Airport-North. Just a 10 minute ride with the complimentary airport shuttle will take you to the hotel. Rooms are equipped with a color TV, cable and satellite TV, stereo, sound system, work desk with a lamp, hairdryer, mini bar, coffee maker, and tea maker. Hotel amenities include courier service, business center, email and internet, spa facilities, health and fitness center, and more. Keep in mind that only service dogs are allowed in the hotel.