Sultanahmet (near the Hippodrome)

Hotel Arcadia Blue Istanbul

★★★★★

Hotel Arcadia Blue is a dependable mid-range choice in the heart of Sultanahmet, and it is all about the view. The hotel stands on Dr. Imran Oktem Caddesi, a short walk from the Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque, on the slope that drops towards the Sea of Marmara, and its upper floors look across a classic Istanbul panorama: the six minarets of the Blue Mosque, the dome of Hagia Sophia, the Bosphorus and the ships at anchor in the Marmara. There are 54 rooms, including 18 suites, and choosing the right type matters. Standard rooms are comfortable and practical, while the sea-view rooms and the corner rooms, including the deluxe corner rooms, are the ones to book if you want to wake up to that skyline. A Family Room suits parents with children, and a room fully adapted for wheelchair users is a welcome rarity in a district of steps and cobbles. Rooms come with air conditioning, a minibar, a safe, a kettle and free wifi, and the bathrooms are finished in marble and blue tiles. The hotel has its own spa, Sparcadia, for a massage or treatment after a day on your feet, and it is partnered with a rooftop dining venue, Terrace Istanbul, for meals with a view. It also holds international ISO certifications for quality, environmental and safety management, a sign of a professionally run operation. It is a sensible, well-located base that delivers four-star comfort at a fair old-city price.

Who it suits: first-time visitors who want a reliable, comfortable hotel within walking distance of the major sights, couples who will pay a little more for a view room, families who need a dedicated family room, and travelers with reduced mobility, who are well served by the adapted room. Those looking for intimate boutique character might prefer Ibrahim Pasha or Empress Zoe nearby.

Location math: the Hippodrome and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts are a few minutes on foot, the Blue Mosque about five minutes, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern around ten, and Topkapi fifteen. The Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque, one of Sinan's finest small mosques, is nearby on the slope below. The Sultanahmet tram stop puts the Grand Bazaar, Eminonu and Karakoy within easy reach. Like the rest of the district, the streets are quiet in the evening, so plan some dinners in Karakoy or Beyoglu.

Practical notes: the views are the reason to stay, so book a sea-view or corner room and confirm the view when you reserve, since standard rooms may face the street. Check whether breakfast is included in your rate and what the spa charges for treatments. Turkey's two percent accommodation tax is added on top of the room rate. Book early for spring and autumn, and ask the hotel to arrange an airport transfer if you have heavy luggage, as the streets around the Hippodrome are steep and cobbled in places. The front desk can also book tours and tickets.