The Peninsula Istanbul

This is truly one of the most beautiful hotels in the world and our new favorite. We spent five nights there, and the whole experience was like a dream. The buildings are historic and have been meticulously renovated to reflect both modern elegance and Turkey's Ottoman heritage. The rooms are gorgeous with every luxury, comfort, and convenience in mind (nail dryer!). We had a Grand Deluxe Bosphorus view room, and it is 100% worth it to upgrade for the view. Waking up each day and opening our windows to the beauty of the Bosphorus and views of the old town was one of the highlights of our stay. But even if you don't have a view from your room, the hotel is perfectly situated to give you the most amazing views from breakfast, the pool, or any of the lounge areas. You can literally see Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, etc right from the hotel! The Four Seasons and other hotels are also on the water, but they are much further down and look at buildings across the Bosphorus and don't have any views of the old town. Their neighborhoods are also not that nice - if you take the ferry you will pass by those hotels and understand what I mean. The location of the hotel can't be beat. You are right by Galataport, which is a beautiful waterfront complex that houses a ton of trendy shops and restaurants, and you can take the most lovely 15 min walk along the water right to the hotel. It is closed off to the public from the port side but they can just buzz you in. And the neighborhood around the hotel is just the best. There are so many fun restaurants, hip bars and boutiques that are buzzing with people at all times of day (but esp at night). It's fun to just walk through the area, even if you aren't going to eat, just because it is so lively. You are also right next to the bridge you can walk across to get to old town (such a picturesque walk), as well as the ferry terminals that will take you to the Asian side and other neighborhoods. Service at the hotel is also outstanding. There is a ton of staff so you never have to hunt someone down and everyone is warm, friendly and welcoming. You can communicate via whatsapp and they are super fast and responsive to any requests. My husband's stomach was bothering him on our last night and they were able to send us a thermometer and even sent us some complimentary fresh ginger tea. You have to go through a metal detector each time you enter and there are always security personnel roaming the buildings and grounds. In some places that can feel a little strange or off-putting, but we never felt that here and I felt they were more of a reassuring presence than a menacing one. Other notes: The hotel bar was closed for a private event on the night we tried to go, but we did try the hotel restaurant. The views at sunset are outstanding and the drinks were great, but we found the food itself to be just okay given the price. The gym is nice. Not huge, but it has enough of all the machines and free weights you need though the stretching/abs area is very small. The hotel car is always a special treat at the Peninsula hotels but getting it is difficult. We only managed to ride in it once on our first day because it was always in use by other guests. The breakfast buffet is small in comparison to other hotels but there is a wide variety of cooked options. In summary, there is no better place to stay in Istanbul. It is just perfection. We have fallen hard for this hotel and can't wait to go back with our kids!

We had a truly lovely stay at The Peninsula Istanbul, where we spent two nights and felt like royalty. The hotel, with its contemporary architecture and refined atmosphere, exudes elegance and luxury—almost like stepping into a celebrity lifestyle. Mine at the reception was incredibly knowledgeable and checked us in smoothly. As American Express members, we were graciously upgraded to a deluxe room with a stunning view of the Bosphorus and offered a late checkout until 6 PM—a wonderful perk. Our room, located in the beautifully restored historic building, was both spacious and immaculately prepared. The attention to detail was remarkable: a mini birthday cake, a bowl of fresh fruit, a chocolate piece designed to resemble the hotel’s façade, and unlimited complimentary bottled water. I especially loved the elegant touches—embroidered napkins, silver cutlery, and beautifully set plates. The hotel offers a modern twist with a Peninsula WhatsApp chat, available for any questions or updates about hotel events. There’s also an iPhone by the bed for direct calls to reception or room service, and an iPad for other in-room services. Local and national calls are complimentary—an impressive and thoughtful feature. Their pillow menu was a great bonus. I chose a cotton, firm pillow, while my husband opted for an orthopedic one for better neck and back support. One of the most convenient features is their complimentary shuttle that takes guests anywhere within a 4 km radius. We used it a few times to visit the Old Bazaar. We enjoyed a swim in the patio pool, which feels like an extension of the sea, given its proximity to the Bosphorus. The hotel also offers morning yoga and Tai Chi classes, with refreshing juices and drinks provided. In the evening, we took a peaceful stroll through the hotel’s garden, ending at a grand golden gate that opens into Galataport and the nearby mall. On our return, we simply rang the bell and the guard let us back into the garden—a charming detail. The location is ideal—just a 10-minute walk to the Galata Tower. My son visited and enjoyed the famous cheesecake with ice cream. Sadly, I didn’t have time to explore the tower myself, but it’s definitely worth a visit (note: you’ll need tickets). On our second day, we stepped out into the heart of the city—surrounded by cafés, restaurants, and shops. Don’t miss the Doner at Hamid Usta at the end of the street, followed by dessert at Güllüoğlu, known for the best baklava with ice cream and other sweet treats. One of my favorite discoveries was just above the hotel. Walk five minutes straight from the hotel, turn right at the first street, and you’ll find a lively alley filled with fish sandwich stalls. The tables are set in the street, and the wait is worth it. We ate at Şehir Ahmed Usta, and everyone in our group loved it. For non-fish eaters, köfte sandwiches are also available nearby. A special thank you to Nedret at Concierge, who helped us book an unforgettable dinner at Gallada Restaurant on the rooftop—offering a delicious blend of Turkish and Japanese cuisine. She also arranged our visit to the Ginili Hamam, giving us a wonderful overview of the historical bathhouses in the area.

Absolutely fabulous!! Worth every penny you spent!! I stayed in Kempinski, Çırağan, Four Seasons Bosphorus and some others not worth spelling here over the years. Kempinski and Four seasons are fabulous but Peninsula İstanbul beats them all! The service, the newness, the pool like you are in the Bosphorus channel and the impaccable service of every single person works there!! Kudos to Nrend at front desk! He was awesome with my requests. Don’t waste your time, assess in Istanbul is Peninsula Istanbul folks!! Not to forget the beautiful house car that can take you a few kilometers around ç. He dropped us off by Gramd Bazaar. Galataport where this hotel is hip and happening and literally 10 minutes to all highlights of historical Istanbul. I cannot to go back in August!! Just so it! I added photos from the hotel Premises and near by historical sites such as Yerebatan Cistern, Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet Mosque

OMG! Absolutely, one of the best hotel experiences I have ever had! We flew into Istanbul to spend a few days taking in the sights before boarding a cruise ship to Greece, Croatia and Italy. My wife had booked everything, so I had no idea what to expect. We stayed in the Peninsula’s newest wing and the suite we were upgraded to was fabulous! It was spacious, luxurious and absolutely SPOTLESS! The only regrets I had was that we couldn’t spend any more nights there!

Beautiful hotel and amazing staff. We arrived at 3 AM and the hotel was ready with a room upgrade for us-perfect after our long journey. Being one of the newer luxury hotels, the room was phenomenal (received a lovely upgraded suite). They also arranged to have an early breakfast delivered to our room on the departure date. Pool service was excellent. Location is walkable to Galata Tower and hotel has a shuttle to Taksim. Also close enough to Grand Bazaar and other sites given its location on the Bhosphorus. Hands down one of the best hotels we have stayed at!