Sultanahmet Hotel

There’s a rooftop Turkish breakfast included, and the owner gives great advice. The rooms are clean and simple, with comfy beds. When you’re in a town this lively, the room matters less than getting a good breakfast to fuel the day, some helpful tips when you need them, and a good night’s sleep before heading out again. The location is amazing, close to Aya Sophia and right on the tram line. I teach in Erzurum, Türkiye, and whenever I have a long weekend, I’ll always stay here. I love this hotel!

The terrace has a lovely view, right in front of Aya sofia and sultan Ahmed. My room also had windows looking out at the castle, which made my vacation extra special. Thanks for the good service. The owner and staff are really nice and helpful, and they helped me with lots of things. Special thanks to Miss Shadam, she’s a very kind person.

The location is great, but everything else was a letdown. I stayed four nights in a single room as a solo gay traveller, and it was much too small. I could barely fit my suitcase. The bathroom was like a cupboard, with the toilet, shower, and basin all crammed together and no divider between the shower and toilet. It felt unhygienic, and if you’re larger, you may not fit properly to shower or use the toilet. There’s no lift, so you have to carry your suitcase up the stairs. Breakfast was very average and not worth the climb. The staff, particularly the woman, were rude. The hotel doesn’t let guests bring visitors to their rooms. They chased my visitors up the stairs to enforce the rule and then lectured me about it. It felt very homophobic. On checkout, they just took the key and grunted without saying anything. It really affected my stay in Istanbul. There are many nicer places to choose from, so avoid this one. Not worth the money.

The rooftop open buffet breakfast was great, with an amazing view, and the tram stop is right next door. My room and bathroom were clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful. I stayed a few months ago and really enjoyed it. Thanks for having me, I’ll definitely come back.