Sultanahmet Ivy Suite

The apartment has plenty of space for the Fatih area, with a microwave, fridge, hairdryer, heater, TV, and small dining table. It's handy as a place to relax between outings, and restaurants, tour operators, and souvenir shops are nearby. For sightseeing, the location is excellent: Sultanahmet station and the main road are a three minute walk away, the Blue Mosque is visible in the distance, and the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophiya, Topkapi Palace, and Basilica Cistern are about 5-6 minutes on foot. I'd rate the location 4/5. There are a few drawbacks. We stayed seven days, and for the last three there was a horrible sewage smell before entering, though I don't know where it came from. Our ground/basement room was right by the hookah bar, which played loud club music until nearly 3am. That might suit nightlife, but not families with young kids or seniors. There are only stairs, no lift, just two flights, so ask the owners for help if you have lots of heavy luggage. There's no parking or place for a taxi to wait, so if you've ordered a taxi or airport transfer, you need to be ready when it arrives. I'd recommend this spot if you'll mostly be out; if you plan to spend time relaxing in the room, the downsides may bother you.

The owner was friendly and responsive, helping with ticket bookings and airport transfers and sharing suggestions for places to visit. The Ivy Suite is clean and tidy, with a main bed, guest room, kitchen, and bathroom. We visited in December in winter, and there was a heater in the room. If you're bringing several or large suitcases, you may want to consider a ground or first floor room. It's about two minutes on foot to the tram, and restaurants are all around. We tried a few for breakfast and dinner. There's also a Malaysian restaurant five minutes away with nasi lemak and fried rice on the menu. In my opinion, the fried noodles there are delicious too. The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Egyptian Bazaar are convenient to visit from here. I'd come back to Ivy Suites if I get the chance to return to Istanbul.

The manager told me I should have warned him before inviting a friend, even though I'd told him at check-in that I would have a visitor. He demanded that I check out and said proudly that he'd done the same to a German guest not long before. He made me leave at 17h and charged me more than half a day's amount. Incredible.

Ivy Suite is in Sultanahmet, about 100 metres from the Sultanahmet Tram (T1) station. Hagia sophia and Blue mosque are a 3-5 minute walk away.