There are many boutique hotels in Istanbul that, it is not easy to classify them. We tried to sort the best 4 boutique hotels located at the city center as below;

1 – Housez Suites & Apartments

Located at the heart of the city on a very chic district between Nişantaşı and Beşiktaş. 24 very comfortable suites with reasonable prices and delicious organic breakfast. If you would like see the new face of Istanbul there is not any better choice. They aim to provide their guests with a delightful, peaceful and safe environment, and to maximize their satisfaction throughout their stay.

2 – The Sofa Hotel

Another chic boutique hotel located in Nisantası, İstanbul’s most popular shopping, entertainment and gourmet center. The Sofa offers a new generation of luxury accommodation within walking distance to international brands, distinguished restaurants, bars, cafés and the town’s newest and most prestigious shopping mall, City’s. The Sofa has 82 guest rooms, including 17 Executive Suites. While elaborately answering the requirements of a sophisticated city life, the rooms offer a combi-nation of new technology and comfort, peace and exclusive personal services.

3 – Sarı Konak

Hotel Sari Konak, ideally located in Sultanahmet, the center of the old city, is a family run boutique hotel  taking pride in offering its guests a charming “home away from home” in Istanbul ; with many guests returning on a regular basis.

4 – Yeşil Ev

This unique mansion very quickly attained a world-wide reputation and was awarded in 1985 the medal for the year by Europa Nostra. Yesil Ev had, indeed, introduced the concept of true comfort and hygiene to this “derelict” district and opened a new epoch in Turkish tourism by combining modern standards with historical style. It is furnished in the style of a 19th century winter mansion, and has a charming pool in pink porphyry in its Garden full of colorful flowers and high trees. Yesil Ev offers visitors the warm, friendly atmosphere of an old Istanbul home in one of the most breath taking historic sites in the world.

Istanbul is a shopping paradise, you can find any kind of materials in different qualities and accordingly different prices. We have listed the interesting shopping districts below; not only for shopping but also to feel the spirit of İstanbul.

1 – Grand Bazaar and Spice Market
If you would like to see the oriental face of this marvellous city, you must visit these two bazaars. Grand Bazaar is one the largest covered market with its 4.400 shops and Spice Market was the last point for the legendary silk road where the goods from Asia tranferred to the Europe during 13th century. They are located in the old city very close to the top historical places, but you can get lost very easily while checking the interesting shops, salesmen and beautiful carvings on the ceilings.
Do not hesitate to bargain while shopping – especially for souvenirs, carpets, other oriental materials.

2 – İstiklal Caddesi
Another story starts in İstiklal avenue, you can take the tram from Taksim square to the end but it is always better to walk on this original pedestrian street to see all type of Turkish people walking up and down. Some passageways with small shops (like Atlas, Aznavur, Terkos Passageways) sell very original / hand made or 2nd hand clothes. It is crowded during any time of the day as many night clubs and bars located on this cosmopolite avenue.

3 – Teşvikiye / Nişantaşı
Here we are in Champelysee or 5th avenue of İstanbul. If you are looking for Louis Vuitton, Escada or Armani that is the place but you can also find small boutiques, nice small cafes , hip hotels and many Art Nouveau buildings. Especially on Saturday nights it gets crowded with many people who come to the famous pubs and cafes.

4 – Bağdat Avenue
Located at the Asian side. You can find many cafes and restaurants, besides many international famous brands such as Gap , Mango, Zara and Lacoste. Keep in mind that in summer and mostly at the weekends it is almost impossible to pass the avenue by car because of the heavy traffic.

TIPS ** In İstanbul mostly shops open at 9,00 am and close at 8,00 pm, they are also open on Sunday between 12,00 pm to 6,00 pm.