Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul

Beautiful hotel with amazing views of the Bosporus. Luxurious.The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming and professional. Our stay included breakfast which was superior. Order the hot chocolate with sticks of chocolate that melt in warm milk. The young ladies serving us were very attentive especially Yasmin, Derin and Yagmur. Our concierge Ugur provided excellent advice on things to do in Istanbul. End your day in the steam room and sauna and pool and your stay will be perfect.

While walking through the hotel garden—where many guests were present—I was singled out by a staff member (Serhat) and asked whether I was a hotel guest. Others nearby were not questioned. As an Asian woman, this selective approach felt discriminatory and deeply uncomfortable, particularly in a luxury hospitality setting where guests should feel equally welcomed and respected. I hope management takes this seriously and ensures that Asian guests are never singled out or treated differently in the future. I was extremely disappointed by the hotel manager who came to me doing so-called explanation and he pointed at the photo wall and told me that cameras are not allowed, claiming this is to prevent guests from photographing politicians or public figures. There is no signage or written policy anywhere in the hotel stating that cameras are prohibited. I was not photographing anyone — simply walking through a public area — yet I was singled out and restricted. Using the “protection of elites” as a justification while limiting ordinary guests’ basic freedoms reflects an uncomfortable sense of class discrimination. Even if such a policy exists, it should be clearly communicated and applied equally, not enforced arbitrarily. For an international five-star hotel, this lack of transparency and respect is unacceptable. Kempinski should do better.

We stayed at Ciragan Palace during the winter season, and it was without question one of the best hotel experiences I have ever had (having visited many five-star properties across Europe). It is clear that Ciragan Palace Kempinski sets an exceptionally high standard. Every member of the staff was professional, attentive, and genuinely polite. The rooms were immaculate and beautifully appointed, and the service was consistently world-class. Our romantic dinner at the Tuğra Restaurant was an unforgettable experience in its own right. Thank you to the entire Ciragan Palace team for making our stay so memorable. //Billy

We stayed here for 4 nights over Christmas and could not have been happier with our choice. Even though you will need to taxi or ferry into the old town to see the famous sights we didn’t feel this was a hindrance as returning to our oasis away from the noise was bliss. Our room had a large balcony facing the Bosphorus (room 352) and was a sumptuous space with sitting area, mini bar with complimentary drinks, Nespresso machine and a large bathroom and seperate hallway/dressing room. The bed was so comfy and having a coffee in the morning with that view was great. Everyday there was another sweet treat when we returned in the afternoons. The buffet breakfast was expansive and all the staff so welcoming and friendly it just here but throughout the hotel. The sauna and steam room were a nice space to relax late afternoon before venturing back out to dinner. I would definitely recommend this hotel if you want to be taken care of and enjoy beautiful spaces.

The Ciragan Palace Kempinski was a stunningly beautiful hotel located on the Bosporus away from the very busy historical area. Highly recommend to stay in rooms with the Bosphorus view. The breakfast buffet was enormous with several rooms full of choices. We dined at their award winning Tugra restaurant. Service was impeccable and one of our favorite meals. The Ruya restaurant was also exceptional. My sea bass with a pistachio crust was memorable. Our rooms were well appointed and we appreciated the baklava each day. Housekeeping refreshed our rooms several times a day.