Smart Stay Tips

Before arrival, send a short message to the hotel asking for the exact room type and, if possible, a photo of it. Several guests were surprised by the difference between booking pictures and reality, and this small step prevents most disappointment. If the room at check in still does not correspond, ask calmly for another one; in a small house the desk has room to move.

About Hagia Sophia: since 2024 foreign visitors pay a separate entrance fee and follow a dedicated route through the upper galleries, while the ground floor remains for prayer. Arriving right at opening avoids the longest queues, and prayer times on Fridays should be checked in advance. From the hotel, the walk takes about a quarter of an hour.

For dinner, climb to Süleymaniye rather than eating on the main Sultanahmet streets. The bean houses by the mosque, the small kebab places around Vefa and the view of the Golden Horn at sunset give far better food at lower prices than the restaurants with photo menus near the tram line.

One thing about the calendar: the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and on the first day of religious holidays. With the bazaar shuttered, the neighbourhood becomes almost empty, which is pleasant for a quiet walk but useless for shopping. Plan purchases for weekdays, ideally in the morning before cruise groups arrive.

Buy an Istanbulkart on the first day at a machine near the tram stop. One card can be shared between several people, works for tram, metro, Marmaray and public ferries, and makes transport substantially cheaper than single tickets. Keep it topped up, because some machines accept only cash in Turkish lira.

Check out is at eleven thirty, which suits most schedules, and the desk keeps luggage afterwards. Guests with evening flights can therefore spend the last afternoon on the Bosphorus ferry or in the hamam at Çemberlitaş and return only to collect their bags. Leave at least ninety minutes for the trip to Istanbul Airport at rush hour.