Finding the best place to stay in Istanbul is one of the things that most concerns travellers who come to this incredible city, which we assure you will not leave you indifferent. Although there are many areas where you can choose to sleep in Istanbul, we will focus on the most recommended and above all, the most central, so you can make the most of the city and all it has to offer.
Based on the days we spent in the city during our trip to Turkey, during which we wrote this list of tips for travelling to Istanbul and this guide to Istanbul, we leave you with a selection of places to stay in Istanbul and the best neighbourhoods and hotels. Let's get started!
Neighbourhoods where to stay in Istanbul
The first and most important thing is to know how the city is divided and what are the best areas to stay in order to choose the one that best suits your needs and the type of trip you are going to make.
Istanbul is on the border between Europe and Asia, so some areas of the city are in the Asian zone and others in the European zone. In this case we will focus on the European area, which is where most travellers are concentrated and also where you will find most tourist attractions such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace or the Galata Tower among many others.
We leave you a summary of the most recommended neighbourhoods where to sleep in Istanbul, which we will talk about more extensively in the following sections.
Sultanahmet: this is the most touristy area of Istanbul and where you can find most of the things to see and do in Istanbul.
Galata: located in the northern part of the Golden Horn, this is a very local neighbourhood with a very special charm where you will also find the Galata Tower.
Taksim: this is one of the commercial areas of the city, where you will find Taksim Square, the most famous square in the city and Istiklal Street, one of the main arteries of the city where you can see the old tram circulating.
Ortakoy: in the European area we find this charming neighbourhood, although much less touristic than those mentioned above.
Nisantasi: known for being the most European area of Istanbul, here you can enjoy the glamour of Istanbul and a much more elitist atmosphere than in the rest of the city.
Üsküdar: on the Asian side, this is one of Istanbul's quieter neighbourhoods, perfect for travellers who want to experience the real essence of the city.
Fatih: with a very similar atmosphere to the previous one and also located on the Asian side, this neighbourhood is known for the Fatih Mosque, one of the places to see in the city.
Kumkapi: this is the fishermen's quarter of the city where most travellers arrive after a cruise on the Bosphorus, one of the best tours and excursions from Istanbul, to eat in one of its restaurants where they can eat delicious fresh fish.
Beyoglu: in the northern part of the Golden Horn, in the European area, we find this neighbourhood little frequented by travellers, but where a large part of the city's shops are concentrated.
Beyazit: full of corners where time seems to stand still, in this authentic neighbourhood you can visit the Beyazit Mosque, another of the city's most famous mosques.
1. Sultanahmet, the best place to stay in Istanbul
Known for being the nerve centre of the city, the most touristic neighbourhood and the area where most of the tourist attractions such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque or the Topkapi Palace are located, Sultanahmet is undoubtedly the best place to stay in Istanbul.
In addition to having a wide range of accommodation, you can also find a wide range of restaurants and many shops focused on tourists and walk to virtually all places of interest.
The price of accommodation in Sultanahmet is usually around 30-50 euros per night.
Recommended hotels in Sultanahmet
Here are the most recommended options we have found for accommodation in Sultanahmet, taking into account the quality/price ratio:
Sultanahmet, the best place to stay in Istanbul.
Galata, another of the best places to stay in Istanbul.
In the Beyoğlu district we find the Galata neighbourhood, another of our favourite places to stay in Istanbul. With a strong history and a multicultural image, this neighbourhood is known for being the site of the famous Galata Tower, one of the must-see sights in the city.
In addition to a wide range of hotels and restaurants, this neighbourhood is known for its lively nightlife, with young travellers and locals alike thronging the terraces that dot the neighbourhood's steep, historic streets.
If you're looking for a less touristy but central and lively place to stay in Istanbul, Galata is a perfect choice.
The price of accommodation in Galata is usually around 30 euros per night.
Find here your accommodation in Galata
Recommended hotels in Galata
Here are the most recommended options we have found for accommodation in Galata:
Galata, another of the best places to stay in Istanbul.
3. Taksim, the centre of Istanbul
Although this neighbourhood, its famous Taksim Square and the emblematic Istiklal Street are considered the centre of the city, being quite far from the main attractions of the city, they would not be for us the best choice to sleep in Istanbul, especially if your visit is only for a few days.
However, this area is well connected to the rest of the city, has a wide range of accommodation and restaurants and is one of the liveliest areas of Istanbul.
The price of accommodation in Taksim is usually around 30 euros per night.
Search here for your accommodation in Taksim
Recommended hotels in Taksim
Here are the most recommended hotels we have found to stay in Taksim taking into account quality and price:
Taksim, another place to stay in Istanbul.
4. Beşiktaş and Ortakoy, a charming neighbourhood to stay in Istanbul
In the Beşiktaş district we find the Ortakoy neighbourhood, another of the most recommended areas to stay in Istanbul, if you are looking for a lively but less touristy area that is also quite distinguished.
Here you'll find the Dolmabahçe Palace and the avenue leading to the ports, which is the starting point for the famous Bosphorus cruises.
In addition to these attractions, the neighbourhood has a wide range of hotels and restaurants and a lively nightlife, which has become another attraction for travellers looking for accommodation in this area of Istanbul.
However, it is quite far from the main tourist attractions, so you will need to use public transport.
The price of accommodation in Ortakoy is usually around 50 euros per night.
Search here for your accommodation in Ortakoy
Recommended hotels in Ortakoy
We leave you the most recommended accommodations we have found to stay in Ortakoy taking into account quality and price:
Beşiktaş and Ortakoy, a charming neighbourhood to stay in Istanbul.
5. Nisantasi, one of the most exclusive areas
In the Şişli district you'll find this neighbourhood, which is characterised as one of the most exclusive areas of the city with an abundance of residential areas, luxury hotels and high-budget brand-name shops.
The neighbourhood is also home to Cavahir Istanbul, considered one of the largest shopping malls in Europe.
Considering the high hotel prices and the fact that it is not exactly close to the city's tourist attractions, we do not recommend this as a good place to stay in Istanbul.
The price of accommodation in Nisantasi is usually around 70-90 euros per night.
Search here for your accommodation in Nisantasi
Recommended hotels in Ortakoy
We leave you the most recommended accommodation we have found to stay in Nisantasi:
Although at the beginning we have talked about more areas where it may be advisable to stay in Istanbul, we believe that taking into account that most travellers are in the city for a few days and it is to see its most famous attractions, the areas we have talked about are thebest to consider for sleeping in Istanbul.
Our recommended accommodation to stay in Istanbul
During our stay in the city we stayed at The Million Stone Hotel, also located in the city centre, a few metres from the main attractions such as the Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia. In addition to its excellent location and good communication with the city's airports.
Another option would be Adamar Hotel with fantastic views of the city from its terrace and an extraordinary quality/price ratio.
After our experience, when we return to the city, we would choose to stay in Sultanahmet, as this is the most central area of the city and where most of the tourist attractions are concentrated, making it the best area to stay in Istanbul.
Best Hotels in Istanbul
In addition to all the accommodation where to stay in Istanbul that we have recommended in this post, if you want to enjoy an unforgettable stay in the city and treat yourself, these options we believe are the best to enjoy a few unique days in the city.
Where to stay in Istanbul, one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
Tips for finding cheap accommodation in Istanbul
In addition to the selection of neighbourhoods and hotels to stay in Istanbul that we have mentioned above, we would like to leave you with a list of tips and recommendations to make your choice as accurate and easy as possible.
As you have seen, hotels in Istanbul are very cheap. With this in mind, we recommend staying in an area that is well connected to the main tourist attractions such as Sultanahmet, especially if your trip is only for a few days.
If you opt for this option, you will be able to get around most parts of the city on foot, making your trip much easier.
Although prices don't tend to go up much, even in high season, if you're travelling in high season it's a good idea to book in advance to get more options and better prices.
Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate, we recommend you use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free and will save you a lot of money.
Once you have found the ideal place to sleep in Istanbul you can organise your routes around the city with the following guides and posts:
20 must-see places to see in Istanbul.
Istanbul in one day
Istanbul in two days
Istanbul in 3 days
Istanbul in 4 days
10 must-see travel tips for Istanbul
Top 5 best tours and excursions in Istanbul
The best free tours in Istanbul for free in English
10 restaurants where to eat very well in Istanbul
How to get from Istanbul airport to the city centre
The best travel insurance for Turkey
