We had an amazing experience at Hotel Nena. The hotel is centrally located and walking distance to…read moremany sites, transportation, restaurants, drug store, etc. We stayed in both a superior room and the top floor luxury room. Both are a reasonable size (not large) with comfortable beds. However, the top floor room had a balcony and an amazing view of The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, and where the Bosphorus joins the Sea of Marmara. Most important, the service was excellent. I want to name Gokhan, Aziz, and Mehmet and the lead housekeeper who were all extremely pleasant and helpful to us. Gokahn was responsive and helpful in setting up our reservations and transportation on arrival at Istanbul Airport which is the largest airport above ever seen. Communication was clear and we had no issues arriving (or leaving). We had picked up a bug just before leaving the USA, though we didn't know it at the time. Aziz and Mehmet were particularly helpful when I got very sick. They checked on our well being daily and offered the help of a doctor the hotel has on call, if we needed one. We are so grateful to you all for such caring attention. It made all the difference in turning what could have been a negative experience to a positive one. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!! Philip & Ricardo

Wonderful position. Is at the center of old city, 5 minutes from Aya Sophya and Grand Bazaar…read more The view from the terrace is amazing, you are exactly in front of the Blue Mosque. The staff is kind and the breakfast is complete european, but you will not find espresso coffee. Ataturk airport is at 20-30 minutes of taxi.

We stayed here both times during our trips to Istanbul. First for our honeymoon and then later for…read moreour babymoon :) we stayed both times in the premier section which was perfect. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful and they remembered us when we returned. We felt like family. The rooms are very clean and spacious. The breakfast, although pretty much the same every morning, is delicious and fresh and healthy. The location could not be better. It is a 5 minute walk to sultan Ahmed mosque and all of the restaurants and shops you'd need. The grand bazaar is about a 15 minute walk when you know the shortcuts to take. We would definitely stay here again when we return to Istanbul.

Dates of stay June 4-10, 2021 Floor/Room: 3, 319…read moreFree Wi-Fi Room features: King bed, medium firm support, 2 firm pillows, TV, 2 night stands, luggage stand, 2 sitting chairs, beverage table, full length mirror, storage & closet for hanging cloths, shower, single sink, electric hot water pot. 2 windows that swing open & open like an oven door partially. The room looks down to the open sitting area below, as well as a covered enclosed area. Views of the Sea of Marmara, and the cityscape/nightscape fantastic. Istanbul has cats roaming all around. This is just the way it is and you should be prepared for this in your travels. Cats are very special here and protected for religious reasons. Why is this info in this review? Because no matter what room you are in, at any hotel you will see and hear cats fighting and screaming 15+ times a day. Room 319 for all of its greatness has this even more so due to the cats lounging below on the patio or roof below. The staff are great and super helpful. However one desk staff member needs to learn to relax on pushing you to go visit a rug and decor store he claims is owned by the same owner of the hotel. Each time I interacted with him it was a constant push to setup a time to go visit the store. If I tell you I don't want or plan or need rugs or home decor leave it rest. Stop pushing it over and over. Please address this whomever owns this Hotel Azade. I am fine with tour recommendations. They have cleaning service coming through each day, and if you choose to they will swap out anything you need. The building is quite clean. To go between floors they have a lift large enough to accommodate 2 people and a couple bags of luggage. There are stairs also. The lobby area is quite large with a few sofas and chairs, art work, etc. Next to the front desk is a metal stand full of different tourist brochures available around the area. The breakfast spread you see in some of the photos definitely isn't what is going on right now. The only place I have encountered almost inedible food since I have arrived in Istanbul is at their morning breakfast. Yet somehow it seems to get worse each day. They have tables setup with the following options. One hot warmer has boiled eggs and reconstituted overly wet particles of scrambled eggs. The next warmer has French fries and some mystery mix you can put over the fries. It has hotdog pieces, green peppers, tomato spices, some French fries on some days or potato on another mixed in. The next warmer has French toast but there is absolutely no syrup to go over on any day. In the same warmer is biscuits. On a table nearby is oranges. Another table a toaster with 3 bread options. Another table cold plates with two very small pieces of what looks like Boulogne, 2 small pyramid chunks of cheese, tomato, lettuce. A drink stand with hot water, cold water, sour cherry juice, peach juice, orange juice all in boxed form. There is a Nescafe machine which will make you shots of Espresso or coffee and cream. Extremely processed foods, and not very tasty in anyway. I really go back up each morning really to see if it will be like in the pictures others have posted, instead of what looks and tastes likely as good as prison food. This really needs to be changed or just don't offer free breakfast, it is that bad. On one of the days they apparently ran out of hotdogs. So they substituted carrots and Persian tiny pickles... On one of the days something was off with the breakfast food. Within an hour my stomach started churning, gurgling and I broke out in heavy sweats. I am ever so thankful I stayed in my hotel room for the day. It was an all day event taking place, and you can read between the lines why. Synopsis: Would I stay here again? Absolutely. The price point was great, the wifi perfect for standard use, the view from the roof terrace and my room spectacular, most of the staff very helpful and friendly, clean. Would I ever eat breakfast here at the hotel? With the exception of the fresh oranges, coffee, and water, absolutely never, ever ever

Stayed at this hotel for 2 nights. The location is great. It's literally across the street of the…read moreHagia Sophia Museum. The Blue mosque and the Basilica Cistern are only a few minutes walk. The room was clean and the staff was attentive. Our room faced the street with some noise from the street car though it wasn't too loud. The included breakfast buffet offered a good selection of different choices. One drawback is that taxis can't drive all the way to the hotel and you'll have to carry your luggage for roughly 2 blocks. The hotel also doesn't have an elevator.

If you're looking for a reasonably priced hotel with clean rooms and a great staff look no further…read more This grand old hotel is right in the center of all the historic things you will want to see. You can just walk to all the sites. Their restaurant and breakfast spaces have stunning views of Istanbul history. There is great pride taken by the staff to make sure that you feel welcomed. Recommend without reservation, Mike and Dionne Wilson

We stayed in for only one night (booo! we wanted to stay longer!). We got the best room in this…read moreboutique hotel right in the heart of Old City Sultanahmet. We booked on Booking.com, after weeks of searching- and we were right to choose this hotel! What's so special about Hotel Seraglio is the location, the service and the view. I mean, this place is simply divine. We were given the best room, which is on the top floor, facing the Blue Mosque. We had a direct view of the mosque from our own balcony and deck. The deck had a swing and a table set, perfect for sipping your morning tea or Turkish coffee while enjoying the view. I literally deliberately stayed up late just enjoying the view, it was my first time in Istanbul and I was fascinated and in love! We arrived in the evening, and we actually just walked 10 steps out of the hotel and had a great dinner in a restaurant steps from the hotel. After dinner, we strolled over to Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque- a unique experience sans the crowds- and at night, even more majestic. My husband and I felt very safe in this area, in this hotel, and the staff was more than accommodating. The hotel had an elegance about it that was utterly charming. We didn't have time to have breakfast in the hotel (as we had our own balcony and wanted to soak it up) so I can't comment on the food, but we did have our own coffee maker in our room. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was big. There was also more than enough room to store our suitcases, and a safe for our valuables. I was awakened at 5:30 am by the call to prayer. (My husband didn't even budge!) For me, it was a lovely experience. I loved that too, as I felt one with the place, and the culture. The front desk arranged our trip to the airport the next day vis shuttle. Pain free, easy. We were of to Dalaman and were left wanting to return to Istanbul. We will come visit Turkey again-- what a warm people and a beautiful place. We are well-traveled, and thought nothing could surprise us anymore. Yet Turkey took our breath away! We will be back at Hotel Seraglio and highly recommend this to others as well.

The hotel location is perfect very close the blue mosque and Aya Sofia mosque, close the…read morerestaurants and small bazar . The hotel itself very clean the staff are very friendly the breakfast is delicious. We loved being there and definitely will choose the same hotel if we visit İstanbul again !

I was surprised how nice this hotel was and how well it met all my needs during my stay in…read moreIstanbul. Location: Top marks here. It is so close to everything that we needed to get to. A few mins. walking distance to the Mosques and Bazaars and the Sultanamet train station. The only thing is I wouldn't recommend eating in this area as things are quite expensive since it is the touristy area. It does quiet down a lot at night time since the mosques close. Service: everyone here was nice and courteous. They spoke English and was able to give us tips and recommendations. They even mailed out my postcard for me on my last day here because I couldn't make a trip to the post office! I Just paid them in cash! Oh yeah, free water bottles! Just ask. Food: I didn't know just how good I had it until I went to another hotel later but the breakfast buffet here is top notch!! SUCH variety and everything tasted so good! They not only had a spread of the cold deli meats and breads, but they had hot foods every morning too! It wasn't all vegetarian either! I was very impressed and was able to eat my fill. Having a hearty breakfast really set us up for the rest of the day because we were able to skip lunch and just have a good dinner. Fully recommend taking advantage of the delicious breakfast. Rooftop - the sights here was beautiful. I was able to wake up really early one morning and take in the quietness of the streets and see all bridge and Blue Mosque in the light of dawn. Gorgeous. Room: Since we didn't spend much time in the room, it was perfect for what we needed. It was small, just enough for a bed and a place for our suitcase but again, it's what we needed. Bathrooms were clean and shower pressure was good. Price: I booked it on Expedia and it really was a great price. This place is a prime example where value and quality can be had altogether.

I had stayed at the Adamar Hotel back in 2009, and had an awesome experience then. So when I was…read moreplanning my return trip to Istanbul for 10 days at the end of October, I knew where I would stay. And I am so pleased to report that the Adamar Hotel is still as amazing. I made online reservations directly through the hotel, and found they have online offers, such as shuttle pickup from airport with a certain length of stay, and discount for cash. Making a reservation was easy, and they responded quickly to any questions. There are now 3 wonderful men at the front Reception desk: Halil (whom I met from my first stay), Ilhan, and Gokhan. All three men were incredibly helpful, respectful, and friendly. They were endlessly patient with my questions, need for directions, and forgetting/mispronouncing their names! They handled payment quickly and efficiently, and provided good ideas for sightseeing and dining. In addition, Evrim, Burak and Emre also work in the reception area and were kind, friendly, and always eager to help with anything needed. The rooms had been updated, and I found them to still be spotlessly clean. The housekeepers Sengul and Turkan did a fabulous job of keeping my room clean, and always gave me welcoming smiles. The rooms are a bit small, but no smaller than any of the European rooms I have stayed in. My room (204) had large windows, and was very bright and cheery. Windows opened, and when closed really blocked the outside noise well. The bed was a bit hard, but comfortable. The best part was a power heating/AC unit that kept the room comfortable at all times. The upstairs breakfast area is truly the star here (well, in addition to the wonderful staff!!). The breakfast is still bountiful and delicious. Selda who works here is also friendly and will take your order for one of their fabulous omelets. All food is fresh and well prepared. The view is unequaled, and there is a beautiful serenity to starting your day gazing out onto the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. There is free Wi Fi throughout the hotel which was strong and worked well. There is also a computer in the lobby to use for printing needed documents. Overall, in my 10 day stay here I felt like I was staying with my family. I feel incredibly close to the staff, as if they were all my friends, brothers and sisters. I felt safe and protected, and there is just some kind of magic at this hotel. Each and every staff member here clearly takes pride in their work and doing a great job. I plan on returning again to Istanbul in a few years and look forward to staying here again. I miss them already!

Nice hotel in a wonderful, central location. It's a little tricky to reach by taxi since it's on a…read moreone-way, touristy street -- but that's a small tradeoff for such a central spot. The room was a decent size, clean, and comfortable. Breakfast was included in our rate and was surprisingly good.

We had a great stay here, you are in short walking distance to many of the major sites of Istanbul,…read morethe staff is absolutely lovely very helpful and many are multi-lingual. We stayed here 3 nights and the room was comfortable for my husband and I although it was a bit tight because we had two suitcases each that we had checked in. We also ordered room service two times because we were just lazy about going out, and the food was excellent with a variety of items to choose from. Would absolutely stay here again.

Breakfast terrace alone is a sufficient reason to book this hotel! How many terraces can provide…read morethe unobstructed view of the Blue Mosque and the Sea of Marmara like this? One of my highlights of my 6-night stay in Istanbul was dining on the delicious breakfast buffet as I watch the sun rises from Asia! Anyway, the breakfast terrace is not the only thing that is great about this hotel! If you are seeking for an optimal location for sightseeing, Star Holiday may be the best you can find. The Hippodrome (Sultanhamet Square) is in front of the hotel, the Blue Mosque is a few minute walk away, and Ayasofya and Basilica Cistern are literally around the corner. Additionally, the tram stop is next door so you can easily go anywhere in Istanbul including the airport. Star Holiday does have few flaws though. The most obvious one was the much smaller room than advertised; although I booked an economy room with two doubles, I was shocked to see an extremely tiny room that is sufficient only to rest and nothing more. The floor insulation is poor, so every step upstairs sounds like a stomp. The Wi-Fi is slow, so you probably cannot upload your photos online. Nonetheless, these flaws are only glaring if you intend to stay in the hotel most of the time, which you should not do when you are in the city that is full of wonders! Despite these flaws, I still enjoy staying in the hotel, because the room is comfortable and has all basic amenities, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the breakfast buffet is plentiful and delicious even if you do not consider the spectacular view. In fact, no flaws can cover the fact that this hotel is in an optimal location with an optimal terrace view! Anyway, unless you need a luxury hotel experience, I highly recommend Star Holiday especially to first-time Istanbul tourists, because nothing is more magical than starting your day as you walk by the Blue Mosque to the tram stop and ending your day as you walk by the lighted mosque as you return to your hotel.

On average its good for the cheap price they offer. Plus, location is fantastic infront of the…read moremetro line and overlooking The blue mosque and Aya Fofia musuem. Also, its 10 mins walking to Topkapi palace. Every thing is good including the breakfast served on the terrace overlooking blue mosque and the helpful staff, apart from 2 things; the rooms are extremely small and toilets smell really weird. Again, the hotel is really cheap so ts convenient to what you paying. One more thing, don't take the hotel shuttle from the airport as they charge 25 euro ( 90 or more turkish money) per person and its double the price of a taxi from Ataturk to sultan ahmet where the hotel is. Taxis won't cost more than 5o turkish money.

Had a great stay at Armada Hotel recently…read more Great location, a short walk to Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque. Near the water (Sea of Marmara), close to Kennedy Cad. walking through old archways to the shore. You can see the seas from the windows in your room (if you're lucky to get one facing that direction), from the great rooftop terrace or the breakfast area - one side views of the water (even spotted dolphins one morning), the other, views of Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Nice lobby, with a small pond of turtles, memoiabillia, historical artifacts. The room (Queen size bed) was clean, comfortable, cutely decorated with nice touches (like paintings on furniture), nice colors, slippers, plenty of soaps in the bathroom, lots of storage, best bath towels (absorbent and big), teas, coffee, water bottle and another one in the mini fridge. We had room cleaning once and the lady did a great job, bringing more water, swiping the floors, making the beds, putting the bathroom back together. Nice touching gifts - like the nice bookmarks we found on the nightstand! Staff was nice and attentive, from the booking phase, to check in, they brought us lemonades till they finished cleaning our room, to every day help. At the end, they were nice to call for a taxi for the airport on our behalf and they helped with luggage and all, made sure we left early to make our flight due to road closures for May 1st holiday. Even if the hotel is lively, has a bar and a restaurant, it was quiet, no issues at night, got great night sleep. Comfy bed, pillows, comforter. The breakfast buffet is one of the best we ever had, they do put lots of hotels in US to shame! You can get your regular cereals, omelet, boiled eggs, but you have great fruits (best watermelon) and fresh vegetables, Turkish pastries, cheese-s, jellies (quince, apricot, orange), tahini, home made yogurt, local treats. Nice coffee, try the Turkish chai/tea and the Cherry juice is a must! Once again, nice service and great views all around. Great hotel to stay while visiting Istanbul. Affordable, pampering, nice experience. And since it's Istanbul, the hotel has its own cat that greets you! Wonderful location, staff, view, local touches!

This was a beautiful hotel with a breathtaking rooftop view of the Blue Mosque; clean, spacious,…read morenicely decorated rooms; and friendly staff! I enjoyed my stay for the most part, however there was one thing that made the stay extremely unpleasant. There's a fountain in the lobby where several aquatic turtles are kept, and all of them were sick due to improper husbandry (no UV lights or heat, no exposure to sunlight, lobby lights on 24/7). The turtles were pale and one of them had pneumonia (floating sideways in the water); another was extremely weak and minimally responsive. I own several aquatic turtles and am a veterinarian with special interest in reptiles, and seeing these sick animals with improper housing really upset me. The staff seemed receptive when I offered suggestions for improving their housing and welfare, but it's hard to say whether anything was done after I left. Also, there were several songbirds in dark, dirty cages, also with no exposure to sunlight or UV light, who looked depressed and did not appear healthy. Several other visitors I spoke with felt the same way about the welfare of the animals at the hotel. If these animals can't be housed properly, then I don't see the point of displaying them. It's a turn-off to tourists who care about animal welfare. Keeping reptiles and birds healthy in captivity involves specialized care and lots of research. I truly hope the hotel owners/staff can either improve their living conditions or rehome them altogether and avoid having exotic pets on display going forward. I've been thinking about these poor animals months after my visit, and I hope they're not still suffering.