Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet

Best hotel in Istanbul? The Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet gets my vote.

If you want the city's best, a beautiful hotel with Ottoman character, luxury appointments and superbly trained staff, in the best possible location for sightseeing, this is it.

The historic Ottoman building was formerly (and famously) a prison, but that's beside the point. It is now carefully restored and adapted to lodge a mere 130 guests in 65 guest rooms (including 11 suites) served by a staff of 200, meaning that there are more staff than guests.

The guest rooms come in three sizes (Standard, Superior, Deluxe), with even the Standard being of good size. Rich dark wood, brass fittings, oil paintings by local artists, Turkish craft items and of course rich Turkish carpets furnish them all.

Location, location, location: the Four Seasons at Sultanahmet is on Tevkifhane Sokak in Sultanahmet, literally a stone's throw from Ayasofya, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, and only a scenic five-minute stroll from Topkapi Palace.

What's not to like? There's no swimming pool (yet...soon!). There are no grounds to speak of, except the pretty garden courtyard. (If you want spacious gardens—even tennis courts—consider the Istanbul Hilton).

To enjoy that ultimate Istanbul status symbol: a view of the Bosphorus, you must go to the roof terrace. (For Bosphorus views from your guest room, consider the Ceylan Inter-continental, the Çiragan Palace Kempinski, the Conrad, the Hilton or the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus.

If this is your first visit to Istanbul, and if you'd rather not climb in a taxi every time you want to visit sights in the main historic district (Sultanahmet), you may agree with me that the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet is the best hotel in Istanbul.

For room rates, availability and reservations, contact Credo Tours in Istanbul.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet,
Tevkifhane Sokak No. 1
Sultanahmet-Eminönü
34110 Istanbul
Turkey

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

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Above, main entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet.

Below, the hotel's private courtyard. That's the Blue Mosque in the background, a stone's-throw away.