Hotel Sultania sits in Sirkeci, the district at the foot of the old city between Sultanahmet and the Golden Horn, a quieter and more convenient spot than most visitors realize. The hotel is listed as Boutique Class, so it carries no star rating, but it rates exceptionally with its guests, averaging a very high score from around a thousand reviews. The walking distances explain the appeal: Gulhane Park and Gulhane tram station are two minutes away, Sirkeci Marmaray station two minutes, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace seven minutes, the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar seven and the Blue Mosque about ten, with Eminonu pier within ten minutes. The amenities are unusually good for the category: an indoor pool with sun loungers, a full-service spa with massage and hammam-style rituals, a gym, a bar, a coffee shop, a library and a twenty-four-hour front desk. Two on-site restaurants serve Turkish cuisine, among them Olive on the sixth floor, a seafood restaurant with views of Hagia Sophia and the Bosphorus, and afternoon tea is mentioned in the description. It is an old-city base with real facilities and honest prices relative to the monument-side luxury properties.
Who it suits
First-time visitors, couples and small families who want to be in walking distance of the great sights and the transport hub, and travelers who appreciate a pool and spa without paying luxury-hotel rates. Reviewers frequently praise the breakfast variety, the helpful staff, who in one case kept a kitchen open after a flight delay, and the walkable location, along with clean, comfortable rooms.
The criticisms are modest
The elevator is small, taxis can find the hotel awkward to reach, and the building is older. Pets are not allowed and the hotel has no parking.
Location math
Sirkeci Marmaray station gives a fast connection under the Bosphorus to the Asian side, and the tram at Gulhane runs to Eminonu, Karakoy and Kabatas, so you can reach most of the city without a taxi. Istanbul Airport is about forty-seven minutes by car, and the hotel can arrange an airport shuttle on request for a per-vehicle fee.
The streets around the hotel are lively by day with commuters and office workers and calm in the evening, which gives a more local feel than Sultanahmet Square itself. Walk down to Eminonu for ferries and fish sandwiches, or up to Gulhane Park for a stroll.
Practical notes
Check-in is from two in the afternoon and check-out is at noon, with late check-out available for a fee subject to availability. Buffet breakfast carries a surcharge, so confirm whether your rate includes it. The pool is open through the daytime and evening. Free cancellation applies on select rates only.
Because taxis may struggle to reach the entrance, ask the hotel how to arrange a transfer, or plan to walk the last few minutes from the nearest drop-off point. Ask for a room with a view toward Hagia Sophia, or take dinner or tea at the sixth-floor restaurant for the panorama.
Why stay here
- ✓Indoor pool with loungers
- ✓Spa with hammam-style rituals
- ✓Sixth-floor seafood restaurant
- ✓Gym, bar and library
- ✓Next to Gulhane Park
- ✓Sirkeci Marmaray 2 minutes away
- ✓24-hour front desk
- ✓Airport shuttle on request
Good questions
How far is Hotel Sultania from Hagia Sophia?+
About seven minutes on foot, with Topkapi Palace also seven minutes and the Blue Mosque about ten.
Does it have a pool?+
Yes, an indoor pool with sun loungers, plus a full-service spa and a gym.
Is there parking?+
No. The booking page says there is no parking, and taxis can find the hotel awkward to reach, so ask the hotel about transfers.
