The 5 Best Hotels in Istanbul

"This four-star hotel offers sleek, bright rooms with epic views over the city and a rooftop terrace where breakfast is served every morning so you can take in the panorama; the rooftop becomes a bar in the evening and is worth visiting for the view. The breakfast buffet has a lot of variety, and the rooms are cheery with large-scale drawings of important Istanbul landmarks on the walls; each room also includes air conditioning, a desk, a minifridge, an electric kettle, a flatscreen TV, and a safety deposit box. The bathrooms are a bit dated but have wide vanities for spreading out your things. The staff are exceptionally helpful, and there’s even a friendly hotel cat that gives the place a homey feel. The location is excellent — close to the ferry linking you to the historic sights and within walking distance of the atmospheric streets of Galata." - Matthew Kepnes