"A’jia Istanbul’s heart, the Bosporus Strait, snakes through the metropolis and splits Asia from Europe. Away from the central city hubbub, A’jia is tucked into the upper Bosporus shoreline with panoramic views across this watery highway. Guests staying here dip their toes into a waterfront world once reserved as a summer haunt for the sultan’s family and high-ranking members of the Ottoman court. Built in 1897, this yalı (waterfront mansion) was home to Ahmet Rasim Pasha, the Ottoman governor of Tripoli. The painstaking conversion in 2005 preserved the bones of the original, ornately flourished architectural style while transforming the interiors into spaces designed with a white-on-white palette that draw guests’ eyes directly to the stunning Bosporus. High-ceilinged rooms are flooded with light and dominated by oversized beds with Italian linens. Bathrooms are outfitted with Philippe Starck fixtures and fragrant bath products by Acqua di Parma that encourage long soaks in bathtubs with a view."

"Opened in 2017 as the first Fairmont property in Turkey, this 209-room hotel is inside a 41-story luxury high-rise in the Mecidiyeköy business district, close to high-end shopping and dining. Gaze past the hotel’s landscaped gardens to the city and all the way to the Bosphorus from your private balcony—every room and suite has one, along with a 48-inch smart TV, pillow-top mattress, rain shower, Le Labo Rose products, and your choice of tub or traditional Turkish bath (complete with heated pedestal). More Turkish flair—and flavors—are on offer at Aila restaurant and Demlique café, while Stations serves dishes from around the world and the Marble Bar pairs small bites with an international selection of wine. While these Turkish touches can be found throughout the property—most notably at the expansive Willow Stream Spa, with its selection of herbal products and authentic hammam treatments—the hotel has a decidedly contemporary vibe and style, and feels part of today’s buzzing Istanbul . Case in point: the Ukiyo seasonal outdoor infinity pool, envisioned with Instagrammable whimsy by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders."

"At the Four Seasons Bosporus in the restored Atik Pasha Palace, Turkish interior designer Sinan Kafadar has created a space that effortlessly blends the decadent artisan features of the palace with contemporary comfort to reflect the building’s historic and modern stories. Rooms retain the essence of regal days gone by, with mahogany daybeds and custom-designed fabrics in muted tones of copper, terracotta, and burgundy. Guests scrub away their jet lag in the sumptuous marble-clad spa and soak up the sun on the pool deck while watching the Bosporus boats bob past. Afterward, the see-and-be-seen crowd gravitates to the shorefront terrace of the Yalı Bar to catch sunset over the waterfront while sampling fine Turkish wines and snacking on mezze dishes. For guests eager to dig deeper into Istanbul ’s vast palace and mansion heritage, the Four Seasons' Extraordinary Experiences service offers private tours of Ottoman art expert and historian Serdar Gülgün’s restored waterfront mansion, guided by the owner himself."

"Once Istanbul ’s notorious prison, a lavish conversion in 1996 transformed this site, set amid the squiggle of lanes behind the colossal competing domes of the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, into the city’s landmark Four Seasons Sultanahmet. Built in 1918, the hotel’s ornate neoclassical architecture has been finely restored, while the enclosed exercise yard is now a courtyard garden where guests can escape the hustle of the historic quarter. Classically designed rooms are awash with light blue and green hues and subtly scattered Turkish textiles and motifs. On a hot summer’s day, cool off with cocktails overlooking the old city’s minarets on the rooftop A’Ya Lounge. Eagle-eyed history fans can hunt for the 1938 graffiti left by a former inmate on a pillar near the courtyard. Being neighbors with theHagia Sophiahas extra benefits. The Four Seasons’ Extraordinary Experiences service offers a privileged chance to explore Emperor Justinian’s greatest achievement without the crowds, on an after-dark tour of the Hagia Sophia."

"This sleek, ultra-modern spot takesits inspiration from the linear forms of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian. The Gezi Bosphorus offers a chic and thoroughly striking alternative to the city’s usual Ottoman aesthetic. Cozy rooms have a retro feel with smoked oak and glass used to create warm yet light-filled interiors. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the Deluxe Bosphorus rooms have attention-grabbing views of Istanbul’s iconic Bosphorus Strait. The Gezi Bosphorus’ green credentials set it apart and prove comfort doesn’t have to be sacrificed for sustainability. Proudly practically zero-emission, the hotel reuses water in its garden; recycles all papers, plastics, and metals; and produces hot water from excess air-conditioning system energy, making it one of the city’s few hotels to receive Turkey’s Greening Hotel Certification. Just off Taksim Square, staying here puts guests amid Istanbul’s modern city core, steps from the shopping vortex of İstiklal Caddesi but still only a short hop on public transport to the historic quarter of Sultanahmet."

"The Hyatt Centric Leventis a slick city pad that eschews Ottoman finery and instead submerges guests in a zen-inspired interior. The huge rooms are splashed with a palette of soft grays and warm rosewood. They feature Frette linens, custom-programmed iPods, daily fresh flowers, and Bang & Olufsen electronics. Free from flounces and frills, the quiet elegance of the rooms offers a thoroughly urban-luxe experience. Home to two of the city’s most exclusive nightlife spots, the Hyatt is a destination in and of itself. The warm tones and quirky 20-foot-long tropical fish aquarium lining the bar of the Gold Bar provide a relaxing respite for quiet nightcaps. Business travelers can take care of corporate needs using the 24-hour multilingual secretarial service, the intimate screening room for private films and presentations, plus a series of contemporary-styled meeting rooms."

"In the heart of the city’s business district of Taksim, Barceló is a modern example of Istanbul’s contemporary face. Designed by Zeynep Fadillioğlu, the interiors balance both classic and contemporary features, offering a warm, modern feel. Spacious rooms amply utilize shades of blues and purples, while oversized (and extra-long) beds will please taller guests. Suite rooms offer a hint of old Ottoman luxury with traditional Turkish bath basins and also allow access to the private top-floor Lounge 11, where complimentary drinks, snacks, and cocktails are served throughout the day. A favored destination for business guests, the hotel provides state-of-the-art meeting facilities, and a business corner on the mezzanine floor offers 24-hour service. When work is done for the day, guests can relax with a traditional Turkish scrub-and-soak treatment at the Marti Istanbul Spa or sip cappuccinos or cocktails at Mixo Terrace—Taksim’s largest rooftop restaurant. For guests on the go, the hotel’s Gourmet Stop café serves takeaway sandwiches and cakes."

"New Galata Hotel Istanbul’s hippest district, Beyoğlu, offers a resoundingly different accommodation option that's aimed at independent travelers. For guests who love the idea of renting a holiday apartment to experience Istanbul life but still seek the security of a hotel, the New Galata offers the best of both. The five expansive rooms come outfitted with fully equipped kitchenettes perfect for travelers looking to explore Istanbul’s vibrant street market scene. Light-filled interiors have a touch of studio living about them, mixing blonde wood and bold splashes of primary colors with the original stonework of the building’s 1930s architecture. Service is unobtrusive and low-key, so those who want to discover the city for themselves can forge their own path. For guests who do welcome extra help, management here is clued in to the latest trendy restaurant and café openings on the Beyoğlu scene."

"The Park Hyatt Istanbul Macka Palas shines at highlighting Istanbul ’s local culture. Whether guests want to discover the best of Istanbul’s boutiques with a personal shopper, indulge in some male grooming at a traditional Turkish barber, or visit a local fortune-teller for a fun coffee-cup reading, the hotel can make it happen. Located in the exclusive Nişantaşı neighborhood, rooms have Art Deco styling with French balconies, lashings of warm wood, and neutral tones. Deep bathtubs, Dornbracht showers, and bath products by French perfumer Blaise Mautin add an indulgent feel, while separate workspaces with ergonomically designed desks are a thoughtful addition for business travelers. The hotel’s unique Spa Rooms bring the Turkish bath experience in-room with oversized bathrooms featuring opulent traditional hammam fixtures and steam rooms."

"Pera Palace Hotel One of the world’s most iconic hotels, the Pera Palace first swung open its doors in 1892 and has been a meeting point for travelers in the city for more than 100 years. Ernest Hemingway and Agatha Christie clicked at their typewriters in the guest rooms, Greta Garbo once wafted through the sumptuous lounge, and Alfred Hitchcock drew inspiration for his films while staying here. The neo-Baroque interior was created by legendary French-Ottoman architect Alexander Vallaury, and luscious jewel-toned Turkish carpets and grand chandeliers immerse guests in the glamour of a bygone age as soon as they step through the front door. The original antique elevator still trundles guests to their rooms, where Old World furniture, classically inspired burgundy textiles, and decadent roll-top baths provide oodles of 19th-century elegance. The Pera Palace is a timeless grande dame of the golden age of travel and is as much a part of the fabric of Istanbul ’s history as the city’s monuments."

"Connected to the high-end retail hub of the Zorlu Center, Raffles Istanbul may have top dining, shopping, and even a cinema on its doorstep, but its position high on the hill above Beşiktaş, overlooking the Bosphorus, is pleasantly removed from the city center. Opened in 2014, the hotel blends Istanbul’s entrepôt heritage and vibrant, present-day spirit, with interiors that celebrate both the past and the present. The vast lobby features abstract sculptures, Turkish ceramic tilework, and artist Çetin Paksoy’s specially commissioned glass-mosaic doors, while the 185 generously sized rooms, suites, and multi-bedroom residences are doused in hazy blues and grays, outfitted with elegant furniture and textiles, and framed by floor-to-ceiling glass opening out onto private, furnished terraces. In-room tablets offer touch-of-a-button fixture control and room service, while the renowned Raffles 24-hour butler service fulfills more personalized needs. Istanbul’s jet-setters mingle with hotel guests over shared places at Rocca Brasserie, pan-Asian dishes at Isokyo, afternoon tea at Lavinia Lounge, homemade sweets at the Raffles Patisserie, and signature cocktails (including Raffles’ famous Singapore Sling) at the Long Bar or—in warmer months—the alfresco Lounge 6. The exceptional spa has indoor and outdoor pools—both with sweeping views—plus a gym, fitness studios, hair and nail salon, wet areas, three traditional Turkish hammams, and nine treatment rooms for pampering rituals."

"The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul overlooks the bends of the Bosphorus from a superb central location just a short stroll from Taksim Square. Classically styled rooms come with feather beds and 300-thread-count linens. Turkey’s famed Iznik tiles add splashes of Ottoman splendor to the marble bathrooms, where guests scrub away a long journey with gorgeously scented Asprey bath products. A key destination for spa fans, the spa includes the city’s first exclusive Turkish bath made especially for couples. With its finger on the pulse of the luxury spa scene, the hotel is also home to Istanbul’s first outdoor spa-terrace, where sightseeing-weary guests can relax in Jacuzzis, indulge in a massage, or simply sunbathe beside the pool while soaking up the city views. Food lovers can tuck into sun-drenched Mediterranean flavors at Atelier Real Food and join Istanbul’s in-the-know crowd for a lazy brunch here on Sundays. Close to both Taksim and the chic shopping district of Nişantaşı, yet still an easy 15-minute journey by public transit into the heart of the historic district, the Ritz-Carlton allows guests to experience the best of both old and new Istanbul."

"With only 18 rooms and a room-to-staff ratio of one-to-one, this funky design hotel offers personalized service that makes guests feel as if they’re staying at an ultra-stylish friend’s home. Outfitted to feel like a slice of New York City loft-apartment living, Witt Istanbul ’s rooms have snubbed the Ottoman aesthetic in favor of retro-modern furniture that showcases the best of Turkish design. Beds are covered with luxurious local Denizli linens, while oversized gray marble bathrooms pay tribute to the traditional Turkish bath and also feature walk-in rain showers big enough for two. Breakfast here is an organic feast of local produce that includes handmade jams and honey from the hives of Bodrum. Guests are encouraged to indulge in a lazy morning with the hotel’s breakfast-in-bed service. Some rooms also have small kitchenette areas, while any guest who’s suffering from restaurant fatigue can order from a local restaurant for a quiet night in."