Hotel Amira Istanbul

Hotel Amira Istanbul is a boutique hotel in Küçük Ayasofya, the quieter southern slope of Sultanahmet, on Mustafa Paşa Sokak. It has 34 rooms, ranging from about 25 to 45 square metres, and it describes itself as an award-winning hotel, with consistently high guest ratings. The neighbourhood is residential and calm, yet Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar are all within walking distance.

Rooms are generously sized by the standards of the old city. Breakfast is a full continental spread with fresh juices, good coffee and a selection of teas, and it includes local dishes such as gözleme, the stuffed flatbread, cooked to order. The concierge team can be reached on WhatsApp before and during your stay, which is helpful for restaurant reservations, tours and directions.

In the warmer months the Amiralto Roof Bar and Restaurant opens on top of the building, serving local dishes, cocktails and wine with views over the Sea of Marmara and the domes of Sultanahmet. It closes for the winter season, from 29 October to 23 April, so do not count on it outside those months. If you are travelling in winter, Sultanahmet's restaurants and cafés are within a short walk for evening meals and drinks. From Istanbul Airport on the European side the journey usually takes around an hour by road, depending on traffic, and from Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian side it is often longer. The hotel can arrange airport transfers from both Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport, booked in advance through a form on its website.

The hotel suits couples, families and first-time visitors who want to be close to the main sights while staying in a quieter street. Its small size makes it easy to get to know the team, and the concierge service is a real help with planning. Book well ahead for spring and autumn, when the small number of rooms fills quickly.

The Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, a sixth-century Byzantine church, is a short walk downhill, and the Sea of Marmara shore lies beyond it. The Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome are about ten minutes' walk uphill, and Sultanahmet tram stop on the T1 line connects to the Grand Bazaar, Eminönü and Karaköy. Cankurtaran, with its fish restaurants and cafés, is close by.