Istanbul has two Four Seasons hotels, and they could hardly be more different. The Sultanahmet property is a former prison in the old city; this one, on Ciragan Caddesi in Besiktas, is a waterfront resort-style hotel on the European shore of the Bosphorus, where the view is of water, passing ships and the Asian hills rather than domes and minarets. The hotel lists 170 rooms spread across three buildings, in thirteen room types ranging from compact rooms to very large suites, and details such as premium bedding, down comforters, a pillow menu and a minibar. The facilities lean toward a luxury retreat. There are indoor and outdoor pools plus a children's pool, a full-service spa with couples rooms, a sauna, steam room and hot tub, a twenty-four-hour gym, a garden and terrace, bicycle rental and a concierge who arranges tours and tickets. Dining includes Aqua, serving international dishes through the day, a second restaurant called Yali, a poolside bar and a bar and lounge, with round-the-clock room service. Because the hotel stands beside Ciragan Palace and near Dolmabahce Palace, it places you among the great Ottoman waterside buildings of the nineteenth century, and the shoreline walk is one of the pleasures of a stay.
Who it suits
Families and couples who want a resort feel in a big city, travelers who value pools and a spa, and visitors who plan to spend time on the Bosphorus rather than only in the old city. Children up to eighteen stay free using existing beds according to the hotel's listing, and cribs are free on request, which helps families. It is a fine choice for a celebratory stay, though the reviews are not uniformly glowing: guests overwhelmingly praise service, pools and food, while a few mention that some rooms and bathrooms would benefit from refreshing and that prices are high.
Location math
The hotel lists Besiktas Pier a seven-minute walk away and Ciragan Palace an eight-minute walk, with Dolmabahce Palace and Taksim Square each about four minutes by car. The Macka cable car station is two minutes by car, and Istanbul Airport is about forty-five minutes away. Sultanahmet is across the Golden Horn, so reaching Hagia Sophia and Topkapi means a taxi or a ferry-and-tram combination of half an hour or more.
If your trip is dominated by the old city's monuments, a Sultanahmet hotel will save you time; if you want evenings by the water and easy access to the Bosphorus shore, this is ideal.
Practical notes
Buffet breakfast is available for a surcharge, pool access runs from early morning to late evening, and check-in is from three o'clock with check-out at noon. Dogs up to a modest weight are welcome, and the hotel accepts cards but not cash. Turkey's accommodation tax is added to room rates, so confirm what your quoted price includes. Ask about Bosphorus-view rooms when you book, since the view is the main reason to choose this hotel over a city-center alternative, and consider Sunday brunch or a dinner at the waterside if the season allows.
Why stay here
- ✓Indoor, outdoor and children pools
- ✓Full-service spa with couples rooms
- ✓24-hour gym, sauna and steam room
- ✓Aqua restaurant and Yali
- ✓Poolside bar and lounge
- ✓24-hour room service
- ✓Free self parking
- ✓Bicycle rental and concierge
Good questions
Is the Four Seasons Bosphorus near the old city?+
No. It is in Besiktas on the European shore of the Bosphorus, near Ciragan and Dolmabahce palaces. Sultanahmet is across the Golden Horn, about half an hour by taxi or ferry and tram.
Does the hotel have pools?+
Yes, indoor and outdoor pools plus a children's pool, with a full-service spa, sauna, steam room and hot tub.
Is it good for families?+
The booking page says children up to eighteen stay free in existing beds, cribs are free on request, and there is a children's pool, so it suits families well.
