The back story 1
Palaces on the water.
-
The back story
The Bosphorus palace hotels: the back story
How the sultans’ waterfront palaces and mansions became Istanbul’s grandest hotels.
25 of the best · Istanbul, Türkiye
Where to Stay in Istanbul: The Best Luxury, Palace & Boutique Hotels
From sultans’ palaces on the Bosphorus to small hotels by the Blue Mosque, these are the places to stay.
Our 25 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in Istanbul
Browse by type
Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Istanbul.
-
A sultan’s palace on the Bosphorus
Çırağan Palace Kempinski
A 19th-century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus shore, now one of the most famous hotels in the city.
Çırağan Caddesi No:32, BeşiktaşExplore View on map
-
Built for the Orient Express
Pera Palace Hotel
The grand hotel built in 1892 for passengers of the Orient Express, where Agatha Christie stayed.
Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:52, Tepebaşı, BeyoğluExplore View on map
-
Between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet
An intimate luxury hotel in a former prison building, steps from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
Tevkifhane Sokak No:1, Sultanahmet, FatihExplore View on map
The full list: Hotels, A–Z
Show 18 of 25 places on a map
Neighbourhood
Bosphorus palace hotels 3
Sultans’ palaces and mansions on the water.
-
A sultan’s palace on the Bosphorus
Çırağan Palace Kempinski
A 19th-century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus shore, now one of the most famous hotels in the city.
Çırağan Caddesi No:32, BeşiktaşExplore View on map
-
A palace on the water
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus
A luxury hotel around a restored 19th-century Ottoman palace building on the Bosphorus.
Çırağan Caddesi, BeşiktaşExplore View on map
-
Mansions on the upper Bosphorus
Six Senses Kocataş Mansions
A wellness-focused luxury hotel in two historic mansions on the upper Bosphorus at Sarıyer.
SarıyerExplore View on map
Old Town (Sultanahmet) 5
Walk to the monuments.
-
Between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet
An intimate luxury hotel in a former prison building, steps from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
Tevkifhane Sokak No:1, Sultanahmet, FatihExplore View on map
-
Warm welcome in the old city
Hotel Amira
A small boutique hotel in Sultanahmet with Ottoman-style rooms and a terrace.
Aksakal Sokağı, Sultanahmet, FatihExplore View on map
-
Beside the Hippodrome
Hotel Ibrahim Pasha
A small boutique hotel beside the Hippodrome, with a roof terrace facing the Blue Mosque.
Terzihane Sokak No:7, Sultanahmet, FatihExplore View on map
-
By Gülhane Park
Sirkeci Mansion
A friendly, well-run hotel by Gülhane Park, with an indoor pool and hammam.
Taya Hatun Caddesi No:5, Sirkeci, FatihExplore View on map
-
Steps from Hagia Sophia
Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel
A comfortable hotel with a spa on Ticarethane Sokak, a few steps from Hagia Sophia.
Ticarethane Sokak No:10, Sultanahmet, FatihExplore View on map
Creative & design hotels 10
Character in Beyoğlu, Galata and on the Asian shore.
-
A yalı on the Asian shore
A’jia Hotel
A boutique hotel in a 19th-century waterside mansion at Kanlıca, on the Asian shore.
Kanlıca, BeykozExplore View on map
-
A boutique hotel below the tower
Georges Hotel Galata
A small boutique hotel in a historic building in Galata, with a rooftop terrace.
Serdar-ı Ekrem Sokak, Galata, BeyoğluExplore View on map
-
Art Deco in Nişantaşı
Park Hyatt Istanbul – Maçka Palas
A luxury hotel in the 1920s Maçka Palas apartment building, on the edge of Nişantaşı.
Bronz Sokağı No:4, Maçka, ŞişliExplore View on map
-
Built for the Orient Express
Pera Palace Hotel
The grand hotel built in 1892 for passengers of the Orient Express, where Agatha Christie stayed.
Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:52, Tepebaşı, BeyoğluExplore View on map
-
In the Palazzo Corpi
Soho House Istanbul
A Soho House club and hotel in the 19th-century Palazzo Corpi on Meşrutiyet Caddesi, the former American consulate building.
Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:56, BeyoğluExplore View on map
-
A converted distillery on the Asian shore
Sumahan on the Water
A design hotel in a converted 19th-century distillery on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, with its own boat.
Kuleli Caddesi, Çengelköy, ÜsküdarExplore View on map
-
Views and Mikla upstairs
The Marmara Pera
A modern hotel in Tepebaşı with views over the Golden Horn, home of the Mikla restaurant.
Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:15, Tepebaşı, BeyoğluExplore View on map
-
Suites below İstiklal, Nicole on the roof
Tomtom Suites
A boutique hotel of spacious suites in a historic building in the Tomtom quarter, with the MICHELIN-starred Nicole on its rooftop.
Tomtom Kaptan Sokak No:18, BeyoğluExplore View on map
-
A bank turned hotel
Vault Karaköy
A House Hotel in a grand former bank building on Bankalar Caddesi, with a rooftop terrace.
Bankalar Caddesi No:5, Karaköy, BeyoğluExplore View on map
-
Design suites in Cihangir
Witt Istanbul Suites
Design suites with kitchenettes in Cihangir, some with Bosphorus views.
Defterdar Yokuşu Sokağı No:26, Cihangir, BeyoğluExplore View on map
Modern Bosphorus shoreline 6
Contemporary luxury by the water.
-
Big views above Beşiktaş
Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus
A large hotel on the hill above Beşiktaş, with views over the Bosphorus and Dolmabahçe.
Saray Caddesi No:5, BeşiktaşExplore View on map
-
Resort-style on the Bosphorus
Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus
A contemporary luxury hotel on the Bosphorus at Kuruçeşme, with a large spa and waterfront pools.
Muallim Naci Caddesi No:62, Kuruçeşme, BeşiktaşExplore View on map
-
Polished and modern
Raffles Istanbul
A contemporary luxury hotel in the Zorlu Center, with a big spa and views towards the Bosphorus.
Zorlu Center, BeşiktaşExplore View on map
-
By Dolmabahçe Palace
Shangri-La Bosphorus
A luxury hotel on the Bosphorus waterfront next to Dolmabahçe Palace.
Hayrettin İskelesi Sokak No:1, BeşiktaşExplore View on map
-
On the Karaköy waterfront
The Peninsula Istanbul
A luxury hotel on the Karaköy waterfront, opened in 2023 across restored historic buildings by Galataport.
Kemankeş Caddesi, Karaköy, BeyoğluExplore View on map
-
Above Dolmabahçe
The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul
A classic luxury hotel above Dolmabahçe, with views over the Bosphorus.
Asker Ocağı Caddesi No:6, ŞişliExplore View on map
