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Where to stay in Istanbul: The best areas and neighborhoods

In this post, you'll be able to discover where to stay in Istanbul. Deciding where to stay in Istanbul was one of the most difficult decisions when planning our trip. The task becomes somewhat complicated due to the fact that it is a huge city, which translates into a lot of different and attractive neighborhoods to choose from. I hope this guide will be very useful in finding the perfect hotel for you.

Table of contents

The best neighborhoods to stay in Istanbul

Although there are many charming neighborhoods in Istanbul, in this article I wanted to focus on what I consider to be the 5 best neighborhoods where to stay in Istanbul. To narrow the list down to 5 areas, I have taken into account how close the neighborhoods are from places of interest, connection with other parts of the city and the leisure and restaurants in the area.

Did you know that Istanbul is the only city in the world that lies between Europe and Asia? On one side of the Bosphorus river, Europe, and on the other, Asia. Although I recommend visiting the Asian part during your visit to Istanbul, my first recommendation is that you stay in the European side, since most of the city’s tourist attractions are located here.

1. Sultanahmet, where to stay in Istanbul if it’s your first visit

SEARCH FOR HOTELS IN SULTANAHMET.

Sultanahmet, the historical and cultural heart of the city, is a great option to stay in Istanbul, especially if it is your first time visiting the city or if you are only visiting for a short period of time. Emblematic places like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern and the Topkapi Palace, several of the main places to see in Istanbul, are located in the old part of Istanbul. You will also be quite close to the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar.

Since Sultanahmet is the main tourist center of the city, hotels and restaurants prices are higher, something to consider if your budget is tighter. Don’t worry, there are other great neighborhoods with more affordable prices.

Another aspect about Sultanahmet to keep in mind is that the nightlife is not very lively, something that can be a good or bad thing, depending on the type of traveler you are. However, during the day you will come across many locals and tourists who visit the city.

2. Karaköy, a lively and well-located area

SEARCH FOR HOTELS IN KARAKÖY.

The following 3 neighborhoods that I am going to recommend below are located in Beyoğlu. Beyoğlu is a district in the European part of Istanbul, located on the other side of the Golden Horn. It is my favorite area to stay in Istanbul as it is very lively and has more cafes and restaurants than areas like Sultanahmet or Eminönü. In addition, despite also being a touristic area, it has a somewhat more local atmosphere.

Within Beyoğlu, one of the areas closest to the Sultanahmet neighborhood, where you’ll find places like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, is Karaköy. Karaköy is a small neighborhood located on the banks of the Bosphorus river, near the Galata Bridge, which connects Eminönü to Sultanahmet.

The Karaköy neighborhood was once on of the most important ports in the city. Today, it is one of the liveliest and most attractive neighborhoods in the city. Karaköy has so many restaurants, small shops and cool cafes. In addition, it offers wonderful views of the rest of the city. Do not forget to stroll through the streets in search of charming corners.

Apart from being an area well connected to the old quarter of Istanbul, if you stay Karaköy, it will also be very easy for you to get to know the Asian part of Istanbul. You’ll just have to go to the Karaköy pier and take the ferry.

3. Galata, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods to stay in Istanbul

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We continue to one of my favorite neighborhoods in Istanbul; Galata. This neighborhood has it all: good location, places of interest close by, great food options and incredible views of Sultanahmet. You’ll be able to enjoy an amazing view by going to Galata tower, the main tourist attraction in the area. You’ll also find several rooftop bars with incredible views of the old part of Istanbul, like Konak Cafe.

What else will you find in Galata? Cobbled streets, beautiful buildings and charming places. This area is lively both day and night, although the streets are packed with people during the day. At night it can be quieter. Whether you stay in Galata or not, I’m sure it will become one of your favorite neighborhoods to walk around in Istanbul.

There is one downside to staying in Galata that you should consider. Galata is located on a steep hill. This means that when you return to your hotel after visiting other parts of the city, such as Karaköy, Sultanahmet or Eminönü, you will have to walk up very steep streets. This isn’t a problem for me… It’s great to burn off all the local food you eat during your trip! However, for other people it can be inconvenient.

On the other hand, Galata is very well connected by public transport with other parts of the city. Within a few minutes’ walk, you’ll find a metro station, tram and even a funicular.

where to stay in Istanbul
Calle Istiklal

4. Taksim, liveliest neighborhood where to stay in Istanbul

SEARCH FOR HOTELS IN TAKSIM.

Taksim is one of the busiest and liveliest neighborhoods in Istanbul. Its neuralgic center is Taksim Square. Istiklal, one of the main streets in the city, starts in Taksim square. It is a long pedestrian avenue full of shops, bars and restaurants. It is possibly the liveliest street in the entire city, it’s full of people at any time of the day!

This is my first recommendation if you decide to stay in Taksim. Around Istiklal Street there are many bars and clubs, which is great if you want to party. However, it may not be the best option to stay in Istanbul, since there’s usually loud music at night. For this reason, my recommendation is that you stay in the surroundings of the square or in a street a little further away from this avenue.

There are many well-known hotel chains in Taksim. These hotels can be good options if you are looking for a hotel that offers all great service and amenities. Apart from more luxurious hotels, you will also find a wide variety of hotels for average and low budgets.

Another positive aspect of staying in Taksim when you visit Istanbul is that you have a metro station (line 7), which crosses the entire European part of Istanbul.

To go to Sultanahmet, you will have to take the metro line 7 to Yenikapi station and then a train (Marmaray) to Sirkeci station. Another option is to walk half an hour to Galata Bridge, the bridge that crosses the Golden Horn to the old quarter.

5. Stay near Grand Bazar, Eminönü

SEARCH FOR HOTELS NEAR GRAND BAZAR.

Eminönü is located right next to Sultanahmet. It’s one of the areas that has the most to offer that surrounds the Grand Bazaar. If you want to stay close to the historic center but are looking for cheaper hotels, this area is a great option. Aside from being steps away from the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, you won’t have to walk more than 15 minutes to get to places like Sultanahmet Park.

While you stroll through the streets of Eminönü, you will feel trapped in the past. You will be surrounded by decaying architecture, narrow alleys and some abandoned buildings. Beyond the two famous bazaars, Eminönü neighborhood is full of streets with local shops. This makes the main avenues of the neighborhood quite bustling during the day. At night they are much quieter.

One of the best parts about staying in Eminönü is how well-connected it is to rest of the city by public transportation. You will have a nearby metro station, tram station and docks where ferries are available.

where to stay in Istanbul
Where to stay in Istanbul

Conclusion: Where to stay in Istanbul?

Between the Asian side and the European side, I recommend staying on the European side, both in Fatih and Beyoglu (the two districts located on the shores of the Golden Horn).

If you are going to spend only a couple of days in Istanbul, I recommend staying in Sultanahmet or Eminönü neighborhoods, since they are the ones that are closest to many must-see places in Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, etc. These areas sre busy during the day and quieter at night. There aren’t many restaurant options.

Galata and Karaköy are just outside of the old part of Istanbul, on the other side of the Golden Horn. It still takes a short time to get to the center if you decide to walk, you just have to cross the Galata Bridge. Both neighborhoods are well connected by public transport. Advantages if you stay near the old part of Istanbul (Sultanahmet and Eminönü): more hotel options, a much greater variety of restaurants, the streets are more charming and it is lively during the night.

Finally, Taksim, a good area if you are going to spend several days in Istanbul. You can get to the old quarter in just over 30 minutes on foot or by public transport. It is one of the liveliest areas of the city. I do not recommend staying very close to Istiklal Street as it can be noisy at night.

There are other neighborhoods that I have not mentioned in this list that, despite being somewhat far from the historic center, are good places to stay in. They could be a very good option if you are going to spend a lot of time in Istanbul. These neighborhoods are Balat, Besiktas and Şişli.

I hope this post about where to stay in Istanbul has been very useful to you when choosing your hotel in this beautiful Turkish city. If you have any doubts or questions, I encourage you to leave a comment or send me an email. Until next time, travelers!

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