The best hotel I have ever stayed at!

I have travelled the world, presidential suites, first class and even private jets. This hotel is from yesteryear where you are treated like royalty in a place that was actually built by royalty. This surpasses the Four Seaesons in Istanbul. YOU MUST get a room overlooking the Bosphoros where you can see the pool that looks like it falls into the Bosphoros.

It is about 15-20 minutes from the airport and the best way is by taxi. Once you get there you are in the Palace District (named because parts of this hotel was a royal palace once). This area has much to do and even within walking distance!

The food is amazing and everything about this hotel makes it comparable to the Cipprianni in Venice, the Ritz in Paris and the St. Regis in NYC but better and less expensive!

I would love to return to Istanbul if just to stay at this drop-dead amazing property!

Expensive!

This is definitely a fabulous hotel in the grand old tradition, with a gorgeous location right on the banks of the Bosphorus. Once you check in, it is almost a shame to leave as few things in life can equal the pleasure of lying by the pool as you watch the sights and sounds of life on the Bosphorus unfold before you. On more practical aspects, let me give you the rundown: (1) Rooms are tastefully decorated and extremely comfortable; and many of them have spacious balconies with a decent enough view of the Bosphorus; (2) The spa and gym are great. Facilities are well-maintained and on the plush side although the gym is quite small; (3) Tugra, the signature restaurant is not to be missed, if only because it is the only place in Istanbul where you will be able to taste dishes similar to those prepared for the sultan once upon a time. Unfortunately, most guests will probably have to rob a bank to pay for a full-course meal here. Also, unless you are staying in one of the grand suites, dining in Tugra is probably the only excuse to walk over to the old building of the hotel and gaze in awe at the explosion of Ottoman colors in the lobby. It is indeed a sight to see. Having given you the best parts, let me tell you some issues I had with the hotel: (1) It is darn expensive. We stay in the best hotels in the world and I must say, these prices are just out of sync -- especially when you realize how CHEAP everything else is in Istanbul. There is no other word for it: it is highway robbery; (2) Perish the thought of trying to economize during your stay because this hotel will find ten million ways to bleed you dry -- whether it is charging astronomical amounts to access the Internet, selling you a newspaper, shining your shoes, or refusing to serve you anything but pricey mineral water in the restaurants. When I checked out, I was shocked to find that the hotel had charged me $30 for a shoeshine (which is normally free in every other good hotel..) and also slapped a 5% charge for charging a lunch at the HOTEL JAPANESE RESTAURANT to my HOTEL BILL. Figure that one out. Of course, I complained noisily and finally the shoeshine was dropped to $15 (it costs less than $1 on the streets) and they waived the 5% charge. "The only thing free here is breathing," I told the staff, only half-jokingly. "Ahh- but we charge $5 for warm breathing.." was the quick repartee of one of the ladies. I almost believed her. (3) Finally, for such a large hotel, there are only four restaurants and only two of them serve good food. Also, only two are open for lunch, and one of them is an outdoor cafe with mediocre food at atrocious prices. This seriously limits the choices of an eager gourmet, particularly if there are budget constraints as well. We had heard so much about this hotel that we booked three days and decided to stay in the entire time to "recuperate" from our Silversea cruise. By the second day we were tired of the food because there were so few choices. So all in all, it was an interesting and expensive stay. However, I wouldn't stay there again unless someone else (like my company) was going to pay. This is not a hotel for the rich and famous, this is a hotel for the rich, famous and spendthrift. Other people will definitely better value elsewhere.

Stunning view but very expensive

The Ciragan palace probably has the best view in Istanbul being directly located on the Bosphorus and overlooking the Asian shore. The outdoor pool is amazing as it feels it flows into the Bosphorus.

The service is impeccable, the hotel as a gym, SPA, jacuzzi etc.

However, as in any palaces, everything is extremely expensive.

Excellent... a must stay in Istanbul

Head and shoulders the best hotel in Istanbul... and dare I say Top 5 (that I've had the pleasure of staying at).

Definitely try to get a river view room -- of course you have to pay a premium for the view. The restaurants have awesome views and excellent service.

Could not find a single fault during our stay there. (if i had one complaint the spa isn't as big as i thought it would be though)

Great, not perfect

Our Bosphorus view mini suite had a delightful panorama and wonderful furnishings. But the shower water temperature never stayed consistent, and it took 15 minutes for porters to collect our luggage on check-out.

Breakfast on the Bosphorus cost $35 each, but was tasty and scenic.

This hotel has the nicest pool and patio area of any hotel I've ever stayed at.

If you're one of the "happy few" who don't care about cost, you will be very happy indeed here, except perhaps in the shower.

Unutterably Fabulous

Quite simply the best and the most luxurious hotel I have ever stayed in - and there have been a few. I simply can't fault it. We were met at the airport by the hotel's limousine, given iced towels and beverages and as we swept into the palace courtyard, they had laid out a red carpet down the stairs and an immaculate butler was waiting to greet us on the steps! We felt as if we were personal palace guests. Our suite was on 2 floors with a fabulously comfortable bed and wonderful bathroom. The treats just kept coming. Strawberries and fruit with warm chocolate sauce, tiny pastries, canapes - all - "just a little something with the compliments of the hotel, madam". The service was immaculate. Polite, friendly, perfect, never obsequious or embarrassing. You could pick to eat in suite, in the private dining area for the suites or the main restaurant. We chose the restaurant because the buffet was unbelievable - the best I have ever seen. We ate in the "posh" restaurant one night overlooking the Bospherus - magical. We stayed in a Palace Suite, but the hotel rooms looked very good too. The swimming pool was gorgeous -heated year round and with a hot cabin. The location is great - right on the river, and peaceful. You can be downtown in 10 minutes. Oh yes, and there was complimentary tea and evening snacks and drinks too. Can't wait to go back - it was the best.

Lots to do in Istanbul: mosques, Santa Sofia, Bosphurus river trip, Prince Islands, the Grand Bazaar. Friendly people. Fantastic restaurants - very cheap and superb value.

Classic Hotel

This is a truely great hotel located on the Bosphorus about twenty minutes from the old quarter. I have stayed in both the new building and the Palace, the latter being limited to 11 suites. Both provide the best in service and luxury but if you want to splurg by all means get a Palace Suite. I have stayed at other hotels in Istanbul including the nearby Ritz (very nice but no charm) the Four Seasons (your right in the center of the old quarter which means you get to hear the 5:30 AM call to prayer) and the Polat (near the airport and with great views of the sea but inside you would hardly know you were not in Dallas). Don't miss out on dinner at Turga, it is expensive for Istanbul but like this hotel a real treat and worth twice the price.

An outstanding hotel

We just returned from a one-week stay at the Ciragan Palace hotel. We stayed in a room with view of the Bosphorus. The hotel is absolutely terrific. The service was very attentive - especially the concierge. The room had a beautiful view of the Bosphorus and was very clean. Many evenings, we sat in the balcony and enjoyed the boat traffic up and down the Bosphorus.

We enjoyed the tranquility of the hotel and its neighborhood. We stayed in many highly rated hotels before, Ciragan Palace is certainly one of the best.

The BEST Hotel!

This is the most luxurious hotel I have ever stayed at! It is a bit more than your usual rates in Istanbul but TRUST ME, you will feel like royalty staying here. The staff is courteous, the rooms are deluxe and it is nicer than staying at a Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton in the USA.

Get a Bosphorus view if you have the chance! It is incredible and the food in the restaurant is outstanding! There is no wonder why JFK, Jr.

honeymooned here and we actually ran into former US President Bush (Sr.) in the hotel. The hotel is exquistite in every detail, the bathroom was luxurious, we had a private terrace which overlooked the pool and the Bosphorus, WOW! I would go to Istanbul to stay at this property without doing anything else if I could do that! This is BY FAR the best hotel in the world. I can honestly tell you that I am well-traveled and I have been to many places and I am extremely critical and for be to boast hotels is rare. I love this place and would love to return soon. I would not consider staying anywhere else in Istanbul.

Great view, perfect service

I was lucky enough to stay at this hotel on two of my visits to Istanbul, for business purposes.The location by the Bosphorus is great, but beware, not all the rooms have a sea-view. They are described as park-view in the hotel brochures and website.The rooms are comfortable and the service is simply perfect. The hotel must certainly have a lot of staff, considering how quickly they take care of guests' needs.I strongly recommend a dinner at Tugra Restaurant. The food is delicious and the place is superb.