Last updated on 14 November 2023 | by Stefan Hotel Follower
Archaeologically, Istanbul is one of the most significant cities in the world. Lying amid the two landmasses of Europe and Asia, Istanbul joins the eastern and western biosphere. Istanbul has an amusing and miscellaneous history that has prejudiced many people, including the Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans. Its ancient importance will be echoed in the city’s food, construction, and spots.
Istanbul in Turkey is an expansive city, and some neighbourhoods are unquestionably better headquarters than others. And you will reserve a lot of stint by residing in an area that furnishes to your interests. But where to stay in Istanbul? When visiting the city for the first time, most people will stay in either Sultanahmet or Beyoglu districts on the European side of Istanbul.
Sultanahmet is a particularly perfect instanbul neighbourhood to stay for first time visitors. The major tourist attraction is the Sultanahmet Square. Here you will find Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia most remarkable landmark in Mediterranean. It’s a well-known tourist attraction site and a lot of accommodation can be found in the area.
But there area many more districts to explore and worth to stay in the city. For example, the Golden Horn district is well known for its estuary. And it’s famous for its background. A preferred diversion here is to sit in one among the parks and watch the amazing sunshine setting into the sea from distance. Golden Horn district still shows remnants of Ottoman. Here has fewer tourist and several opportunity to discover a genuinely Turkish portion of Instanbul.
The Asian side of Instanbul in Turkey is principally an area of business and appear extra attractive to workforce as compare to tourist .However, Calmlica Hill is highest hill in the city thus best tourist attraction site. It’s nearer to Instanbul thus makes it pleasant for setting café. Kadikoy and Uskudar are best areas here to stay.
What’s the best area to experience the city as a local or when visiting the first time, what’s the best district for shopping or for nightlife, with family or where to stay on a budget? Read on below to find out more best neighbourhoods to stay in Istanbul Turkey.
Quick Overview – Contents
What is the Best Area to Stay in Istanbul?
Best for First Time (Sightseeing): Old City Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque – Grand Bazaar area)
Sultanahmet is the famous and ethnic heart of Istanbul. It’s the ancient part of the city and is enclosed by bodies of water to the north, east and south, and old city partitions to the west.
This district is the top place to halt in Istanbul if you’re staying in the city for the first time. It’s in Sultanahmet’s old-fashioned lanes and zigzagging streets that you’ll discover the bulk of the city’s main historical, cultural and religious charms. From Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar shopping to the Blue Mosque, several of Istanbul’s iconic breakthroughs can be found in walking remoteness of each other.
Where to Stay in Istanbul City Centre
- Best Luxury Hotels
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet • The St. Regis Istanbul - Best Great Value – Top Rated Hotels
Apple Tree Hotel • Boss Hotel Sultanahmet - Best Cheap Hotels in Istanbul
Loka Suites • Khalkedon Hotel Istanbul - Best Bed & Breakfast in Istanbul
Ramparts • Otantik Guesthouse - Best Budget Hostels in Istanbul
Agora Guesthouse • Big Apple Hostel & Hotel
Best Areas to Stay in Istanbul
Where to stay in Istanbul for best nightlife? Beyoğlu (Galata – Taksim – Cihangir)
Galata is a neighbourhood situated north of the Golden Horn. While strictly part of the Beyoglu district, this neighbourhood has a dissimilar impression and skill. Encompassed cobblestone streets and neoclassical edifices, Galata is among the city’s eldest neighbourhoods.
In current years, Galata has appeared as one of Istanbul’s tranquil neighbourhoods. It’s in Galata where you will discover they city’s up-to-the-minute nightlife act. From fashionable bars and modish clubs to peaceful pubs and trendy cafes, this neighbourhood partakes it all. For itinerants and residents eyeing for a pleasurable and sparkling night on the town, Galata is the terminus of high-quality. Other nightlife spots are Taksim Square area and the district of Cihangir.
Best places to stay for local experience? Karakoy – Fatih
Karaköy is a minor district located at the entrance of the Golden Horn. In the initial 2010s, redevelopment blow-out to this part of the city and up-to-the-minute cafes and boutiques initiate launching themselves in the bare remarkable buildings.
Today, Karaköy is one of the city’s most fashionable and modish neighbourhoods. Here you’ll discover a collection of sellers and fashionable cafeterias as well as self-governing shops. With its individual impartial portion of historic and ethnic attractions, this is also where you’ll treasure some of the most amazing sights of Istanbul.
Faith is also one of the best places in Turkey for local experience. It’s considered the top conservative district in Istanbul due to the fact that, community of Carsamba is religious. It’s always a quiet area with a lot of thing to explore. Here you can visit a lot of site and explore local knowledge about them. Like Fatih Mosque, here you will learn about things like for example, what cause the end of Ottoman Empire to an end and so on.
What’s the best neighbourhood to stay in Istanbul with family? Old City Sultanahmet – Besiktas
Sultanahmet is the most attractive area within Instanbul. Its best for family stay since it has wide ranges of hotel offering accommodation for affordable prices. It’s also has significant features to make you stay on sight always as you will be able to explore a lot of sites for pleasure.
Besiktas is located halfway amid old city, Beyoglu and Bosporus neighbourhood. It’s the best place to stay with your family since you can easily travel to reach your destination within instabul within a short time. The environment of Besiktas is full of fun and atmosphere is cool and lively. Here in Besiktas, you capable of getting several small shops to budget in thus no need to stress. Restaurants as well as bars are extra available and charges less money thus will make you save a lot as you and your family enjoy yourselves.
The area is lovely and up to date as street food are good and available all over the area. Its central position will enables you to explore the other sides of city with ease. Thus you can move through entire instanbul while within a perfect lively estate.
What’s the best district in Istanbul for shopping? Galata (Serdar-ı Ekrem) – Istiklal street – Kadikoy (Bağdat Caddesi) – Grand Bazaar area – Nisantasi
Galata is one of Istanbul’s most delightful neighbourhoods, with ample of distinctive shops and boutiques just coming up. The historical sky and striking architecture brand shopping in Galata a complete pleasure, this area is well served with public transport thus moving your properties is with ease. Due to its location in Beyoglu district, you can easily get to old town to do your shopping.
Nisantasi is one of the coolest districts in instanbul. It’s the most preferred area for fashion lovers and shopaholics since it has a number of shops, bars and many nice restaurant.it makes movement to other places easy since it has perfect means of transport.
Grand Bazaar has the largest market worldwide.it has most colourful, hectic, and most charming places in city offering a wide range of goods from jewellery to food and clothes thus best shopping.
Where to stay in Istanbul on a budget? Fatih – Kadikoy – Aksaray (Fatih)
Kadikoy is a neighbourhood on instanbul Asian Shore, its best for budgeting since it offers a lot of fish as well as producing Turkish pizza, olives, stuffed mussels and many others. It’s filled with a numbers of small shops, boutique, as well as groceries and restaurant thus perfect for budgeting. You can also opt to stay in Aksaray, part of the Fatih district. Plenty of budget friendly properties can be found in this area as well.
The 5 Best Areas in Istanbul for Tourists (First Time Visit)
1. Old City Sultanahmet (near Blue Mosque)
This is the Istanbul’s best tourist attractions site, the relaxed place to base yourself. It’s a short turn from all the city’s key historical attractions.
The Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Hagia Sophia Museum are all within a few minute walk, and several hotels in the area have astronomical views of these buildings, as well as out to the Bosporus from their gable verandas.
- Best Hotel: Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet
- Best Cheap Hotels: Katelya Hotel • Hotel Coliseum
2. Beyoğlu (Galata Tower, Taksim Square, Cihangir)
The Taksim Square area is the hub of the city and is rich of public transport thus movement is more with ease. From here, the most tourist attraction sites of the city is reachable with ease.
Cihangir is located near Taksims Square. Its overlooks Bophosrus and perfect in offering the best view of the city. It habits famous people from Turkish TV, others from fashion and entertainment areas thus best to visit. Its Museum of Innocence is an attractive site.
- Best Hotel: Pera Palace Hotel
- Best Cheap Hotels / Great Value : Villa Pera Suite Hotel • Peradays
3. Karaköy
Karakoy is located on European side of the city especially, it’s on waterside where Golden Horns meets with Bosphosphorus. It was once an important port but now, it has emerge to be the finest city neighbourhood.
It has a lot of Boutique design hotels, trendy cafes as well as special boutiques. Its perfect area to explore for local knowledge. With huge population of people, it’s one of the busiest parts of Istanbul Turkey.
- Best Accommodation: Vault Karakoy The House Hotel
- Best Cheap Hotels / Great Value: Bankerhan Hotel Galata • Ünver Galata Apart (Aparthotel)
4. Asian Side or Anatolian Side
The Asian Side or Anatolian Side of Istanbul is a perfect area for tourist since it has great monuments .Also arrival of Marmaray, some parts of Asian Side Kadikoy has been a choice for visitors to explore.
Pleny of budget friendly accommodation is located in this part of the city.
- Best Accommodation: Wyndham Grand Istanbul Kalamış Marina Hotel
- Best Cheap Hotels / Great Value: Istanbul Life Hotel • Zin D Home Dudullu Suits (Aparthotel)
5. Besiktas
Due to its location halfway to old city centre, this gives best place for visitors to explore several unique tourist site within the city with ease.it also gives a perfect view to the city thus gives visitors a rough ideas of places to explore around it.
- Best Hotel: Raffles Istanbul
- Best Cheap/Mid-Range Hotels: Hotel Bosfora • Manna Boutique Hotels
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