The first and most important thing is to know how the city is divided and what are the best areas to stay in order to choose the one that best suits your needs and the type of trip you are going to make.
Istanbul is on the border between Europe and Asia, so we can say that some areas of the city are in the Asian zone and others in the European zone. In this case we will focus on the European area, which is where most travelers are concentrated and is also where most tourist attractions such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace or the Galata Tower among many others.
We leave you a summary of the most recommended neighborhoods where to sleep in Istanbul, which we will talk more extensively in the following sections.
- Sultanahmet: this is the most touristic neighborhood of Istanbul and where you can find most of the things to see and do in Istanbul.
- Galata: located in the northern part of the Golden Horn, this is a very local neighborhood with a very special charm where you will also find the Galata Tower.
- Taksim: this is one of the commercial areas of the city, where we find Taksim Square, the most famous square in the city and Istiklal Street, one of the main arteries of the city where you can see the old streetcar circulating.
- Ortakoy: in the European area we find this charming neighborhood, although much less touristic than those mentioned above.
- Nisantasi: known for being the most European area of Istanbul, here you can enjoy the glamour of Istanbul and a much more elitist atmosphere than in the rest of the city.
- Üsküdar: on the Asian side, this is one of the quietest neighborhoods in Istanbul, perfect for travelers who want to get to know the real essence of the city.
- Fatih: with an atmosphere very similar to the previous one and also located in the Asian part, this neighborhood is known for the Fatih Mosque, one of the places to see in the city.
- Kumkapi: this is the fishing district of the city where most travelers arrive after a cruise on the Bosphorus, one of the best tours and excursions from Istanbul, to eat in one of its restaurants where you can eat delicious fresh fish.
- Beyoglu: in the northern part of the Golden Horn, in the European area, we find this neighborhood little frequented by travelers, but where most of the city’s stores are concentrated.
- Beyazit: full of corners where time seems to stand still, in this authentic neighborhood you can visit the Beyazit Mosque, another of the most famous in the city.
1. Sultanahmet, the best place to stay in Istanbul
Known for being the nerve center of the city, the most touristic neighborhood and the area where most tourist attractions such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque or the Topkapi Palace are located, Sultanahmet is undoubtedly the best place to stay in Istanbul.
In addition to having a wide range of accommodation, you can also find a wide range of restaurants as well as many stores focused on tourists and walk to virtually all places of interest.
The price of accommodation in Sultanahmet is usually 30-50 euros per night.
2. Galata, another of the best places to sleep in Istanbul
In the Beyoğlu district we find the Galata neighborhood, another of our favorite places to stay in Istanbul. With a marked history and a multicultural image, this neighborhood is known for being the place where the famous Galata Tower is located, one of the visits you can not miss in the city.
In addition to a wide range of hotels and restaurants, this neighborhood is characterized by very lively nights, in which young travelers and locals crowd the terraces that dot the historic and steep streets of the neighborhood.
If you are looking for a less touristy but central and lively place to sleep in Istanbul, Galata is a perfect choice.
The price of accommodation in Galata is usually 30 euros per night.
3. Taksim, the center of Istanbul
Although this neighborhood, its famous Taksim Square and the emblematic Istiklal Street are considered the center of the city, being quite far from the main attractions of the city, they would not be for us the best choice to sleep in Istanbul, especially if your visit is only a few days.
However, this area is well connected with the rest of the city, has a wide range of accommodation and restaurants and is also one of the liveliest areas of Istanbul.
The price of accommodation in Taksim is usually 30 euros per night.
4. Beşiktaş and Ortakoy, a charming neighborhood to stay in Istanbul
In the Beşiktaş district we find the Ortakoy neighborhood, another of the most recommended areas to sleep in Istanbul, if you are looking for a lively area but with less tourist atmosphere that is also quite distinguished.
Here you can find the Dolmabahçe Palace and the avenue that leads to the ports, which is the place from where the famous Bosphorus cruises start.
In addition to these attractions the neighborhood has a wide range of hotels and restaurants and a lively nightlife, which has become another attraction for travelers looking for accommodation in this area of Istanbul.
Despite this you should know that it is quite far from the main tourist attractions, so you should use public transport.
The price of accommodation in Ortakoy is usually 50 euros per night.
5. Nisantasi, one of the most exclusive areas
In the Şişli district we find this neighborhood that is characterized as one of the most exclusive areas of the city where there are many residential areas, luxury hotels and brand stores for high budget.
Also in the neighborhood you can find the Cavahir Istanbul, considered one of the largest shopping malls in Europe. Taking into account that the prices of hotels are high and that it is not exactly close to the tourist attractions of the city, for us this is not a recommended option where to stay in Istanbul.
The price of accommodation in Nisantasi is usually 70-90 euros per night.
Although at the beginning we have talked about more areas where it may be advisable to stay in Istanbul, we believe that taking into account that most travelers are in the city a few days and it is to know its most famous attractions, the areas we have talked about are the best to consider for sleeping in Istanbul.
Tips for finding cheap accommodation in Istanbul
In addition to the selection of neighborhoods and hotels where to sleep in Istanbul that we have discussed above, we want to leave you with a list of tips and recommendations to make your choice as accurate and easy as possible.
- As you have seen, hotels in Istanbul are very cheap. With this in mind, we recommend you to choose to stay in an area that is well connected to the main tourist attractions such as Sultanahmet, especially if your trip is for a few days.
- If you choose this option, you will be able to get around most parts of the city on foot, making the trip much easier.
- Although prices do not usually go up much, even in high season, if you are traveling at that time it is a good idea to book in advance to have more options and better prices.
- Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free of charge and will save you a lot of money.
