Located in the historic Sultanahmet, district with a roof terrace overlooking the Blue Mosque, this is a friendly hotel right in the heart of old Istanbul. Rooms are really well equipped with toiletries, dressing gowns and all the extras, and the friendly staff are very helpful. Double rooms start from around €60 in low season.

Mimar Mehmet Aga Cad. Amiral Tafdil Sk. No: 22 Sultanahmet, Istanbul
Tel: (212) 638 19 96/97
www.hotelangelshome.com

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In many ways this is a superior three-star hotel, and the service is attentive. It is located on a sidestreet off Divan Yolu Caddesi, easy walking distance to all the Sultanahmet sites.

Their website and online reservation service is impressive. However, the real treat is to book one of the deluxe suites (one twin, one double, I think) on the top floor for at least three days, reserve in advance and pay in cash. That gets you B&B accommodation, two free transfers from the airport, and discounts on the price - and a balcony with views over Haghia/Aya Sofia and the Blue Mosque towards the Bosphorus and the Princess Islands!

We paid Euros 450 for four nights, which is not at all bad for central Istanbul in the high season.

Tel : + 90 212 5165264
Fax : + 90 212 6383059
E-mail : reservation@istanbulhotelnena.com
sales@istanbulhotelnena.com
info@istanbulhotelnena.com

www.istanbulhotelnena.com

Address : Binbirdirek Mah. Klodfarer Cad. No: 8/10 34122
Sultanahmet
Istanbul

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We recently stayed in this hotel on a long weekend visit to Istanbul and thoroughly recommend it. It's clean, tidy, with good amenities, but best of all the people who run the hotel - Tahir and Emu - are wonderfully friendly and helpful and really made our trip special.

www.sebnemhotel.net

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This hotel is slightly away from the touristy part of Sultanahmet (good in some ways but taxis would only drop us at Sultanahmet Square).

The front road seems quiet (although building work is going on opposite at the moment, and the mosque and local traders start making noise early). The back of the hotel faces directly onto a railway line with frequent noisy commuter trains. Rooms 1, 4 and 7 face onto the track, so I'd clarify whether you are front facing or not. Talking to other guests, they, like us, were initially put in the large ground floor room at the back, which is noisy, dark and has no opening windows. We, like them, asked to be moved (my confirmation email mentioned a quiet front-facing room). After a bit of grumbling we were put in room 3. However the rooms at the front are very, very small, even though they are beautifully decorated. In our room the bed was jammed into an alcove (room 6 has identical layout). Anyone above 6' can't lie with their legs straight, which is uncomfortable.

Hot water was the best we've had in Turkey, and breakfasts were lovely.

Prices were reasonable (hotels in Istanbul do seem more expensive than you'd expect) at 60€ for a double, 80€ if you wanted the room with a balcony onto the railway line (room 7, I think). Laundry was expensive $6 for 2kg. We were required to pay as soon as we arrived (we wondered if that was because some people wanted to cut short their stay after a noisy/cramped night)

It looked like hotels on Akbiyik Caddesi and Utangac Sokak were in the same kind of price range, but slightly easier to get to, and possibly quieter.

Having said all that, we loved staying in Istanbul and had a fantastic holiday. Turkey really is the least hassle, friendliest place we've been to, especially Istanbul.

Akbiyik Degirmeni Sk no. 7, Sultanhamet;
tel: 212 516 7130/7131;
email: reservation@nazwoodenhouseinn.com

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Istanbul’s latest design hotel situated on the city’s Asian side. A recently restored Ottoman distillery with thoughtfully designed rooms that unusually manage to strike a perfect balance between comfort and modernity. Large windows enable guest to take full advantage of the spectacular Bosphorus views. For added convenience, the hotel provides free scheduled boat shuttle service to the city centre.

Cengelkoy
www.sumahan.com; tel: 216 422 8000
www.saviletours.com; tel: 020 7242 8488

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Sultan's Inn: an inexpensive but lovely hostel with a nice terrace, showers and air-conditioning. I was very impressed with the price - I shared a room with a friend for around £12 per night each.

Chemberlitash Hamam: a spacious Turkish bath - the changing room, if I recall, is a corridor, but the actual hamam is large and one can spread out and lie on the marble slab in peace. In the smaller baths, there is no room on the central marble slab and you have to sit around, sweating and waiting for your turn for massage instead of lying down and relaxing.

Sultan's Inn (beware, there are many inns with Sultan in the name - so make sure you get this one): Mustafa Pasa Sokak No. 50, Kucukayasofya, Sultanahmet, 34700

Çemberlitas Hamami, Vezirhan Cad. 8 (off Divanyolu at the Column of Constantine; tel. 0212/522-7974; $25 bath, massage, and kese [a scrubbing using an abrasive mitt], including tip; $10 bath only; daily 6am-midnight with separate sections

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This is a lovely, reasonably priced hotel located in Sultanahmet (the old town). It is a wooden Ottoman-style house with only seven rooms, which are all furnished with wooden Turkish furniture. It has a roof terrace from which you can see both the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofia.

The breakfast is very good - buffet style with plenty of things to choose from: yoghurt, different types of bread and pastries, olives, sliced meat, eggs and cheeses. Istanbul is a fantastic place to visit - and whatever you don't miss the Aya Sofia which is far more impressive (on the inside) than the Blue Mosque.

Akbiyik Degirmeni Sk No 7, Sultanahmet; tel: 212 516 71 30/ 516 71 31;
reservation@nazwoodenhouseinn.com

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The Seres hotel is a newly renovated hotel with a magnificient rooftop restaurant with views from the Bosphorus to the Blue Mosque. Centrally located in Sirkeci, the hotel can be used as base to walk to just about all of the famous sights in Istanbul or the tram travels right outside the front door. Helpful staff, nice rooms, this small hotel is a good spot to stay during your visit to Istanbul.

The rooftop restaurant offers amazing views and having breakfast there is a great way to start the day. Dining there at night with all the surrounding sights (mosques and towers) lit up is also a great experience.

Hudavendigar Cad, No49 SIRKECI
Istanbul. ph 0212 5193020

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Beyoglu District, is the most cosmopolitan area of Istanbul. Full of shops, bars and restaurants. Definitely the best area to stay and then get taxis out to the various sights like the Haghia Sofia and Topkapi Palace.

See this link for a taste of the district www.turkeytravelplanner.com/WhereToGo/Istanbul/Sights/Beyoglu/

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This small but smart hotel is a mere stone’s throw from The Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya. Small entrance/ reception area but rooms are clean and well-maintained. Is slightly more expensive because of its proximity to the main tourist centre.

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good value place situated in Kumkapi. Some distance from the main tourist areas but offering clean en-suite rooms with balconies, helpful English-speaking staff. Caters for the ‘weekend city-break’ market.

Kadirga Limani Caddesi 85; tel: (0212) 517 4203

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A relatively inexpensive hotel on a quiet street 100 yards from Taksim Square. It is not luxurious, but it is clean and friendly. Easy for transport all over the city, and only five minutes from the bars, restaurants and shops of Beyoglu.

Topcu cad No 28 Taksim, Istanbul, TR 80090

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Slightly scruffy but good-value outfit offering bed and breakfast at reasonable rates. Close to shops and restaurants in Aksaray. Rooms are good-sized and ensuite with TV. Mainly frequented by east European and Russian tourists.

Harriye Tuccari Caddesi 10, Aksaray; tel: 212 516 5467

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The hotel is in a great location. Virtually on the corner of the Hippodrome, about a two minute stroll from the Blue Mosque, five minutes from Aya Sofya and 10 minutes from Topkapi.

The rooms are fairly basic and quite small but clean and comfortable. They are all en-suite, have a TV and a fridge.

The views from the roof, where breakfast is served, are fantastic. Sit by the window with a plate of olives, cheese, jam and bread and stare out at the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus.

The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and the atmosphere relaxing. Internet access is free to guests staying in the hotel.

Having stayed there twice I would recommend it to anyone on a budget.

Sehit Mehmet Pasa Yokusu 2, 34000 Sultanhamet
On the west corner of the Hippodrome;
tel: 212 516 35 46/516 35 47

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