Sirkeci/Hocapasa Streets, Istanbul

The Sirkeci district just north of Sultanahmet and south of Sirkeci Station in Old Istanbul, has a nice scene on summer evenings, with two dozen small to medium-sized hotels, and several moderately-priced tourist restaurants serving at outdoor/sidewalk tables, as well as the many simple local "workers' restaurants" (esnaf lokantalari) next to the Hocapasa mosque, with both streetside tables under hanging vines, and indoor tables for the rare (in summer) rainy day. The Golden Horn is just a few blocks to the north and east (Google map).

Ebusuud Caddesi
The relatively wide stone-paved street running more or less east-west and marking the southern boundary of this hotel-and-restaurant district. Its hotels are varied and mostly of very good quality: Amisos Hotel, Hotel Yasmak Sultan, Sude Konak, Hotel Erboy, and The Golden Horn Hotel. Because they are all on the north side of the street, their front rooms enjoy abundant sunlight.

Erdogan Sokak
A short, narrow north-south side street with two of the better low-budget hotels in the district: Hotel Olimpiyat and Hotel Ersu. Not much direct sun, though.

Hüdavendigâr Caddesi
The strange long name means something like "world-conqueror," and was one of the many fantasy sobriquets favored by the Ottoman sultans. It's the route for the Zeytinburnu-Kabatas tram, and the main street for car traffic going through the district, but because of the tram line, motor vehicle traffic is limited. Because the hotels facing it are air-conditioned and double-glazed, noise is usually not a big problem unless you want to sleep with your windows open. Hotels include: Hotel Romance, Hotel Empire Palace, and Hotel Seres on the south side, with little sun, and the Orient Express Hotel and Hotel Ilkay on the north side, with more sun.

Ibni Kemal Caddesi
Running between and parallel to Ebusuud and Hüdavendigâr caddesis, it is narrower, but also not a through street, so there is little traffic. Restaurants fill much of the street, and if there is a noise problem, it's usually from them (and minimal) rather than from cars. Hotels include: Hotel Sapphire (Safir), Hotel Centrum, Hotel Orsep and The Metropol Hotel.

Saffeti Pasa Sokak/Orhaniye Caddesi
A short north-south side street near Sirkeci Station. Most of the hotels are old and very basic, but the Hotel Ipek Palas ("Silk Palace") is still serviceable for those traveling on a restricted budget, and was no doubt favored by silk traders who traveled by rail in the mid-20th century.

Taya Hatun Sokak
A quiet side street running along the stone walls of Gülhane Park, it is home to the good Sirkeci Konak Hotel.

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Ebusuud Caddesi, Hocapasa, Istanbul, Turkey

Ebusuud Caddesi: see how close Ayasofya is? (Upper right corner)