Faros Hotel Old City

The young woman who checked us in was delightful, friendly, informative, and very helpful. Our room was clean and perfectly adequate, if a little dated, with a view over the main street. We stayed one night at the Faros in mid-October. Its location worked perfectly for us: we walked to the local attractions, and the Hop On Hop Off bus stop was very close. We'd recommend this small boutique hotel.

The staff all speak English and were accommodating, answering questions about local transport and airport transfers. There's a self-service breakfast, and you can dine at the hotel too. The dishes are made with fresh ingredients every day. During the festive season, they serve mulled wine with local spices and salep, a warm Christmas-style drink made from orchid tubers. The hotel is well placed for visiting the Grand Bazaar, just a few minutes away on foot, as well as the Blue Mosque and Haglia Sofia. Historia Mall isn't far, the T1 tram passes right in front, and the Marmara Sea is a ten-minute walk away. Highly recommended.

Sema gave us such a warm welcome that the first impression was already five-star. Our room was ready early, and they brought a birthday cake to our room for my wife. That made our first day in Istanbul really memorable. We're staying for four days now and looking forward to the rest of our visit at this beautiful hotel.

We booked three nights in Mar-26 for a family trip. The staff were very helpful and the service was excellent. The hotel sits close to many of Istanbul's best-known old-city sights, all within walking distance.