Basileus Hotel

Tucked in the heart of Sultan Ahmet , a few minutes walk from Sofia Hagia and the Blue mosque . The hotel is located in a narrow ,winding cobbled street , and is in the midst of half a dozen Turkish eateries . The area is replete with the ambience of Turkey of the Middle East Woke up each morning to the cooing of pigeons and chirping of sparrows and not the grind of vehicular traffic . We felt instantly at home after being warmly welcomed by Farooq, the manager . Farooq is fluent is English, and guided us throughout our stay and was of great help even after we had left the hotel and missed our connection . We then went to another city and stayed in. Five. Star hotel ; the stay there felt sterile and clinical and we wished that we could be back at Basileus

Please understand first of all this is very acceptable, but budget hotel with no real frills, so don't consider booking with an anticipation of luxury or be expecting impeccable rooms with cleanliness like you might expect in an operating theatre. All that said, I would describe the Hotel as almost 'time machine' like and though some more critical or picky guests might maybe suggest terms more like, 'old fashioned' or 'tired' I would say it has good local character, and would be what people 50 or 60 years ago would have thought was really great place to stay. It has a mixture of good solid furniture, great beds with perfect mattresses and very adequate bedding and pillows, a nice and very usable bathroom, good solid sink, good bath with shower head if that's ones preference, as well as a clean and solid toilet. All the rooms have excellent Air Conditioning, where you can get a cool and very peaceful nights sleep, it is really quiet at night, and have TV facilities which worked brilliantly for us using our Amazon Firestick when we were between trips/jaunts and sightseeing, the location once you get your bearings is fantastic and close to some amazing locations. We were advised about a place literally around the corner, the 'Fatih Belediyesi Çatladıkapı Sosyal Tesisleri' which has been set up for tourists to get subsidised meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner' and is an excellent place to go for something to set you up before a days travelling, very clean and with great views of the sea. The best thing other than fact everything works well and is hassle free are the AMAZING Staff who are ridiculously good at guiding you and making things seem really easy. They are incredibly helpful and give you great pointers which will help you get to anywhere you want to go in the easiest as well as the cheapest fashion.

An Amazing Stay with Outstanding Service I stayed at the hotel with my friends for about a week, and it was a fantastic experience. The receptionist, Faruk, stood out with his professionalism and support. He recommended excellent restaurants and provided valuable insights for exploring the city. His assistance was always prompt and greatly appreciated. The entire team was courteous, attentive, and went above and beyond to ensure our comfort. We were thoroughly impressed with the hospitality and would gladly recommend this hotel to anyone seeking a memorable stay.

Hands down this is the best value in Istanbul and within walking distance to all the must-sees and easy metro/ferry access as well. The staff is incredibly kind and helpful 24-hours. Arranged timely airport transfer, great tips, spacious room

Good location near the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. The staff were always willing to help with information, maps, lending an umbrella. Free coffee in the lobby and bottled water in the room.