The best hotels to stay in Sultanahmet are the stylish boutique hotels that were created by restoring historical buildings. Since Sultanahmet was the center of empires during the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods, it has priceless historical artifacts. For this reason, you can see the reflections of this deep-rooted history in Sultanahmet hotels.
If you stay in Sultanahmet, you will be within walking distance of historical monuments such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Restaurants in Sultanahmet also have menus to support the historical theme of the neighborhood.
Sultanahmet is quiet in the evenings and has no nightlife. However, you can easily go to districts such as Beyoglu and Besiktas, where nightlife is very colorful, from Sultanahmet.
Best Hotels to Stay in Sultanahmet, Istanbul 2023
Best Hotels to Stay in Sultanahmet in 2023 article consists of 12 headings. There are 5 star and luxury hotels as well as budget boutique hotels. The hotels on the list are located close to places to visit in Sultanahmet and the best restaurants of Sultanahmet.
As an insider working in the area for 15 years, I tried to choose hotels with high customer satisfaction. I hope it will help you find the hotel you are looking for.
1. Four Seasons Hotel at Sultanahmet
The Four Seasons Hotel at Sultanahmet is actually a prison from the Ottoman period. The building, which was restored in the 90s, is currently the best 5-star hotel in Sultanahmet. When the Four Seasons hotel in Sultanahmet became very successful, another one was opened to the shores of the Bosphorus to meet the increasing demand.
Another important feature of the building is that it was built during the First National Architectural Movement that became widespread in the 19th century. Blending Seljuk and Ottoman architecture, this architectural style includes influences from both Central Asia and the Middle East.
The Four Seasons Hotel at Sultanahmet won a prestigious “The Best Hotel of Europe Award” in terms of customer satisfaction. The hotel has an amazing garden right in the middle of the square-shaped building, which has the best tones of the green.
Four Seasons Hotel is a few minutes’ walk from Hagia Sophia. Balikci Sabahattin, one of the best fish restaurants in Istanbul, is right next to the hotel. With all these features, Four Seasons stands out among the best hotels to stay in Sultanahmet in 2023.
2. Hotel Amira Istanbul
Hotel Amira Istanbul is one of the Sultanahmet hotels with the highest ratings on travel platforms. Located close to the sea, Hotel Amira is in a great place for those who want to go jogging in the morning.
Hotel Amira Istanbul is located within walking distance of the Blue Mosque and the Arasta Bazaar next to it. The hotel has a nice and balanced breakfast buffet and promises a cozy atmosphere.
Hotel Amira is a place that draws attention with positive comments on sites like TripAdvisor. For this reason, it draws attention as one of the best boutique hotels to stay in Sultanahmet.
3. Sirkeci Mansion Hotel
Sirkeci Mansion Hotel is located just a few steps from Gulhane Tram Station. It is very easy to reach Gulhane Park next to Topkapi Palace and Istanbul Archaeological Museum by walking from the hotel.
Sirkeci Mansion Hotel has been chosen by travel platforms as one of the “most comfortable hotels in Turkey” and the “best family hotels in Turkey” many times. For this reason, the hotel is among the best places to stay in Istanbul according to customer ratings.
Sirkeci Mansion Hotel is located very close to Eminonu, the transportation hub of Istanbul Old City. By staying at this hotel, you can easily visit the historical monuments in Sultanahmet and go from Eminonu to Beyoglu, Besiktas and the Asian Side.
The hotel is also very close to Sirkeci, where the best street food places in Istanbul are located. If you stay here, don’t forget to try the local Turkish restaurants on Hocapasa Street. Moreover, the Hodjapasha Cultural Center, which performs the best Dervish Show in the city, is located in the same neighborhood.
4. Neorion Hotel
Neorion Hotel is located in Sirkeci, one of the old districts of Istanbul. It is equidistant from both the Spice Bazaar by the sea and the Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet. The hotel, which opens to the street, offers you an experience close to the local life.
The hotel looks like an old building in a narrow area at first glance and hides its surprises inside. However, there is actually a swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath and even a library inside the hotel. Neorion is also a beautiful hotel that combines the past and today with a cool design.
Neorion Hotel is located in Sirkeci, on the tramway stretching from Eminonu to Sultanahmet. I mentioned above that Sirkeci is a great place to find local Turkish restaurants. In addition, the best dessert shops of Istanbul are also found in Sirkeci.
5. Hotel Empress Zoe
Hotel Empress Zoe gives no clue at first glance about its historical richness. This hotel is bordered by the ancient ruins of a Turkish Bath House (Ishak Pasha Hamam) from the 15th century and it literally creates a historical atmosphere. Moreover, spending time in its garden feels like having a time travel among architectural ruins.
Hotel Empress Zoe boasts 25 rooms and its rooms are decorated with the fancy images on its walls from Turkish history, furniture, and fabrics. The design of the hotel that reminds its visitors of the Seljuk, Byzantine and Ottoman eras is really enticing for history lovers.
Hotel Empress Zoe is one of the best hotels to stay in Sultanahmet for those who come to Istanbul for cultural tourism. Additionally, Hotel Empress Zoe is equally praised by the foreign press, which is also a good indicator that proves Hotel Empress Zoe is a smart choice.
6. White House Hotel Istanbul
White House Hotel Istanbul is one of the elegant boutique hotels in Sultanahmet that attracts the biggest attention. The hotel performs incredibly well on platforms like Booking.com and TripAdvisor and it stands out thanks to its friendly staff and service quality. In return for its positive approach, the hotel’s visitors show their appreciation via their high points and great reviews.
White House Hotel is only a few minutes’ walk away from historical sites like Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia. Therefore, you will have a chance to return to your hotel quickly after visiting the historical structures in the neighborhood.
White House Hotel is only 5 minutes away from Sultanahmet Tram Station. In this way, it is possible to go to historical places on the other side of the Golden Horn, such as Galata Tower, Istiklal Street and Taksim Square, by public transportation.
7. Adamar Hotel
Adamar Hotel is a neighbor of White House Hotel that we mentioned above. Thus, Adamar Hotel also holds the advantage when it comes to location. However, Adamar Hotel has a feature that makes it unique among its competitors. The hotel offers a breathtaking 360 degrees panoramic Istanbul view that none of its competitors can match.
Due to being one of the tallest buildings at Sultanahmet, the hotel offers an amazing view on its terrace. On a beautiful spring day, you can have an unforgettable breakfast on Adamar Hotel’s terrace or take a coffee break for taking photos of Istanbul.
Adamar Hotel is on Yerebatan Street where Basilica Cistern is located. Although its rooms are a little smaller compared to the other hotels on our list, its price policy solves this small issue.
If you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel to stay in Sultanahmet, Adamar is the right hotel for you. Despite the central location and view it offers, one should not expect a high level of luxury from the rooms.
8. Levni Hotel
Levni Hotel is a neighbor to Istanbul Provincial Hall. The hotel is right in the middle of Cagaloglu Street that connects Sirkeci to Sultanahmet and it is located on a great spot for the tourists who opt for public transport.
As soon as you exit Levni Hotel, you can walk down to Marmaray Station that enables passengers to get to Asian side of Istanbul. Moreover, Sirkeci Tram Station is just 5 minutes walk away from the hotel.
The hotel draws attention with its elegant exterior architecture and as the name suggests, it’s also a spa center. Levni Hotel & Spa is no doubt one of the best hotels to stay in Sultanahmet area, considering the reviews and high scores it receives from its customers.
9. Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel
Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel is one of the best 5 star hotels in Sultanahmet, Istanbul Old City. The hotel boasts 231 rooms and it’s literally in the heart of Sultanahmet. Despite being a relatively new hotel, the hotel holds a good position on travel platforms like TripAdvisor.
Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel is only five minutes walk away from the historical structures like Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque and it’s located on Ticarethane Street that is famous for its restaurants.
Most of the hotels in Sultanahmet have small rooms compared to Beyoglu and Besiktas districts. However, Sura Hotel offers spacious rooms to its visitors. The hotel also promises a local experience as its door opens to a street full of local restaurants and dessert shops.
10. Hotel Sultania
Hotel Sultania is one of Sultanahmet’s relatively new hotels. However, it’s already on the list of the best boutique hotels in Sultanahmet thanks to its location and amazing architecture that must have required great dedication and work.
Hotel Sultania has a decoration that matches the Historic Peninsula. The rooms have handmade wooden furniture that is functionally placed. The hotel is located at one of Sirkeci’s central spots. Therefore, it’s walking distance to both Eminonu (Spice Bazaar) and Sultanahmet.
11. Yasmak Sultan Hotel
Yasmak Sultan Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in the Sultanahmet area. Despite its 50 years’ of history, the hotel is successful at reflecting a modern hotel concept with its cool design.
The hotel is just two minutes’ walk away from Gulhane Tram Station and it’s located right in the middle of Sirkeci and Sultanahmet. Yasmak Sultan is in the top ranks of the best 4 star hotels to stay in Sultanahmet.
12. Hotel Arcadia Blue
Hotel Arcadia Blue attracts the attention thanks to being just five minutes walk away from Sultanahmet Tram Station. The hotel is a neighbor to the historical structures like Hippodrome of Constantinople and Blue Mosque. It also offers a majestic view of Istanbul on its terrace.
Despite being one of the oldest hotels in the neighborhood, Hotel Arcadia Blue is a modern hotel that has been restored numerous times. The hotel creates contrast with its modern style in the Istanbul Old City that is under the impact of classical architecture.
Arcadia Hotel is a quite elegant and comfortable hotel and undoubtedly it’s one of the most centrally located hotels in Sultanahmet district. Therefore Arcadia is one of the best hotels to stay in Istanbul Old City.
The roof top of the hotel has a magnificent view of the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus. The breakfast buffet also promises a very rich Turkish breakfast. That’s why we included this hotel in our list of the best breakfast places in Istanbul.
Conclusion
In this article, we introduced you to the best luxurious 5-star and budget boutique hotels in Sultanahmet. But of course, places to stay in Istanbul are not limited to Sultanahmet and the Old City.
If you want to review other options for accommodation in Istanbul. You can also take a look at the article on the best hotels to stay in Beyoglu. Beyoglu district includes popular tourist destinations such as Karakoy, Galata, Istiklal Street and Taksim Square.
In addition, there are magnificent hotels on the shores of the Bosphorus. Of course, these hotels are in the category of the most expensive and luxury hotels. You can see the hotels in this category from the best hotels with Bosphorus view in Istanbul.
Written by Serhat Engul
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