Faros Hotel Old City - Special Category

If you are planning to stay in Istanbul and want to be located within close proximity (walking distance) to literally every major sites, shops and restaurants, this is in the heart of it all (10/10): - Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are 4-5 minutes' walk away. - Grand Bazar is approximately 6 minutes' walk away (a bit longer with our 3-year old child). - Sultanahmet Tram Station is 1 minute away. - Its a pleasant 10 minute' walk to Sirkeci Railway Station if you take back route - this then leads you to vendors offering the Bosphorus Cruise for which we paid (£5 each) for a 90 minute tour (well worth it). There are longer durations offering lunch but we weren't too keen on that with little one who's a fussy eater. - Whilst in Sirkeci Railway Station, its worth going to visit Çamlıca Mosque (Turkey's largest Mosque). Location-wise we can't fault it however the only thing is that when you do get dropped off by taxi, it'll have to stop on the side of the building. If the hotel staff are aware of your arrival, they will bring in your luggage for you or you'll have to wheel it in through the busy high street for about 20 meters. Rooms are a bit dated and according to London/UK standards, it would be more of a 3/3.5-stared rated. Lift into room is the tiniest one you'll encounter. Complimentary breakfast is basic to say the least but food in restaurant (paid for lunch/dinner) on ground floor is pretty good. Staff here are very friendly and very knowledgeable - some of the most hospitable ones we've encountered. They are the best guys to approach for any advice and recommendations. One of them was kind enough to point us out to the aquarium (largest in Turkey with a vast array of species and views) and marked out the exact routes which we followed easily. It was one of the highlights of our 8 day trip to Turkey. Our little one loved it, as did I and my wife.

The hotel exceeded my expectations! Everything was very clean and well-organized. Although I had booked a different room, they kindly upgraded me to a much nicer one, which was a wonderful surprise. The breakfast was excellent, the service was outstanding, and the staff were always polite and professional. I especially want to thank Mr. Murat and Mr. Ilhan for their great hospitality. There were also two young gentlemen working in the restaurant whose names I don’t know, but they were extremely polite and attentive. I also used the hotel’s transfer service, which was very convenient and reliable – the car was ready exactly on time and took me comfortably to the airport.

The location is excellent particularly for 1st-time visitors. T1 tram outside hotel goes to most of the best attractions. The breakfast is very good comparing with a 5-star hotel we stayed in Ankara . I must highly speak of Murat working at the reception who is extremely professional and gave us a home-feeling by offering coffee/tea the moment we entered plus a brief introduction of local attractions. Our special thanks are given to him for a pre-booked taxi transfer from SAW airport to IST Airport as our plane was delayed. He supervised the transfer soon after we landed until we safely reached IST airport via email. We got on next plane in time.

location and staff were great

A perfect stay in the heart of Istanbul Faros Hotel is perfectly located, right in the center, making it super easy to explore the city. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive—they go above and beyond to make sure guests are happy. They helped me find amazing shows, recommended great hammams for massages, and organized city tours. They even arranged very affordable transport to the airport and the hammam. The breakfast is excellent, with a wide variety and plenty to enjoy. Considering the location and the hotel’s quality, the value for money is fantastic. Highly recommend this place!