Simply put, Istanbul, Turkey, is home to some of the best luxury hotels in the world, from waterfront icons such as Çırağan Palace Kempinski and Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus to storied addresses including Pera Palace, Park Hyatt Istanbul - Maçka Palas, Raffles Istanbul, The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul, Soho House, Shangri-La Bosphorus and The St. Regis Istanbul. Millions of travellers flock to Turkey’s largest city every year for landmarks such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar, while the Bosphorus itself rewards exploration by boat. For affluent travellers planning a premium stay, location, views, hospitality and access to the city’s defining experiences matter as much as the room itself.
Istanbul is a crossroads where East meets West, and many of its finest luxury hotels reflect that identity by combining Ottoman grandeur and history with modern elegance, contemporary amenities and distinctive service. Some sit on the Bosphorus with panoramic views and resort-style spas, while others place you a stone’s throw from the old city or near Taksim for easy access to shopping, dining and nightlife. This guide reviews the best Istanbul hotels in detail, looking at rooms and suites, dining, spa and wellness facilities, location advantages and the standout touches that make the city's leading luxury hotels worth booking.
The First-Class.com guide to the best hotels in Istanbul:
Çırağan Palace – Kempinski - 9/10
Çırağan Palace Kempinski is located on the European shore of the Bosphorus Strait and boasts stunning views across the water to the Asian coast; It is within easy reach of Istanbul's historic peninsula. The palace was commissioned by Sultan Abdülâziz and completed in 1867 as an Ottoman imperial residence, and today remains The hotel incorporates the historic Çırağan Palace, one of Istanbul's most distinctive Ottoman palace landmarks. The Çırağan Palace has evolved to become an iconic 5-star hotel, and part of the Kempinski Group. Accommodation is offered across a range of 310 rooms and suites and options include a Bosphorus view, spacious balconies and 24-hour personalised butler service. For a distinctive stay, the Harem Suite offers views of Yıldız Park, once part of the sultans' hunting grounds. overlooks Yıldız Park which was once the hunting forest of the sultans. Accommodation features luxurious marble bathrooms, Wi-Fi and a range of thoughtfully selected in-room amenities, with facilities varying by room and suite category.
The hotel’s seven fantastic dining locations include Laledan Restaurant - with Arabic & Asian Sushi and the Legendary Çırağan Sunday Brunch, and the Bosphorus Grill which has a menu of meze, grilled meats, fish, and seafood served waterside with stunning views. From late afternoon onwards, relax among the palm trees at Le Fumoir, with a selection of premium cognacs, single malts and Champagne. Outside, The 47 is a must-visit waterfront gin bar offering a stylish location to enjoy a cocktail. The hotel spa managed by SANITAS includes a Turkish bath, gym, heated outdoor infinity swimming pool with waterfront views and a menu of Turkish, Swedish, and Indian-inspired treatments.
View more images and find the best rates for The Çırağan Palace – Kempinski
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus - 9/10
Enjoy a unique elegant blend of contemporary luxury fused with Ottoman design less than 60 minutes from Istanbul Airport. This Four Seasons property is nestled on the banks of the Bosphorus and boasts a range of 170 guest rooms and suites, all light and airy, with a choice of impressive waterfront, garden, and city views. The hotel's dining venues include seasonal concepts such as Ocakbaşı, along with Anason 34, Aqua, Yalı and Yasemin. Aqua offers seafood dishes in a waterside location; Yali the popular lobby lounge for drinks, tea, and cocktails; Yasemin serves breakfast and Turkish-inspired dishes, with tea and other refreshments available.
The serene indoor swimming pool has elegant skylights which invite daylight to bathe the water. Outdoors the swimming pool is heated in cooler weather and offers stylish cabanas for relaxation – and is completed with views over the Bosphorus. Personal training is offered in the state-of-the-art fitness centre with a variety of cardio machines and free weights. Traditional Turkish relaxation is on offer in three Hammams and summertime outdoor yoga classes take place on the terrace. Tennis courts are available just 15 minutes away and golf under an hour. The spa also offers specialised wellness treatments, alongside Turkish baths, fitness facilities and indoor and outdoor pools.
View more images and find the best rates for The Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus
Park Hyatt Istanbul - Macka Palas - 9/10
Just 45 minutes from Istanbul Airport in the fashionable Nişantaşı district you will find Maçka Palas. The hotel combines historic Art Nouveau architecture with contemporary interior design. The hotel is within walking distance of many upscale designer fashion houses, as well as ultra-trendy bars and restaurants The property offers 90 guest rooms and suites and all guests enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, tea and coffee facilities, ergonomic work areas and Bluetooth speaker controls. Selected accommodation includes residential spa rooms with private steam-room and traditional Turkish-bath facilities.
The Lounge at Park Hyatt is swathed in natural daylight beneath a beautiful glass atrium and offers all day dining including specialist Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. Guests can enjoy fine wines, cocktails and tapas at The Wine Bar or choose Nusr-Et Maçka Palas serves its signature steaks and dishes within the hotel overlooking the outdoor swimming pool, for premium meat dishes. For pampering, the Hotel Spa is available exclusively for hotel guests and offers a broad menu of treatments which blends traditions of Istanbul with modern Western techniques to ensure optimal wellness and relaxation. The Spa features two saunas, three luxurious treatment rooms and a relaxation area. Additionally, there is a 24/7 accessible fitness centre including state-of-the-art equipment and a rooftop outdoor swimming pool.
View more images and find the best rates for Park Hyatt Istanbul - Macka Palasn
Pera Palace - 9/10
Construction of the Pera Palace began in 1892, and the hotel opened in 1895 to accommodate passengers travelling on the Orient Express, and Room 411 is associated with Agatha Christie and is traditionally linked to the writing of Murder on the Orient Express here. The hotel combines neoclassical, Art Nouveau and Oriental influences in its architecture and interiors, it has welcomed royalty and famous guests from around the world; notable names include Zsa Zsa Gabor, Greta Garbo, Alfred Hitchcock, and Jacqueline Kennedy; Several rooms and suites commemorate notable guests, including Agatha Christie and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. There are 115 rooms, including 16 suites, and in-room amenities include a comfortable seating area, Wi-Fi, tea-making facilities, and bathrobes. Choose from rooms with sea or city views.
At the Agatha Restaurant choose from French, Italian and Turkish cuisines. In the stunning Kubbeli Saloon Tea Lounge, afternoon tea is served accompanied by piano music. Designed as a private lounge, Patisserie de Pera is a French-style patisserie where you can indulge in handmade chocolates, French pastries, and unique Turkish delicacies. Orient Bar is one of the iconic elements of the hotel with live music performances on Friday nights. The Orient Terrace is open for morning coffee, snacks, lunch, and cocktails – a beautiful location to enjoy the outdoors in summertime.
View more images and find the best rates for The Pera Palace
Raffles Istanbul - 9/10
Located on the European side of the city in the Beşiktaş district, Raffles is attached to the Zorlu Centre which houses luxury, high fashion stores alongside art installations and performance venues. From its stunning vantage point just 40 kilometres from the international airport and with transport links to the Old Town and the Bosphorus, the property prides itself on being an oasis of calm and cool. The property features 185 rooms and suites and the hotel blends Turkish and contemporary design. Most rooms feature walk-in wardrobes and spacious bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers, floor-to-ceiling windows, a large furnished private terrace, panoramic views, and spacious suites. Lighting and air-conditioning are controlled by an in-room tablet.
The extensive spa includes Turkish hammam, saunas, steam rooms, experience showers and ice fountains alongside a Technogym, yoga, and Pilates studio. The spa is a sizeable 3,000 square metres in area! With seven bars and restaurants to choose from, guests can enjoy world-class Mediterranean gastronomy at Rocca Restaurant. Also, visit the lively Long Bar for drinks and light bites, Lavinia Lounge for afternoon tea, Five O’Clock for patisserie, or head to the Lounge 6 - poolside balcony - for drinks and cocktails. Isokyo showcases Japanese, Thai, Korean and Chinese-inspired cuisine.
View more images and find the best rates for Raffles Istanbul
The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul - 9/10
The property offers a choice of 243 rooms and suites - all of which have Turkish-inspired style and décor, feather beds and luxurious 300-thread-count linens. The oversized marble bathrooms are decorated with Iznik tiles and offer separate shower and bathtub as well as premium bath and skin care essentials, fluffy bathrobes, and slippers. If you bring your work with you, there is Wi-Fi and multi-line telephones with voicemail available.
Together the hotel’s restaurants and bars feature Bosphorus views, open-air seating, and winter terrace dining. Guests can choose from local and international wines and cuisine prepared with an emphasis on farm-to-table dining. Guests can enjoy fine dining at Atelier Real, enjoy a relaxed outdoor lounge experience at the Bleu Lounge featuring a retractable glass roof for incredible views year-round. Choose Vakko L’Atelier for delightful French patisserie or Nobu for its iconic dishes. The Roof Kitchen is an open-air terrace, home to a sleek modern bar and a fantastic and refreshing rooftop pool, complete with sprawling sundecks. Here in the summer, guests enjoy a breathtaking infinity pool, in addition to access to an indoor pool under a ceiling of twinkling lights. The Ritz Carlton Istanbul boasts the City’s first outdoor spa, complete with locally-inspired spa treatments, a Turkish hammam and indoor pool, a soaking tub, sauna, steam room and fitness centre.
View more images and find the best rates for The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul
Soho House - 8/10
The Istanbul House located in the heart of the Beyoğlu district - just over 30-minutes from the international airport - and is the property occupies the historic Palazzo Corpi and adjoining Glass Building in Beyoğlu. Many original features of this unique home include fresco ceilings and historic wood panelling. The property has 87 bedrooms, The bedrooms are located across the historic Palazzo Corpi and adjoining Glass Building. All rooms include complimentary wi-fi, flat-screen television, minibar, tea & coffee facilities, homemade biscuits, and a range of Cowshed products.
Relax and enjoy food and beverages in the Main Bar with marble bar-top, leather stools and velvet seating, Dining Room is a cosy setting for evening meals, House Kitchen serves an international menu with local influences, Morning Room is a lounge area for all-day eating and drinking. Naavah Terrace an atmospheric seasonal outdoor dining location beautifully lit to enjoy summer evenings outdoors. For activity and pampering Cowshed Spa offers a range of natural therapies using products from the signature range, while the Neville barbershop provides men's grooming treatments; there's a blow-dry bar and a hammam. The gym includes a boxing ring, Technogym equipment and a programme of fitness classes, while Cowshed Spa offers massages, facials and other treatments. Free weights and machines are by Technogym and include the Climb Excite, Skillmill and Cable stations. There is a boxing ring for sparring and personal training.
View more images and find the best rates for The Soho House
Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul - 9/10
Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul is located in Beşiktaş, on the European shore of the Bosphorus, between Dolmabahçe Palace and the Maritime Museum. It sits on the European coast of the Bosphorus Strait and the hotel is close to the city’s key leisure and cultural attractions. The Dolmabahçe Palace was built for Ottoman sultans – and is definitely worth visiting and guests can also shop for contemporary luxuries at the upscale boutiques of Nişantaşı. The hotel comprises of 186 elegantly designed guest rooms and suites which are characterised by contemporary décor with Asian highlights and many offer breathtaking views of the Bosphorus. All rooms include complimentary Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, pillow menu with hypoallergenic options, bathrobe and other luxury bathroom amenities. An arrival highlight is the Shangri-La Welcome Tea.
CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La incorporates Turkish Hammams, a fully equipped health club, heated indoor swimming pool and a children’s pool. There is also a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. Dining options include Shang Palace – the culinary pride of Shangri-La - offering an array of traditional Cantonese dishes, including both sweet and savoury options and IST TOO – offering a menu of Turkish, Mediterranean, and Asian delights. The Lobby Lounge and Le Bar are both great places to stop for a light meal or drink.
View more images and find the best rates for The Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul
St. Regis Istanbul - 9/10
The St. Regis Istanbul can be found nestled in the cosmopolitan Nişantaşı district, surrounded by designer boutiques, luxury fashion brands and local eateries. Each of the 128 rooms and suites is complemented by Demsa Art Collection masterpieces; home-entertainment touches include a large television and iPod docking station; complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. The marble bathrooms boast separate bathtub and shower, double vanity, robe, and slippers. Signature St. Regis Butler Services are available for all rooms and suites; no request is too small or unattainable no matter the hour of the day.
Experience an exquisite rooftop dinner at Wolfgang Puck's acclaimed Spago which offers fine dining with a fresh Californian flair, this open-air patio offers superb views of the surrounding Art Nouveau architecture. A further outdoor dining experience can be found on the verdant terrace of St. Regis Brasserie. This is an all-occasion dining destination with Art Deco-inspired design, serving contemporary world and Turkish inspired cuisine. Iridium Spa hosts the state-of-art Exercise Room, lined with cardio and weight-lifting equipment, here a team of certified personal trainers is hand to give tips, motivation, and advice. Iridium Spa offers a tranquil setting, enhanced by soft candlelight, with expert therapists, and modern facilities including treatment rooms, three pools, hammams, a tea bar. The spa’s treatment menu comprises facials, body treatments, massages; performed with premier Ligne St. Barth and Elemis spa amenities and carefully tailored to meet personal needs.
View more images and find the best rates for The St. Regis Istanbul
First-Class.com searches hundreds of travel sites at once to help you find the best premium travel offers for both flights to and from the city and accommodation in Istanbul.
