Choosing where to stay in Istanbul shapes your whole trip. The city is huge, traffic can be slow, and its main sights are spread between the historic peninsula, Beyoglu and the Bosphorus shore. Istanbul welcomes millions of overseas visitors every year as well as many Turkish travellers, so there is accommodation for every budget. The right area depends on what you want to see, how you like to spend your evenings and how much time you want to spend in transit.
Below are the main neighbourhoods visitors choose, with their pros and cons. If this is your first visit, read our Istanbul travel guide alongside this page to see where the main sights are.
Sultanahmet: Best for First-Time Visitors
Sultanahmet, the heart of old Byzantium and Constantinople, is the most popular place to stay for sightseeing. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern are all a short walk away, and many hotels have roof terraces with views of the domes or the Sea of Marmara.
Hotels in this part of the old city fall into three broad groups:
- Sultanahmet itself, including well-known places such as the Seven Hills Hotel, the Sultanahmet Hotel and the Blue House Hotel, plus many boutique and luxury hotels.
- Around Sirkeci, towards the Golden Horn, with hotels such as the Yasmak Sultan and easy access to the tram and ferries.
- Between Cemberlitas and Beyazit, near the Grand Bazaar, where you will find many smaller boutique hotels.
The trade-off is that Sultanahmet is quiet at night and busy with tour groups by day. For nightlife and restaurants you will need to cross the Galata Bridge to Karakoy or Beyoglu.
Our tip: Cemberlitas
If you want to be close to the old city without paying Sultanahmet prices, look at hotels in Cemberlitas. Rates are often lower than in Sultanahmet or Taksim, and Sultanahmet Square is about a 10-minute walk away. The T1 tram passes through, and the Grand Bazaar is on your doorstep.
Taksim and Talimhane: Best for Nightlife and Business
Talimhane, next to Taksim Square and Gezi Park, has a large concentration of 3, 4 and 5-star hotels. Many are business hotels with meeting rooms, so the area is popular with companies holding meetings in Istanbul as well as with European leisure travellers.
The big advantage is the evening scene. Istiklal Avenue and the side streets of Beyoglu are full of cafes, bars, restaurants and live music venues that stay open late, and there is plenty of shopping within walking distance. To reach Sultanahmet, take the funicular from Taksim down to Kabatas and then the T1 tram.
Karakoy and Galata: Best for Food and Atmosphere
Between the Golden Horn and Taksim, Karakoy and the streets around Galata Tower have become one of the most attractive bases in the city. You will find design hotels in restored buildings, good restaurants and cafes, and the Galataport waterfront, which opened in 2021. The tram runs across the Galata Bridge to the old city, and ferries leave from Karakoy for the Asian side.
Bosphorus Hotels: Best for Views
Where Europe and Asia meet, the Bosphorus shore has some of the city's most memorable hotels, including themed boutique properties and 5-star hotels with water views. On the European side look at Besiktas and Ortakoy; on the Asian side, Uskudar, Beylerbeyi and Cengelkoy are quieter and more residential.
From these areas Sultanahmet is usually around 30-45 minutes away by public transport or taxi, depending on traffic. Many guests feel the view is worth it, and you can see the shoreline properly on a private Bosphorus yacht cruise, which can pick you up from piers such as Besiktas, Kurucesme, Bebek or Beylerbeyi.
Laleli and Aksaray: Best for Lower Budgets
Laleli and Aksaray offer everything from simple boutique hotels to 5-star properties, generally at lower prices than in Sultanahmet. Transport links are excellent: the metro and the T1 tram meet here, and Sultanahmet is about 10 minutes away by tram.
This is a busy, cosmopolitan wholesale district that attracts traders from many countries. Standards vary a great deal, and some hotels are not well suited to families, so read recent reviews carefully before you book.
Where to Stay for Medical and Health Tourism
All the areas above suit visitors coming for sightseeing. Istanbul has also become a major centre for health and cosmetic treatment, and patients usually prefer to stay close to their clinic or hospital.
Many of the city's private hospitals and aesthetic clinics are on the European side around Bahcelievler, Sirinevler, Atakoy and Bakirkoy. If your treatment is in this area, choose a hotel nearby, such as the White Corner Hotel, which is around 10-15 minutes from many of these clinics. Ask your clinic which hotels it works with, as many arrange transfers.
Tips on Choosing Where to Stay in Istanbul
- Check the distance to the nearest tram, metro or ferry stop, not just to the sights.
- Traffic is heavy at rush hour, so staying near the places you will visit most saves a lot of time.
- Ask about airport transfers: both Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen are far from the centre.
- For local advice on getting around, see our Istanbul travel tips.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Istanbul for first-time visitors?
Sultanahmet or nearby Cemberlitas, because Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar are within walking distance.
Is it better to stay in Sultanahmet or Taksim?
Sultanahmet is better for sightseeing and is quiet at night. Taksim and Beyoglu are better for restaurants, bars and nightlife, and are linked to the old city by funicular and tram.
Is it worth staying on the Asian side of Istanbul?
It can be, if you want a quieter, more local feel and Bosphorus views. Expect a longer journey to Sultanahmet, usually by ferry or Marmaray train.
Which area of Istanbul is cheapest for hotels?
Laleli and Aksaray generally have lower hotel prices and good tram and metro links, but standards vary, so check recent reviews carefully.
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