Hilton Istanbul Hotel, Turkey

The Hilton Istanbul was the first deluxe hotel built in the city (1954).

Having been built first, it had the pick of the best sites, which is why it has 13 acres (over 5 hectares) of gardens, with tennis courts and swimming club, and superb views over Dolmabahce Palace to the Bosphorus beyond.

The Hilton is only a 15-minute walk north of Taksim Square northwest of Beyoglu, the shopping and nightclub district.

Most of the hotel's east-facing rooms have splendid Bosphorus views; the ones looking west overlook the city, which is less inspiring, but not bad. It's also the only top luxury hotel in which every room has its own balcony.

I really like the Hilton Istanbul. It has always been Istanbul's status address for me because of its great location, spacious gardens, and excellent staff.

Click here for current room rates and more info, or to make a reservation directly with Hilton hotels. Be sure to click on the "Special offers at this hotel" tab on the left-hand side of the Hilton Istanbul page.

Other luxury hotels are nearby, and even a bit closer to Taksim Square, but without the Hilton's spacious grounds or balconies: look at the Divan Oteli, the Ceylan Inter-continental, and the Hyatt Regency Istanbul.

Official Hilton Istanbul Web Page

Istanbul Hotels

Istanbul Sights

Istanbul Restaurants

Istanbul Homepage

Turkey Travel Planner Homepage

The Hilton Istanbul is the grande dame of Istanbul's luxury hotels, but it's kept right up-to-date with frequent renovations.