Sultan’s Inn, Istanbul, Turkey

Above, Blue Mosque
from roof terrace
of Sultan's Inn.

Below, Küçük Aya
Sofya mosque and
view from terrace.

The Sultan’s Inn is a long-standing popular choice among Istanbul budget hotels, tucked away off Küçük Ayasofya Caddesi which runs straight up a gentle slope to the main sights of Sultanahmet – the Hippodrome, Aya Sofya, the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace.

The Sultan’s Inn has 17 small guest rooms on four floors, all of them non-smoking, a distinct asset in a city still wedded to nicotine. All are comfortably furnished, with Turkish carpets, both lace and heavy curtains, and private bathrooms with shower stalls. A few rooms have partial or limited sea views, but the real views are atop the hotel (see below).

Each room has double-glazed windows that can be opened for fresh air, a minibar refrigerator with soft drinks and snacks, TV with remote control (and CNN and BBC), individual air conditioner/heater unit with remote control, and portable hair dryer. All rooms are reached by stairs (no elevator/lift).

A few rooms, such as No. 20 where I stayed in September 2008, also boast four-poster double beds draped with colorful susanis (embroidered curtains).

A sunny upper-level breakfast room offers views to the north of the Blue Mosque to the north, and Küçük Ayasofya, and the Sea of Marmara to the south. After breakfast, coffee, tea, cake and cookies are available here all day long to guests at no cost.

One flight up from the enclosed breakfast room, the rooftop terrace has potted foliage, sunny and shady seating, and even better views of the sea and the Blue Mosque, spectacular when floodlit at night.

Even better views? There's a small open-air belvedere one flight up from the open-air terrace, for a total of three roof levels from which to enjoy the views.

The location of the Sultan's Inn is far enough from the heart of Sultanahmet to escape any carpet-seller hassle, yet it's only a 5- to 7- minute walk up the slope to the Hippodrome. It’s also likely to be quieter than some of its rivals.

There’s a taxi stand nearby for visits to further-flung parts of the city, and the Sea of Marmara is only a short walk away downhill, across the Sahil Yolu (Shore Road).

The Sultan's Inn is under the same management as the Naz Wooden House Inn, the Deniz Konak Hotel, and Backpackers Travel Agency, which operates a good value-for-money airport transfer service.

When you contact the Sultan's Inn, please mention TTP. Here’s why. If you mention TTP, you'll receive a free fruit basket in your room when you arrive.

Sultan’s Inn
Küçük Ayasofya Caddesi,
Mustafapasa Sokak No. 5
Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey
www.sultansinn.com
reservation@sultansinn.com
Tel +90 (212) 638 2562, -2563
Fax +90 (212) 638 3922