Hotel Ibrahim Pasha

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha is a boutique hotel formed by joining two Ottoman houses built around the turn of the 20th century, on a quiet street in the heart of Sultanahmet. The result is a four-storey hotel with a lift, and it has the feel of a well-kept private house rather than a large hotel, with a lobby furnished with fireplaces and a small library of books about Istanbul, along with daily newspapers and magazines.

Rooms are divided into standard and deluxe categories, and some deluxe rooms have balconies. The hotel is non-smoking throughout, except for the rooftop terrace and some deluxe room balconies. Free Wi-Fi covers the whole building, and a laptop is available in the lobby for guests.

The highlight is the rooftop terrace, where a bar reserved for hotel guests looks out over the Blue Mosque and the Sea of Marmara, a fine place for a drink at sunset. Breakfast, included in the room rate, is served in the lobby from 07:30 to 11:00. Reception is staffed around the clock, and the hotel offers room service, laundry and dry cleaning, luggage storage, help with car rental and the booking of daily and private city tours.

Private airport transfers can be arranged for parties of up to four people, which takes the stress out of arrival. Book early for spring and autumn, as the number of rooms is limited. Ask for a deluxe room with a balcony if you want a view from your room. Transfers are charged at a fixed fee per car, shown on the hotel's website. Room service is available, which is welcome after a long day on foot.

The hotel suits couples, culture lovers and travellers who want a calm, characterful base within walking distance of the major sights. The Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts are a few minutes away, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern are a short walk beyond, and Sultanahmet tram stop on the T1 line connects to the Grand Bazaar, Eminönü and Karaköy. The Little Hagia Sophia Mosque and the Sea of Marmara shore are downhill to the south.