BestBeds
I sleep around so you don't have to
There are hotels with a view of Istanbul, and then there is The Peninsula Istanbul, sitting directly on the Bosphorus with the Old City spread across the water like someone arranged it specifically for your photographs.
Opened in 2023, the hotel occupies four buildings along the Karaköy waterfront, three of them protected historic structures. The centrepiece was Türkiye’s first modern cruise terminal, built in the 1940s and beautifully restored as the soaring waterfront Lobby. Interiors by Turkish designer Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu mix contemporary Turkish craftsmanship, art and acres of Marmara marble with Peninsula’s particular brand of polished calm.
It is a big hotel, but remarkably it doesn’t feel like one. Gardens, terraces and pools spread everything out along the waterfront, while the outdoor dining overlooking the Bosphorus is one of those places where you find yourself lingering considerably longer than planned. And while the hotel feels wonderfully removed from Istanbul’s glorious chaos, step outside and you are in Karaköy, one of the most interesting neighbourhoods in the city.
The spa... specifically, my traditional Turkish hammam followed by one of the best massages I have had in a very long time.
There is something particularly wonderful about having a proper hammam experience in Istanbul — scrubbed, steamed and polished within an inch of your life — and then surrendering to an excellent massage afterwards.
I emerged several hours later considerably cleaner, considerably more relaxed and wondering why I don't have a hammam at home.
The Peninsula Suite.
At almost 510 square metres, it is less hotel suite and more extremely fabulous Istanbul residence. There’s a private hammam, gym, screening room, multiple balconies and — because apparently all of that wasn’t quite enough — a private rooftop swimming pool with its own dining and lounging area.
For something slightly less oligarchic, the Rooftop Garden Suite has a large private terrace with panoramic views over Istanbul.
Galata Tower • Galata Bridge • Istanbul Modern • Karaköy • Spice Bazaar • Hagia Sophia • Blue Mosque • Topkapı Palace
Complimentary Wi-Fi • 24-hour room service • 24-hour fitness centre • Peninsula Spa & Wellness Centre • Traditional Turkish hammams • 25-metre indoor pool • Outdoor Bosphorus-front pool and cabanas • Gallada rooftop restaurant • Topside Bar • The Lobby and Afternoon Tea • Abelia alfresco dining beside the Bosphorus • Private boat dock • Peninsula Time flexible check-in/check-out • Concierge • Airport transfers • Valet parking
