The city of Istanbul is filled with a myriad of hotels and hostels, but what makes theirs a cut above the rest is their contemporary takes on historical architecture and their rich Turkish heritage. These beautiful hotels are spread across the various neighborhoods of the city, some more favorable than others, like the district of Taksim or the tourist hotspot Sirkeci, according to a contributor of TripAdvisor. There are also a handful of options near the airport if you don’t feel like straying too far from the terminal.
Although a recent study shared on JLL is showing a greater interest in airport hotels due to their proximity to the terminal and the annual appreciation of downtown accommodation rates, there isn’t much incentive for travelers to stay near Turkey’s biggest aviation hub unless their purpose of their visit is business. The majority of airport hotels are still going to be pricier than the boutique varieties further in town, and this applies to all popular travel destinations. Basically, cheap hotels in or around the world’s busiest airports are quite rare, according to Parking4Less especially at the busy airport like London Heathrow where accommodation options are catered to luxe and business travellers.
So, without further ado, here are some excellent boutique hotels highly recommended for your next visit to Istanbul:
The Public, €140 a night
One of the newer hotels of the bunch is the recently restored building known as The Public, preserving its status as a historical monument. Stay in one of their high-ceiling rooms as you step back in time to the 19th Century, while still basking in luxe conveniences such as L’Occitane bath products.
Armada Pera, €81 a night
Sultans may have had their palaces, but their tailors were also living the high life in Istanbul. The Armada Pera is a museum of sorts, nostalgic of its previous tenant Paul Parma, the fashion guru behind the wardrobe of Sultan Abdülhamid II. The guestrooms of this five-storey building are simple yet elegantly designed.
Hammamhane, €99 a night
Built around the historic bathhouse Çukurcuma Hamam? that is currently being restored for next year’s reopening, Hammamhane is all about Turkish culture. The outside might not look like much, but from the moment you’re greeted with Turkish tea and insight on the hotel’s background, expect to be bathing in Istanbul heritage.