Istanbul It is a charming city that knows how to combine east and west and be a mecca of world tourism. But when planning a trip, one of the questions that arise and must be resolved is, where should we stay? What neighborhoods or places are best to hire accommodation in our destination?
Today we will see then, What are the best areas to stay in Istanbul.
Istanbul
The old one Byzantium and Constantinople It deserves to be visited even once in a lifetime. He has witnessed so many chapters of universal history that we cannot ignore it.
Today, as before, it is the economic, cultural and historical center of Türkiye, and as we said at the beginning, it is a city with one foot in two continents, Asia and Europe.
It is inhabited by more than 15 million people, and it is thus one of the most populated cities not only on those two continents but in the world. It was born with the name of Byzantium before the birth of Christ, it was refounded with the name of Constantinople just over three centuries after the Christian era and It has been the capital of three of the most powerful empires in the world, the Roman, the Byzantine and the Ottoman.
Istanbul is a city with cold winters, with some snowfall and very rainy. Summers are also humid and long, but a little milder.
Where to stay in Istanbul
Well, it will largely depend on whether it is your first time or not. For first timers Maybe it's best to stay in the neighborhood of Blue, an area that is a comfortable walking distance to Hagia Sofia and the famous Blue Mosque. If you want to stay in a hotel with good views, then the Hotel Amira will meet your expectations.
But the truth is that Istanbul is a really huge city and there are thousands of accommodation options. There are many areas and each one has its pros and cons. Thus, we can talk about some seven areas where a tourist can stay.
As we said, Blue tops our list of preferences, especially if you don't know the city and it's your first trip. It's a super touristy neighborhood, with many beautiful architectural buildings and alleys everywhere.
It is one of the oldest areas of istanbul, all around Sultanahmet Square, which was formerly a hippodrome. It is the neighborhood of Agia Sofia and the Blue Mosque, for more information, but also for the Basilica of the Cistern and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art.
Another interesting place in this area of Istanbul is the Arasta Bazaar, great for walking and shopping. It may be small but it has a lot of charm and you escape the crowds of the Grand Bazaar. Here you can buy all the souvenirs and even dine at a restaurant on the terrace.
So, in Sultanahmet you have historical attractions (Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Arastam Bazaar, the Basilica of the Cistern, German Fountain, Egyptian Obelisk, Column of Constantine, among others), good restaurants, terraces with great views of the Bosphorus and good transportation to the rest of the city . On the other hand, there are many tourists and that is why the prices in the stores are usually high.
On our list of the best areas to stay in Istanbul follows Eminonu. This area is like the transportation center of the city because Trams, boats and trains converge.
Here is the Grand Bazaar with its 4 thousand stalls and its labyrinth of little streets. He too sea wall is close and here is the Egyptian Spice Market where you can get a bottle of lemon cologne, for example.
It is also the neighborhood of Topkapi Palace, where the sultans lived, and the Suleymaniye Mosque, a true marvel of architecture. Along the boardwalk you will also find many stalls selling fish and bread, fish sandwich, if you dare to eat fish on the street they are delicious. There is also the Gülhane Park.
If you stay here in Eminönü you will be close to good historical attractions (Topkapi Palace, Railway Museum, Rustem Pasha Mosque, etc.), you will have many means of transportation at hand, many restaurants, bazaars and the possibility of taking cruises around the Bosphorus.
On the other hand, it must be said that it is a very chaotic and hectic area.
beyoglu It is the third neighborhood that we can recommend when we think about What are the best areas to stay in Istanbul?. It is a historic and very lively area, with hills, so here you can't help but walk and get a little tired.
If you don't want to move so much you can take the Karaköy-Beyoglu funicular to the top, getting into the mountain, being the oldest underground transport tunnel behind the London Underground.
here is the Galata Tower, stroll along the historic trams, stroll through the Taksim Square and delight in its architecture, its shops, theaters, restaurants and pastry shops. It is a beautiful area of Istanbul.
Within this area There are the neighborhoods of Cihangir and Cukurcuma, quite bohemian. There is a lot of art, independent galleries, antique shops...
So, Beyoglu is beautiful if you want to move between historical buildings, use public transportation a lot, do special shopping or enjoy the nightlife. On the other hand, hotels can be expensive and there is always noise.
Karaköy is a hipster. It is easy to get here from Eminönü and Sultanahmet, you cross the Galata Bridge on foot or by tram, and if you are in Beyoglu you just have to take the funicular down the hill.
This part of Istanbul has always been a port and commercial area, but for some time now it has taken on a hipster air: cafes, cool shops, restaurants, lots of street art. Here is also the Istanbul Modern art gallery, one of the best in Türkiye, and some good hammam.
The good thing about Karaköy is the vibe and life that is breathed in its streets and the views from the coast. The negative is that at night it can be noisy.
A commercial and residential area at the same time, historical and modern, es Besiktas. It has almost no tourists so if you avoid them like the plague this may be your favorite area to stay in Istanbul.
On the boardwalk there is old ottoman houses worth seeing, and so are the views of the Bosphorus, the old palaces converted into luxury hotels, vintage stores, super expensive stores and modern shopping centers.
For elegance there is the Dolmabahce PalaceFor sea lovers, Turkish Naval Museum, for religious or artistic tourism the Ortakö Mosqueand and for football lovers, it is home of the Tüpras football club stadium.
The positive thing about this neighborhood of Istanbul is that it is modern, it is close to the football stadium and It has a lot of nightlife without tourists. The bad thing is that if you want to go on foot to the most tourist attractions in the city, they are all far away and the subway doesn't reach you.
Fener and Balat They are south of the Golden Horn. They are multicultural neighborhoods famous for its cafes and its colorful architecture, in addition to being a place Heritage.
There are many religious sites, churches, synagogues and mosques everywhere. The Chora Church is the most famous, dedicated to Mary and with beautiful Byzantine mosaics. There are also the Fatih Mosque and the Ahrida Synagora.
Both neighborhoods are rather quiet and residential, so no bars or nightlife. They have good views from the coast, cafes, good restaurants and a lot of tranquility.
Colorful buildings that ensure good photos, very cool cafes, people from all over the world, but… They are far from the main attractions of Istanbul and lack much nightlife.
Finally, we can talk about Kadikoy, a neighborhood you reach by ferry. There is a ferry service that goes back and forth across the Bosphorus in a 45 minute trip and is very cheap. If you want to escape tourism it is a very quiet area to stay, despite the distance.
You can visit the Kadiköy Market, Maiden's Tower, the old Haydaparsa train station or Camlica Hill not far away.
So, if you are planning a trip to Istanbul consider any of these areas of the city to stay.