Areas and hotels in Istanbul where to stay

Istanbul is a huge city with many districts, each of which is something special. In total, officially there are 39 districts, but unofficially even more, besides, each district is also divided into so-called quarters. But tourists do not need to understand all this, because there are not so many places suitable for tourist accommodation, but in fact only two: the historical Sultanahmet district, and the tourist Beyoglu. About these places in more detail below, but for starters a little geography:

Istanbul is located in two parts of the world at once-Europe and Asia, which is divided by the Bosphorus Strait passing through the city. From one part to another, you can cross the bridge by car, the Marmaray city train, by ferries. The European part is more modern and interesting for tourists. The Asian part is also suitable for tourist accommodation, but there are few attractions here.

Map of Istanbul with districts, attractions and transport:

So, which area of Istanbul is the best place for tourists to stay:

• Sultanahmet & Fatih

  If you want to be in the heart of tourist life, close to attractions, cafes, then look for accommodation in the historical Sultanahmet district or walking distance from it (Sultanahmet district on the map). But there is one thing... Accommodation options here are very expensive. This is the most expensive place in the city.

  In general, to be more precise, this is not an independent district, but a quarter of the Fatih district, so in principle you can settle in any convenient place of Fatih. Fatih also includes the quarters of Eminonu, Beyazit, Laleli, Aksaray, but they are all so close and dense that when you settle or walk you will not even feel the difference between them.

  Learn more about Sultanahmet district, transportation, and how to get there here.

  

  

  

  

  

• Beyoglu & Taksim Square

  If you want to be not very far from the sights and in the thick of tourist life, but could not book accommodation in Sultanahmet/Fatih, then Beyoglu district and Taksim Square area are perfect (Beioglu on the map).

  This is the most developed tourist area of Istanbul. It is even more touristy than Sultanahmet, only there are few attractions here. But it is the center of entertainment and nightlife of the city: through it passes the pedestrian street Istiklal (Istiklal Caddesi), filled with bars and nightclubs. It is walking along this street – the main evening entertainment in the city. It's always fun and crowded, and there's always something going on. Throughout the street is filled with shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, fast food stalls, souvenir shops, currency exchange offices, banks, Turkish sweets shops, there are international restaurants McDonalds and Burger King. You can see performances of street artists, exhibitions of local artists.

  True, perhaps there is one big minus in the Beyoglu district and Istiklal Street: in the peak season (spring and autumn), tourists are so crowded that in the narrow streets you sometimes have to literally filter through the crowd during walks, and you can forget about the carefree promenade along Istiklal.

  Learn more about Beyoglu district, transportation, and how to get there here.

  

  

  

  

  

• Besiktas District

  This is one of the most expensive and fashionable areas of Istanbul. It is within walking distance of Taksim Square on the shore of the Strait near the port (Besiktas on the map).

  There are few attractions, only a few museums, and almost nothing historical, but a lot of places for walking: parks, a good promenade, modern shopping centers and entertainment complexes. This place is suitable for you if you come to Istanbul on business, or want to live in a clean neat place without merchants and intrusive sellers of tourist services. Although they are everywhere, there are just fewer of them here.

  We would not recommend staying in Besiktas on your first trip to Istanbul, as you will not feel the spirit of the city and the tourist atmosphere here, as in the old areas of Sultanahmet and Beyoglu. But on the other hand, if the funds allow, here you can settle in an expensive comfortable hotel, and go to other areas by taxi or public transport.

  Learn more about Besiktas district, transport, and how to get there here.

  

  

  

• Kadıköy and the Asian part (Kadıköy)

  The Asian part of Istanbul is very different from the European. Here are mainly sleeping and working areas, the poor population lives. But this has its own special flavor, so curious tourists and travelers who have visited Istanbul for the first time prefer to settle on this side. If you are not one of these, then you should not consider the Asian part of Istanbul as a place to relax.

  If you decide to stay in this part of the city, it is best to choose a hotel in the Kadikoy area (Kadikoy on the map). It is well developed, there are shops and clubs, tourist infrastructure. The historic tram T3 (ring) runs through the Moda quarter.

  Learn more about Kadikoy district, transport, and how to get there here.

  

• Princes ' island Adalar

  Princes ' island Adalar – this is a district of Istanbul, although they are located 20 kilometers from it. There are 9 islands in the group, and 5 of them are inhabited. One of the five is private, and the other four are resorts with hotels, restaurants, cafes, tourist entertainment. You can go to any of the islands as an excursion or on your own during the day, and if you want to stay there for recreation, including Beach. But I would like to note that you should not count on the islands as full-fledged beach resorts. This is rather an option for citizens to escape for the weekend on the beach, and to choose them as a place to spend the whole holiday in Turkey is not worth it.

  Learn more about the Princes ' Islands and how to get there here..., and separately about Buyukada Island and Buyukada Islandand Heybeliada Island.

  

• Other districts of Istanbul

  In addition to the popular areas mentioned, you may be tempted to choose an area with inexpensive accommodation somewhere in non-tourist places, perhaps on the outskirts. But we would highly discourage doing so.

  Firstly, the city is very large, and in order to get to the sights of Sultanahmet or entertainment in Beyoglu, you will have to spend 2-3 hours every day. But given that Istanbul is usually visited for a couple of days, this lost time will only be more expensive.

  Another reason is that you can easily settle in an unfavorable area, where it can not be dangerous, but it is clearly unpleasant to walk on the streets.

  But if you decide to save money and stay somewhere on the outskirts, choose a hotel at least near the metro station, city train or tram. So you can at least avoid traffic jams and reduce travel time to tourist areas.

Hotels and accommodation in Istanbul, accommodation features

Accommodation in Istanbul is expensive by Asian and Russian standards, but not expensive by European standards. The demand is huge all year round, so it is better to book at least a month before the trip, otherwise you will have to be content with the most expensive and low-quality options. The most popular seasons when booking for a couple of months is generally recommended are spring, autumn, and the New Year holidays.

For family accommodation, it is best to choose housing, not hotels. Apartment options are now offered on both hotel search and booking sites, including Booking and Agoda, which can also be searched on AirBnB. As a rule, apartments have WiFi and a kitchen, but not always. Some apartments may also not have a refrigerator, TV, hot water, and may only have a shared bathroom and toilet. Unfortunately, judging by the numerous reviews on AirBnB, the owners of the apartments do not know how or do not want to provide rental services at a satisfactory level. Apartments are often rented unprepared: garbage from previous tenants is not removed, without bed linen or dirty linen, or there are problems with settling in at the specified time. It is better to check everything immediately upon arrival and immediately solve problems with the owner on the spot, and if it does not work out, then act as written here - How not to spoil your vacation when booking a hotel in advance.

Search and book accommodation in Istanbul best on these sites:

• 🛌 Search for hotels in Istanbul on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Istanbul on Booking.com
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Istanbul on Trip.com
• 🛌 Search hotels in Istanbul on Ostrovok.ru
• 🛌 Search for affordable accommodation in Istanbul on Sutochno.ru