Hotel Saint Sophia Istanbul

Hotel Saint Sophia Istanbul

Tea on the terrace of the Sophia Pita Lounge comes with the Basilica Cistern's entrance and Hagia Sophia's domes both in view, a sightline few hotels in Sultanahmet can offer from their own building. Hotel Saint Sophia occupies a restored Ottoman mansion that first opened as a hotel in 1999 and was renovated again in 2013; four floors hold 25 rooms, a mix of Superior, Deluxe and Grand Deluxe, each with Bianco Carrara marble bathrooms, Bvlgari toiletries, a pillow menu and a proper kettle and tea set rather than a sachet on a tray. Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern are each a three-minute walk from the door, with trams, ferries and the metro all within easy reach. Rooms range from 18 to 33 square meters, which suits a traveller who plans to spend her days outside walking the old city and wants a compact, well-kept room to return to rather than sprawling space; anyone wanting a late restaurant dinner should look elsewhere, since food service stops at 3pm and only drinks are poured after that. An interior courtyard gives a second, quieter spot to sit when the terrace fills up, and the concierge and free Wi-Fi run around the clock. The hotel lends bikes for exploring the neighborhood, keeps a doctor and spa on call, and is certified for sustainability and marked LGBTQ+ friendly. Pets aren't allowed, an extra bed runs 30 euros a night, and check-in opens at 2pm. That terrace view over the Cistern and Hagia Sophia is the reason to pick this address over its Sultanahmet neighbors. A restored Ottoman mansion in Sultanahmet, four floors and 25 rooms with Carrara marble bathrooms and Bvlgari toiletries, three minutes from Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern. Tea on the terrace comes with Hagia Sophia's domes in view, though the restaurant stops serving food at 3pm.