World Heritage Hotel Istanbul

The World Heritage Hotel Istanbul attracts a low-key crowd composed primarily of couples from around the world interested in a simple, comfortable guesthouse close to the sights. While it lacks glamour or a bustling atmosphere, the hotel feels quaint and quiet. It's housed in a narrow masonry building with French doors and balconies on a street of other hotels and carpet and souvenir shops. Guests step down to a lobby of beige striped wallpaper and flocked velvet chairs clustered before a lace curtain-covered picture window overlooking the street. A sideboard with domed dishes of pastries such as baklava and an urn of coffee make for a pleasant welcome, while books, magazines, and brochures are scattered around the room. The best design feature here is the rooftop dining area with its partial view of the Blue Mosque. Sturdy oak chairs provide seating in this white-walled dining room, while the terrace is furnished with basic woven furniture. 

Located on a cobblestone street in Sultanahmet Square, the hotel is a five-minute walk to the Blue Mosque and its dizzying array of Iznik ceramic tiles. Other tourist sights in walking distance include the Basilica Cistern, an astonishingly beautiful ancient underground water storage site (seven minutes), the Hagia Sophia (nine minutes), the Topkapi Palace (11 minutes), and the Grand Bazaar, the world's oldest covered shopping center (12 minutes). The fragrant and colorful Spice Market is an eight-minute drive or a 15-minute walk from here. Sirkeci railway station is about a 10-minute drive, as is the Galata Bridge. Ataturk International Airport is a 35- to 60-minute drive, depending on traffic.

Guest rooms at the hotel are small and relatively simple with cream-colored walls and patterned wallpapers, lilac tufted headboards and armchairs, and white or blond-wood furniture. Fourteen of the rooms have a bit more light as they have French doors that open to Juliet balconies, but two family-size rooms in the basement have limited views. Rooms have hardwood floors and small brass and crystal chandeliers. Guests frequently note the comfort of the beds, which are covered with white linens and lilac throws. All of the rooms have flat-screen TVs, safes, electric kettles for tea and coffee, black-out drapes, and slippers, as well as free minibars stocked with water and soft drinks. Bathrooms are tiny, with little space between the walls and the vanity-style sinks and toilets. There are small stall showers with sliding glass doors. Hairdryers are provided and toiletries are the hotel's own brand. 

This small guesthouse is generous with its free amenities. Guests are offered free coffee and tea upon arrival and a side board laden with desserts is available in the afternoons. A free buffet breakfast that includes Turkish coffee, olives, and cheese, is served on the rooftop terrace or dining room. Limited room service is offered. Wi-Fi is free throughout, as is the use of a computer and fax machine. The front desk is open 24-hours, and staff member languages include English and French. The front desk also provides currency exchange, car rental arrangements, concierge services, and wake-up calls. Airport transfers are available for a fee. And laundry service is available for a fee. Children under four stay free in existing beds. The hotel operates a strict nonsmoking policy.