Istanbul is a city of mystery, a city of intrigue, a city of West and East. Just a few moments, and its residents, its streets, its air, its rhythm of life burst into your own world, make your head spin, and make you dream... In the ancient Byzantine capital, it is easy to lose everything or, on the contrary, to find something elusive yet virtually priceless. So that you do not have to spend the night on a park bench (like the heroes of the popular TV show "Heads and Tails"), we recommend being especially careful and choosing your accommodation in advance.

Want to feel like a sultan? Then welcome to the Four Seasons hotel in Istanbul! It is located on the shore of the Bosphorus in a restored 19th-century Ottoman palace and is a unique combination of historic luxury and modern amenities. To spend a night here, you will have to shell out about 25,000 rubles.

The interiors of the rooms are captivating. All of them are tastefully decorated with exquisite furniture and equipped with air conditioning, an iPod docking station, and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. The rooms also feature a minibar, a safe, and a writing desk. Everything is first-class!

The Aqua restaurant, whose terrace offers a mesmerizing view of the Bosphorus, serves Mediterranean dishes and culinary masterpieces of Italian and Turkish cuisine. A buffet breakfast with international dishes is served for guests. And the hotel can also offer guests a fitness center equipped with top-class exercise machines, a Turkish bath, a spa, and relaxation by the indoor and outdoor pools in an atmosphere of peace and calm.

The park on the hotel grounds deserves special mention. Well-kept green lawns, flowerbeds, perfect landscape design, the sea in the distance - stroll and enjoy Istanbul!

Among hotels, as among people, there are ordinary and unremarkable ones, and there are celebrities. The Pera Palace hotel managed by the Jumeirah hotel chain is one of those celebrities. It is a hotel with a story, a hotel-museum. This is where first-class passengers of the Orient Express were welcomed. The last Russian emperor Nicholas II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the incomparable Greta Garbo, US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, the outstanding artist, composer, and poet Alexander Vertinsky, the founder of the Turkish Republic Kemal Ataturk, and, of course, the "queen of detective fiction" Agatha Christie all stayed here.

It is in her honor that one of the hotel's restaurants is named, where Turkish, French, and Italian cuisine is served. Pera Palace also has a classic French pastry shop where guests are offered homemade chocolate and pastries. In addition, you can admire the starry sky on the elegant oriental terrace, or perhaps spend time in the "Orient" bar, whose name is an allusion to the Orient Express.

The hotel's interior and exterior are a harmonious combination of Art Nouveau, neoclassical, and oriental style. Guests can enjoy a spa center, a gym, an indoor pool, and luxurious rooms with views of the city and Istanbul's historic Pera district. Some rooms overlook the Golden Horn. The price of a double room starts at 12,000 rubles per night.

I will not hide it: my passion is hotels and rooms with a view. With a view of the city, the bay, an iconic landmark. They inspire, impress, and create an elusive feeling of connection to the city and its history. That is why I cannot fail to mention the Boutique Saint Sophia hotel, which boasts a magnificent view of one of Istanbul's most ancient monuments - Hagia Sophia.

The Saint Sophia boutique hotel is located in a 19th-century building completely renovated in 2013. It belongs to the Preferred Hotels & Resorts hotel chain, whose priority is impeccable service and a dream vacation for its guests.

Carrara marble and valuable wood species were used in the room decor. A pillow menu, bathrobes, luxury bedspreads, parquet floors, Bulgary toiletries, an iPhone and iPad charging station - all these are certainly pleasant little touches, but they are exactly what creates the very attractive image of this place. The hotel's restaurant, "Sophia Pita", specializes in Spanish tapas and also offers a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. In the mornings, breakfast is served here a la carte.

An intimate atmosphere of seclusion in one of the city's busiest districts - that is what the Boutique Saint Sophia hotel in Istanbul is. Room rates start at 8,000 rubles per day.

The word "botel" is gradually entering the everyday vocabulary of avid travelers and professional travel journalists. Let's figure out what it is.

A botel is a hotel on the water, arranged on a converted vessel that, as a rule, is permanently moored to the shore. No longer quite a ship, yet not an ordinary hotel either. It has a special "maritime" flavor. Romance. The scent of adventure and travel. For now, this accommodation option is still rather rare, but the facts speak for themselves: more and more botels are opening around the world. There is one in Istanbul as well.

The Galataport Yachting yachts are moored at Istanbul's Kurucesme pier. The stylish design of the rooms, equipped with all modern amenities, will delight even the most demanding guests. The private bathroom includes a shower, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries. Free WiFi is available in public areas. Numerous restaurants and bars line the Kurucesme waterfront. The staff at the 24-hour front desk will be happy to help with any matter, whether it is car rental, massage, or laundry services. Guests are also offered a free transfer from Ataturk Airport to the yacht.

Staying in a botel is far from cheap. The cost of a double room for the night is about 35,000 rubles.

Magnificent. 10 points. That was exactly the rating this aparthotel had when I checked its price on booking.com. There are not many hotels with such a high, maximum possible rating, not only in Istanbul but in many other cities around the world. The hotel is new and opened in April 2014. But I do not think Taxim Art Rooms' rating will drop significantly anytime soon.

Guests note the welcoming hotel staff, ready to help at any moment, cozy stylish rooms with panoramic windows and, of course, a very good location. Taksim Square, the famous Istiklal Street, the Ottoman sultans' Dolmabahce Palace, the Kemal Ataturk Cultural Center - all of this is within walking distance of the hotel. Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar are easy to reach by tram. A double room costs about 4,000-5,000 rubles per night.

See also tips on which district of Istanbul is best to stay in.

The cover image shows the terrace of Hagia Sophia Hotel Istanbul Old City, located in the Sultanahmet district, just 80 meters from Hagia Sophia.

Photos from Booking.com were used in preparing this material.