Basilissis Hotel

It's impossible to get here using iMap or Google Maps. I spent two to three hours roaming the streets trying to follow both dragging luggage behind me before a kindly store owner called the hotel and told them to send the bellboy to get me which Omur did. It was five minutes away from where I was! The problem is that it is located on a pedestrian path, not a street. Just follow these instructions and you will be there within 7 minutes of getting off the tramway. You take the tramway to Gulhane station on the T1 line, get off and continue following the tram tracks in the direction towards Sultanamet station until you see the sign for Antik Cafe. Just as a note, the other side of the street is the entrance to Topkapi Palace and the Archeological Museums. Go into the cobblestone pedestrian only alleyway, following the central tile drain between the two rows of cafe tables ( actually two different restaurants) turning right at the end. There are four hotels in this alleyway, including Hotel Basilissis. Being back from the road means it was dead quiet, no traffic noise at all even with the windows open!. You are within about 10 minutes walk of the Blue Mosque, the Aya Sophia and Basilica Cistern. Le Sufran restaurant, right on the street where you turned into the alleyway is open 24/7 and the owner is very nice and the food is good too! Gulhane Park, across the road from the Antik Cafe and Le Sufran Restaurant is a green oasis in the middle of Istanbul. How I fluked on to this perfect little hotel I will never know but this is where I will stay again if I get back to Istanbul.

Normally you can find where you are going with iMap or Google Maps but not here. However the fact that it is just off the main road in a pedestrian alleyway meant that it was quiet and private. I learned the hard way and I hope I can help others find this little gem more easily.

10 for staff. - Location was good. About 4-5 minutes walk to the Hagia Sophia. Many restaurants, etc nearby. - Staff were excellent and exceeded expectations. Especially Onur and Ibrahim. They went out of their way to help us book tours at cheap prices and made sure we had what we needed. They always greeted us with a smile. Could not fault the staff one bit. -Excellent wifi!

-Room was very small. -Cleaning was non-existent. We were at the hotel for 6 nights, the room was only cleaned the first day. -Breakfast wasn’t the best unfortunately. Was really looking forward to the breakfast but wasn’t as pictured. We went about an hour into breakfast service one day and there was nothing left to eat. Also, breakfast is in a small room in the basement. Overall, breakfast really let down our hotel experience.

I went with my family for around 5 days. We got to the hotel in early hours of the morning. We were greeted by Mair with a great smile. All staff have been great help, a special thanks to Onur ( manager) who has been very helpful, informative regarding how best to plan out our trip. He even made us sandwich and gave us juice to take with us for the airport as we left early in the morning. Which sites to see and shopping etc. Another staff member I want to thank is Iman the lady was very nice and helpful. My felt ill during the trip and Iman helped us by arranging the doctor. She is always cheerful. A big thanks to all staff (the breakfast and cleaning ladies). Good hotel and a great location for all historical sites. Near to the Grand and spice Bazaars etc.

As I went with a young family from the UK my kids found the breakfast abit limited in choice. The hotel served traditional Turkish food. If they can add more continental i.e toast, crossants or more variety of cereals etc. Also the toaster didn't work, need more juice at hand.

Oke to sleep one night and value for money. Close to attractions

Sheet was full of other person hair, on pillow was faceprint makeup of person before us in flat

Staff were always visible. Very helpful when required. Always had a smile. 24/7 available. Good Breakfast, but missing some fresh brew coffee. More space in dining area will be good. Lift in hotel a bonus as many hotels don't have lift

Need to make sure Towels are left after room service. however we always got them when they were missing after a phone call to room service

The hotel is located right near the Gulhane park and is at a very good location. All other sights in the Old town are within walking distance. The staff is friendly and they are ready to accommodate your requests and help with anything you need. The breakfast was nice and you could always mix different things so it doesn't get too repetitive. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom clean. It's good value for money, would recommend it to other people.

I traveled for 10 days, and my plan was to book 2 nights and find better somewhere else, but I end up staying the whole vacation there. Its have the best Location to discover The city and transportation was so easy Friendly staff can assistant & help you with anything you need.

Rooms are tiny, just to rest at night and no free bottled water in the room, towels not so clean.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at a charming hotel tucked away in a secluded and quiet alley. The location was just minutes away from the magnificent Blue Mosque, which made exploring the area an absolute delight. What really set this hotel apart from others I've stayed in was the exceptional level of service provided by the staff. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted warmly and made to feel right at home. The personnel were not only responsive and attentive, but also went above and beyond to ensure that my stay was as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Overall, I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a peaceful and convenient base from which to explore Istanbul. The hidden entrance may have been a bit of a challenge to find at first, but it was well worth it for the privacy and tranquility that the location provided. And with such attentive and friendly personnel, I know I'll be returning for another stay in the near future.

We stayed at this hotel as a family of 15. The hotel exceeded my expectations it was immaculately clean and the staff were very helpful and friendly. The location is perfect for old town and blue mosque, hagia sophia and the grand bazaar. All of these are within walking distance and a delight to walk to on a summery day. The best thing was having gulhanye tram stop right outside down the road to us so it was easy to get to places like Galata tower and Taskim Square. We also had Gulhanye Park right opposite so that was perfect for an late evening stroll. The hotel served a traditional Turkish breakfast every morning. For a 3* hotel everything was very good and met my expectations. Thank you.

There was no variety in the breakfast menu. It would be better if there was some international food items such as beans or hash browns or toast.

Marvelous location and incredible owners who create great atmosphere. You do feel welcome there. Great value for money, and source of pleasant memories. The building itself is really beautiful and literally is 1 minute from the main attractions.

Unfortunately, there were some problems with frequency of changing sheets and towels, as well as shower gels etc were not filled up sometimes. Seems to be a particular problem with cleaning staff attentiveness. Also, it would be a plus if there were more places to put small stuff (like table and crotchets in the bathroom). Nevertheless, the experience overall was definitely great. Many thanks to the hosts!