Sultanahmet Mah. Torun Sok. No: 19, Istanbul, Turkey | (618) 248-8274
Fantastic Sultanahmed location next to Blue Mosque
Set in pretty garden grounds with sea views
Restaurant and bar with an outdoor terrace
Traditional guest rooms have flat-screen TVs and minibars
Most units have private balconies and bathrooms with hammams
Free buffet breakfast
24-hour internet corner
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Guest rooms are dated and some need renovation
No fitness center
No elevator
The Sultanahmet Palace Hotel is a solid three-pearl option for travelers who want to be in the historic quarter as close to the Blue Mosque as possible. Most of its 45 traditionally decorated rooms have hammam-style bathrooms and private balconies, but the fairly dated standard rooms that have neither might not be worth the stay here. There's no wellness facilities either, though guests with the aforementioned private hammams might not mind. The restaurant serves regional cuisine and has a great outdoor terrace to enjoy free breakfast. Rates tend to be a bit higher at the nearby Hotel Amira Istanbul, but it has both more facilities and more modern guest rooms.
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Scene
Mid-range hotel with faux Ottoman-style decor
The Sultanahmet Palace Hotel appears palatial on paper, with its pretty grounds complete with topiary and wroght iron garden furniture, but the three-story building is a touristy replica as opposed to the real thing. Past the airy welcoming terraces, the interiors are filled with a faux patina, worn furnishings, and generally cheap approximation of an Ottoman style. But it's also dark enough to be forgiving, and most of the couples who stay here are using it as a base to explore the surrounding streets, rather than as a place to hang out.
Location
Prime Sultanahmed location, right behind the Blue Mosque
The hotel has a central location in Istanbul's old historic quarter, right across the street from the Blue Mosque. It's just a six-minute walk from Sultanahmet Square, and many of the city’s most iconic sites are within walking distance: the Arasta Bazaar and the Mosaic Museum are within a one-minute walk, the Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern are seven minutes away, and Topkapi Palace is 14 minutes away. The Grand Bazaar is just under a 20-minute walk from the hotel, and public transit stations are less than 10 minutes on foot. Ataturk International Airport is about 30 minutes away by car when traffic is light.
Rooms
Flat-screen TVs and minibars; most have bathrooms with hammams, but decor is dated
While there are some pleasant elements in the hotel's 45 air-conditioned guest rooms, including terra-cotta-tile floors and decorative vaulted ceilings in pastel hues with gilded moulding, paired with elaborate headboards and window dressings. However, furniture is visibly worn (including unsightly stains on some headboards), and some units are clearly overdue for an update. Standard rooms have queens or two twin beds, wooden work desks, and wardrobe closets. Deluxe Rooms can add king beds, and have varied seating areas with either loungers, cushioned window benches, or tables and chairs. Some units have private furnished balconies with sea views. Bathrooms have conventional shower/tub combos, while upgraded rooms have more traditional bathrooms with private hammams equipped with removable showerheads. By contrast, the two Junior Suites feature bathrooms with whirlpool tubs and rainfall showers, and all have private balconies facing the sea. Free Wi-Fi comes standard along with older flat-screen TVs, minibars, electric kettles, safes, and free tea and instant coffee.
Features
Restaurant with an outdoor terrace, internet corner, free breakfast
Features are slim at Sultanahmet Palace Hotel, with the restaurant as a highlight. Regional cuisine is served in an indoor dining room with Old World decor and banks of windows, and there's also a bar that opens onto an outdoor dining terrace with views of the Sea of Marmara. Free breakfast is included, and the lobby has a 24-hour internet corner with a computer and printer. There's no fitness center or spa on-site, and no parking is available, but Wi-Fi is free throughout. Travelers with limited mobility should be aware that the hotel doesn't have an elevator.
