Where to stay in Istanbul?

Sultanahmet for accommodation in the historic heart of Istanbul

Sultanahmet is surely the best place to stay. After all, it's the historic district and the heart of the city. It's also by far the most touristic district. It's located in the southeastern part of the Fatih district.

Speaking of Sultanahmet, we're focusing on one part of this huge district (we'll talk about the more outlying part later).

Located on the European side of the river, Sultanahmet is certainly the most strategic place to stay for sightseeing. You'll find yourself close to many places of interest, including :

• the Blue Mosque, a must-see mosque
• Topkapi Palace, the former palace of the Ottoman sultans
• Hagia Sophia, Istanbul's most famous monument
• the Grand Bazaar, the world's largest covered market

It's only logical, then, to find a number of hotels and restaurants. In fact, there are plenty of them. And without an astronomical budget, it's easy to find a place to stay.

On the other hand, if you're planning an evening out, this area is much quieter at night. This is not the place for a lively evening out.

Geographically, you won't find a better location. Everything is within walking distance, and if you want to get to more out-of-the-way places, you can take the streetcar and then use the metro or ferry. Getting around is a matter of minutes, and it's even possible to cross the Golden Horn on foot via the Galata Bridge.

Eminönü and Sirkeci: 2 lively & central districts

Eminönü and Sirkeci are also great places to stay on a trip to Istanbul. Indeed, they are very lively and touristy places that are easy to get around. They are located to the northwest of Sultanahmet, on the edge of the Galata Bridge.

Characterized as an old quarter, Eminönü represents the heart of the port city. North of it, you can cross the Golden Horn via the Galata Bridge, or take the ferry at the Eminönü pier. It's a key stopover for tourists.

It's also a lively place where you can visit many of the city's must-see sights:

• the Egyptian bazaar, the ideal place to stock up on spices, loukoums and dried fruit
• the Rustem Pasha mosque
• the New Mosque, on the south bank of the Golden Horn
• the Suleymaniye mosque, also a few minutes' walk away.

Sirkeci is a lively and pleasant area, but a little less dynamic. This is where you'll find the railway station on the European bank. There's also a station for the Marmaray metro line, which runs under the Bosphorus. Numerous affordable accommodation options are available here, notably to the south of the station and to the west of Gülhane Park.

Along with Eminönü, it' s a strategic location for your trip, as you'll be right in the center of the sights and close to the monuments of Sultanahmet. You'll find numerous hotels and restaurants, as well as excellent access to the public transport network.

Galata and Karaköy, 2 places to stay North of the Golden Horn

Galata and Karaköy are two well-known neighborhoods in the Beyoğlu district, north of the Golden Horn. They can be reached on foot from the 2 areas mentioned above. Just cross the Galata Bridge.

Galata is built around the tower of the same name. It's a trendy place, located on a hill overlooking the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. Indeed, from Galata you can enjoy a panoramic view of Istanbul's old town and its surroundings. That's what makes this place so unique. You'll also find plenty of cafés, bars, restaurants and stores, as well as places to sleep to suit all budgets.

Bear in mind, however, that it's located high up on a hill. You can, however, take the Tünel funicular to the top of the hill quickly (and cheaply).

Located to the north-east of the Galata Bridge, Karaköy is also a very good place to stay in Istanbul. Bordering the Bosphorus, its location is convenient. And there are plenty of restaurants and tourist accommodation.

Sights in the area include the famous Camondo staircase, the Dervish convent of Galata andone of the best places to eat baklava, Karaköy Güllüoğlu.

Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square

Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue are two of Istanbul's most famous landmarks. These areas on the European side of the city lie just north of Galata. They are two of Istanbul's most popular landmarks, as well as a must for travelers.

Istiklal Avenue is one of the most famous streets. It links Taksim Square to Galata. As you cross it, you'll find numerous stores, cafés and restaurants. Apart from the many shops, you won't find much to see.

Although there are a few hotels nearby, it's not really worth staying here. Indeed, it's not the most strategic location for making the most of the metropolis. Nevertheless, opting for accommodation in this area is not prohibitive.

Taksim Square, at the end of the avenue, is a lively place for locals. Here you'll find several places of interest:

• the Monument of the Republic, in the center of the square
• the Taksim Mosque, to the north-west of the square
• Gezi Park, a stone's throw from the esplanade.

It's a lively district where you'll find a wide selection of accommodation to suit all budgets, including major international chains. It's also at the crossroads of several transport routes. However, we advise you to visit Taksim Square during the day and choose accommodation closer to the historic heart of Istanbul.

Besiktas and Ortaköy: 2 lively locations

Besiktas is one of Istanbul's districts. It is located on the European side of the city, along the Bosphorus. This is undoubtedly the liveliest district. In fact, this is where your evenings will be the liveliest.

In a relaxed atmosphere, you can stroll through the narrow streets and discover the many boutiques. The center of Besiktas is very popular and is a sanctuary for bars and nightclubs.

In short, Besiktas is the perfect place to stay if you want to enjoy a night out to the rhythm of Istanbul's youth. You'll still find a few places of interest to visit during the day, such as :

• the Naval Museum, close to the Dentur ferry terminal
• Vodafone Park , Besiktas' soccer stadium
• Yildiz Park, one of Istanbul's largest parks
• Dolmabahce Palace, now a museum and a must-see tourist attraction.

You'll find plenty of hotels here, at prices that vary widely. However, if you choose to spend the night here, you'll need to allow a good half-hour's transport time to reach the historic center. It's impossible to get there on foot!

Ortaköy is located at the foot of the Bosphorus Bridge. It's a must-see, if only for its famous mosque. There's also a wide variety of restaurants and street food stalls offering mainly kumpir and gözleme.

Staying here means choosing to stay away from the main tourist attractions, in favor of areas more popular with locals, especially Besiktas.

Kadiköy: The trendy district on the asian shore

Kadiköy is a residential district on the Asian side of Istanbul. It borders the Marmara Sea and is adjacent to the Uskudar district.

Kadiköy is renowned for being very lively and much less touristy than the districts on the European side. The atmosphere is chic and relaxed, allowing you to enjoy the city from a different angle. Indeed, staying in Kadiköy means living at the pace of the people of Istanbul.

It's a lively place day and night, thanks to the many bars, restaurants and boutiques you can frequent. The food here is very good, and more reasonably priced than in the tourist areas.

You can also discover a number of places of interest, such as :

• Haydarpasa station, just off the Kadiköy pier
• Fenerbahçe Park, overlooking the Sea of Marmara
• the Moda district, defined as the “Brooklyn of Istanbul"
• Bagdad Avenue, likened to the Champs-Élysées but with far fewer tourists

Kadiköy is a good compromise for budget accommodation during a stay in the city. But even if transfers to the European side of the river are fairly easy by metro and ferry, it's not the most convenient place to stay. It's better to come to Kadiköy to spend half a day than to choose accommodation here. This could be a good place to stay in Istanbul on a second trip, for example.

Staying in the rest of Fatih?

Fatih is one of Istanbul's districts and represents the historic part. We mentioned Sultanahmet earlier, the historic heart where the main monuments are concentrated. But this district is much larger. Let's take a look at the rest of this part of the European shore.

Apart from Eminönü and Sultanahmet, this is not the district where you'll find much interest in accommodation. Hotels are concentrated to the east, while in other parts of the district, such as Balat and Fener, you won't find many, as they're quite out of the way and not of much tourist interest.

What's more, there are a few places of interest, but it's perfectly feasible to go there during the day.

These include: 

• the Church of Saint-Sauveur-in-Chora, a Byzantine church (north of the district) renowned for its mosaics
• Laleli, an area full of affordable hotels
• Valens aqueduct, on Boulevard Atatürk, between Fatih Memorial Park and Sarachane Park
• Yedikule Castle in the south of the district.

Even though the district has excellent transport links, you're likely to lose a lot of time if you stay here.

As you can see, the Fatih district is an interesting place to wander around and discover places of interest, but for accommodation we recommend the eastern edge of the area, in the vicinity of Sultanahmet and Eminönü.

Eyüp and its Mosque, North of the Golden Horn

Eyüp is a district at the northern end of the Golden Horn. It's a very conservative district and not very touristy.

However, there are a few places of interest to discover, such as

• the Sultan Eyüp mosque, an important monument in the Turkish and Islamic world, notably for its mausoleum
• the cable car to Pierre Loti's hill for an incomparable view of the Golden Horn
• Pierre Loti's café, located at the top of the hill
• Esfanbul Park, one of Istanbul's best-known playgrounds.

From Eyüp, you'll need to take public transport to reach the heart of the city. So it's not the best place to stay during your stay. You're likely to be far from Istanbul's most touristy districts.

Üsküdar: A residential area on the Asian shore

Üsküdar is a residential district that can even be described as a city in its own right. Located on the Asian shore, less than 10 minutes by boat from Besiktas, Üsküdar is a place you must visit during your stay in Istanbul.

It's a district that's both modern and conservative. It's a more authentic area, less frequented by visitors. There are, however, a few places of interest to visit, such as

• the Leander Tower, located in the middle of the water, offering a unique view of the famous monuments
• numerous period mosques, such as the earthenware mosque
• the Beylerbeyi Palace near the Bosphorus Bridge.

Many tourists come here for the Kiz Kulesi (Leander Tower) alone. The rest of the district is clearly not a must-see.

Prices here are low, and transfers to the European shore are by ferry or metro. However, on a multi-night stay, staying here can quickly become restrictive.

If you have time to visit Üsküdar during your stay, we strongly recommend a half-day trip to enjoy its authentic, family atmosphere. Ideally at the end of the day, as the area around Léandre Tower is very busy with locals.

However, this is not the most strategic place to sleep during a trip to Istanbul. Choose accommodation on the European side of the river, so you can explore the city at its best, without wasting time on the metro.