The 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Istanbul

Split between Europe and Asia, Istanbul has been shaped by Greeks, Romans, Venetians and Ottomans, and today it draws business and leisure travellers alike. This selection, originally compiled by Elite Traveler, covers ten of the city's most celebrated luxury hotels.

Four Seasons at the Bosphorus

With 623 feet of private waterfront, the hotel's serene setting more than makes up for the 15-minute drive to the city centre. From May to October guests can lounge beside the 90-foot outdoor pool with open views of the Bosphorus, and on Sundays the Aqua restaurant hosts a brunch with an international buffet and live music.

The spa has 10 treatment rooms, including a private suite for two, separate men's and women's hammams and a sky-lit indoor pool.

Top suite: Atik Pasha Suite

On the second floor of the historic palace building, the suite pairs high ceilings with views of the Bosphorus. A private dining room for 10, kitchenette, private bar and a marble bathroom with steam room, small Turkish bath and rain shower make it ideal for entertaining.

Soho House Istanbul

Soho House Istanbul occupies four buildings in Beyoğlu, the creative heart of the city. When it opened in 2015 it was the group's 13th private members' club. The club spaces are housed in the Corpi, an 1873 building that was home to the US embassy from 1906 to 1937.

The House has 87 bedrooms, with décor inspired by Ottoman architecture in gold and dark wood. Naavah serves refined Middle Eastern dishes, Cecconi's serves Italian food, and the Cowshed Spa offers traditional hammam treatments.

Top suite: The Apartment

This 3,035-square-foot space, available for short or long lets, includes a large terrace with Jacuzzi and barbecue, a fully integrated kitchen and bar, and dining for 10. An adjoining room can be added to make it a two-bedroom.

Pera Palace Hotel

The Pera Palace opened in 1895 to host elite passengers arriving on the newly extended Orient Express, and was restored and reopened in 2010. Agatha Christie was a regular guest; her favourite room, 411, can still be booked. The Agatha Restaurant blends French, Italian and Turkish cuisine, a tribute to Paris, Venice and Istanbul, and the Pera Spa offers a traditional Turkish bath.

Top suite: Franz Joseph Presidential Suite

Named after former guest Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria-Hungary, the suite overlooks the Golden Horn and has a dressing room, a spacious bathroom and separate living and dining areas.

Çırağan Palace Kempinski

Once a residence of Ottoman sultans, the Çırağan Palace opened as a hotel in 1990. Its gardens make it a quiet retreat in the busy city, and it hosts an art gallery, a garden sculpture gallery, classical concerts and book readings. The ballroom holds up to 1,000 guests, with exhibition space for up to 300 and three private dining rooms.

Top suite: Sultan Suite

On the second floor of the palace, the suite has its own entrance and reception, two large bedrooms, dining for 12 and 5.7-metre (18.7-foot) floor-to-ceiling windows. The master bathroom features a handmade marble hammam and a private steam room. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, as well as Bill Clinton, have stayed here.

Ritz-Carlton Istanbul

The Bleu Lounge has a retractable glass roof, live music and views of the Bosphorus at sunset. Atelier Real Food focuses on local, seasonal ingredients, with a wine cellar of over 150 bottles, and a winter-garden dining room seats up to 16. Business guests have 25,866 square feet of conference and meeting space.

Top suite: Ritz-Carlton Suite

Decorated in a neoclassical and Turkish style, the suite has a kitchenette, dining and living rooms, a separate parlour, a butler's entrance and a Jacuzzi framed by views over Istanbul and the Bosphorus. Guests can use the Club Lounge on the 12th floor.

Four Seasons Sultanahmet

This neoclassical building on Tevkifhane Sokak ("Jailhouse Street") was once an Ottoman jail for intellectual dissidents, and its gate still bears the inscription Dersaadet Cinayet Tevkifhanesi. The former exercise yard is now a courtyard with a glass-pavilion restaurant. A short walk from the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, it is a boutique hotel with only 65 rooms.

Top suite: Marmara Suite

Three private terraces look out over the historic centre; inside are a fireplace, private dining area, whirlpool tub and a marble bathroom with steam shower.

W Hotel Istanbul

Set in the historic Akaretler Row Houses, the W offers 136 rooms and suites with an east-meets-west feel, a chauffeured shopping service, a 700-square-foot fitness centre with personal trainers and the B&G Wellness Spa.

Top suite: Extreme Wow

A private terrace with Jacuzzi, a DJ booth, a dining room and an Ottoman-style master bathroom with rainforest shower and oversized bathtub.

St. Regis Istanbul

In the Nişantaşı district, the St. Regis has an atrium, a library and two restaurants: Wolfgang Puck's Spago, with rooftop views, and the St. Regis Brasserie. The Iridium Spa includes three pools, hammams and a tea bar.

Top suite: The Bentley Suite

At 1,345 square feet and designed with the British carmaker, the suite features Bentley leather upholstery and a wet bar modelled on a Bentley dashboard. Its corner position overlooks Abdi İpekçi Street, Maçka Park and the Bosphorus.

Raffles Istanbul

Set high above the city with views over the Bosphorus, Raffles is attached to the Zorlu Center, a shopping destination for upscale fashion brands. Rocca Restaurant serves Mediterranean classics, the Lavinia Lounge hosts afternoon tea, and the spa has an outdoor pool with panoramic views.

Top suite: The Raffles Suite

One of the largest suites in the city, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a private terrace and two large bedrooms. Additional services include helicopter airport transfers and a private yacht tour.

Park Hyatt Istanbul

Also in Nişantaşı, the Park Hyatt is surrounded by fashionable bars, restaurants and shopping streets. The Lounge serves Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine, and the wine bar lists over 70 wines.

Top suite: Presidential Suite

This 2,690-square-foot suite occupies a top-floor corner, with a private terrace, floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the city and the Bosphorus.

Which of these hotels are right on the Bosphorus?

Four Seasons at the Bosphorus and Çırağan Palace Kempinski are both historic palace buildings on the water; the Ritz-Carlton, Raffles and Park Hyatt offer Bosphorus views.

Which hotels are closest to the historic peninsula?

Four Seasons Sultanahmet is a short walk from the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.