Where to stay in Istanbul: a neighbourhood guide

Istanbul hums with activity from sunrise to the last ferry. Minarets spike the skyline, tea glasses clink at every corner and evenings slide into Bosphorus sunsets. Deciding where to stay in Istanbul will set the tone for an unforgettable holiday. Trams, metros and ferries connect various neighbourhoods, so wherever you choose to stay, you can reach Istanbul’s incredible sights with ease.

In historic Sultanahmet (also known as the Old City), cobbled lanes wind past mosque domes and tram stops, while the day shifts from morning prayers to lantern-lit dinners on rooftop terraces. Ferries and the Marmaray rail line are easily accessible, enabling cross-city adventures. 

Here, history feels close, with a range of tours available to help you explore. On the Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet Tour, you’ll get in-depth insights into the famed mosque's design, calligraphy and etiquette. Known for its cascading domes and six slender towers, the mosque welcomes visitors between prayer times – just remember you’ll need to slip off your shoes and dress modestly. Nearby, Topkapı Palace opens its grand courtyards and ornate pavilions, with a chance to glimpse the harem, sacred relics and treasures of the Ottoman sultans. Beneath the streets, the Basilica Cistern invites you into an otherworldly 6th-century reservoir held up by a forest of columns, featuring artful lighting and the famous Medusa heads. 

Accommodation in Sultanahmet

• Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet: housed in a restored 1919 former prison, this Old City hotel offers 65 beautifully appointed rooms surrounded by a tranquil courtyard. 
• Hotel Amira Istanbul: this hotel has a roof terrace with views over the Sea of Marmara and an on-site restaurant that serves traditional Turkish cuisine in a modern environment.

At the heart of Beyoğlu, Istiklal Avenue is the spot that locals and tourists alike frequent. It’s a 1.4-kilometre pedestrian street packed with cafés, dessert shops, bookstores, churches and street music. There are also secret side passages that conceal galleries and bistros, rewarding curious wanderers. 

There’s no shortage of activities to choose from in the area. Join a Food-Themed Nighttime Walking Tour of Beyoğlu to sample local bites and learn about the neighbourhood’s layered history. The Museum of Illusions Istanbul bends perspective with holograms and mind-twisting rooms, while the nearby Pera Museum showcases original art, historic weights and measures and international exhibitions that reflect the district’s creative pulse.

Accommodation in Beyoğlu

• Pera Palace Hotel: opened in 1895 to host Orient Express travellers, this hotel is famed for the fact that author Agatha Christie reportedly wrote Murder on the Orient Express in room 411. The hotel still preserves its period charm and features a spa with a hammam (Turkish bath). 
• The Marmara Pera: this hotel is one of the best places to stay in Istanbul if you want to be near museums and galleries. It also houses Mikla, a Michelin-starred restaurant on the 18th floor with 360° views over the city.

Galata gathers around its namesake tower, a 14th-century Genoese stone landmark with an open-air terrace offering sweeping views over the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. Most of the climb is by lift, with just a few stairs up to the Galata Tower Museum’s viewing deck – 62 metres above the city. Well connected by the Şişhane Metro Station and Karaköy trams, Galata puts you minutes from Sultanahmet, Beyoğlu and İstiklal, making it a perfect jumping-off point for sightseeing.

The neighbourhood itself is a tangle of heritage streets filled with vintage shops and cosy meyhanes (traditional tavernas). Join a Galata Guided Tour to uncover the area’s layered past and explore the Camondo Steps – a pedestrian stairway featuring early Art Nouveau and Neo-Baroque styles. Then slip into Salt Galata for contemporary art shows and the Ottoman Bank Museum’s permanent collection. Don’t forget to check out the café and the Robinson Crusoe 389 bookshop that’s also on site. 

Accommodation in Galata

• DeCamondo Galata, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel: set across two restored heritage buildings on a storied avenue near the Galata tower, this hotel has a minimarket, coffee shop and outdoor seating area.
• Walton Hotels Galata: this compact boutique stay is located near Şişhane Metro and is ideal if you’re seeking café-lined streets and a reception and management team that can speak Turkish, Arabic, English, Russian and Spanish.

Beşiktaş lines the Bosphorus (the strait that separates the continents of Europe and Asia) with ferry piers, leafy parks and market streets. Along the waterfront, the Maritime Museum anchors the promenade, while ferries to Kadıköy and Üsküdar and buses that follow the strait make exploring easy. Stay here for quick connections across the city and unbeatable sunset views over the water.

When you’re ready to dive into local landmarks, visit the grand Dolmabahçe Palace to wander its opulent halls and immaculate gardens, or set off from the neighbourhood’s piers on a Bosphorus and Golden Horn Cruise for sweeping views of Istanbul from the water.

Accommodation in Beşiktaş

• Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul: this Bosphorus-side property sits in the Çırağan area with gardens by the water. The everyday all-inclusive breakfasts include continental, buffet, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices.
• Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul: standing between Dolmabahçe Palace and the Naval Museum, this hotel's rooms feature contemporary décor and terraces with Bosphorus views. It also has a heated indoor pool, sauna and traditional Turkish Bath.

Ferry horns, market chatter and seaside parks set an easy rhythm in Kadıköy, a cluster of lively neighbourhoods on Istanbul’s Asian shore. In Moda, coffee bars, patisseries and tree-lined corners invite slow wandering, while around Kalamış Marina, broad waterside paths are lined with fishmongers, bookshops and ice-cream shops. Beyond these, consider dipping into Rasimpaşa for street art and indie cafés, strolling Caddebostan’s long waterfront and small city beach or pausing in Göztepe Park’s leafy green spaces.

If you’re a food lover, dive into the scene with a Private Istanbul Food Walking Tour of Kadikoy with Breakfast that winds through markets and classic eateries or join a Culinary Walking Tour sampling Kadıköy favourites with a local guide.

Accommodation in Kadıköy

• DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul – Moda: on the Kadıköy waterfront, a short walk from Kadıköy Metro and the ferry ports, this hotel has a rooftop infinity pool and bar, an indoor pool and a spa with a sauna and Turkish bath.
• Wyndham Grand Istanbul Kalamış Marina Hotel: located beside Kalamış Marina and Kalamış Park, Wyndham Grand offers ornate spaces with several restaurants and lounges.

With our guide, choosing where to stay in Istanbul is simple. Whether you’re looking for café culture, waterfront sunsets or historic tours, pick the neighbourhood that matches your top must-see landmarks and pace, then let the city’s mosques, museums and waterside views unfold from your doorstep.