Istanbul Travel Forum

Hi - what is the best area of Istanbul to stay in terms of convenient transportation and proximity to the main sites? Any safety issues? Thanks.

As most tourists do, Sultanahmet is your answer. You will be walking distance to Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sofia, Yerebatan Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Spice Market since you will be in the center of Historic Peninsula. You will be also very close to Golden Horn and Taksim. If you browse through tips and forum replies, you may find many hotels located in that area. According to your budget, you can find many options. Enjoy Istanbul :)

Yes, Sultanahmet is a great place to stay. Close to everything, easy to get around and catch bus and tram transport.

As in many places keep your valuables close to your body, particularly in the very populous tourist areas. Do not flaunt cards or cash.

Have a great time

Hi Donna,

If you want to be in the middle of touristic area, Sultanahmet is the righ place. But if you want to be inside the city itself and close to the action, Taksim/Beyoglu area is the best.

Cheers.
Alper

How long are you staying? As Alper said, Sultanahmet is smack in the middle of the tourist areas, but if you want to get the best restaurants and nightlife (and in Istanbul this is REALLY a good thing to do) it would be better to stay in Taksim/Beyoglu. If you're in town for more than 5 days, do both! And if you are really on a leisurely vacation, I would also put in a pitch for a couple of nights on the Asian side. After something like ten trips to Istanbul, I finally stayed on the Asian side for a few days about six months ago, and found it really neat.

Istanbul has a zillion great little hotels. You will be spoiled for choice no matter where you go.

Thanks all. If anyone has any good and inexpensive hotel recommendations, send them along. We'll be there about 5 days.

THe chipest hotels in Sultanahmet area are Asur Hotel, Santa Sofia Hotel and may be Golden Crown. But it depends on the agency you purchase the rooms from. If I remmember exactly I booked my hotel at turkeytps.com, the best prices are there.

I don't know cheap hotels anymore (have been going to Turkey on business for the last 8 yrs) but for my last trip, I booked my hotels with visitturkeynow.com. They have a huge list of them. You can check ratings on tripadvisor.

I found this nice website on the page of another VTer (hexepatty) that may also help you find lodging in Istanbul. Actually it seems to be a great resource for wherever in the world you may be traveling to.

FYI, we stayed in Laleli a couple of weeks ago. It's a major commercial area (contemporary fashion seemed to dominate the stores in that area) with many hotels as well. But other than that there's not much going on. Just a short walk however to the Grand Bazaar and Sultanahmet. Even quicker on the tram. I would recommend to stay in Sultanahmet or Beygolu/Taksim as well.

Thanks everyone. I'll check it out.

Near sultanahmet you have a lot of nice little hotels not to expensive (35/50 euros for two breakfast included), like hotel hanedan, hotel peninsula and apricot hotel.

We stayed at the Side. Very central and cheap. If you want to look at room etc see my pages.Contact them directly not through a hotel travel site.