Hotel Ciragan Palace Kempinski

This hotel is a 5-minute walk from the business district of Besiktas and a 30-minute walk from the tourist district of Taksim. The concierge can also call a taxi for you. Ataturk airport is 16 mi away and transfer time is around 40 minutes.

The Ciragan Palace Kempinski is a member of "The Leading Hotels of the World" group. It is a surprising building in the heart of Istanbul, where the Ottoman Sultans previously lived.Since its opening in 1990, the Ciragan has hosted various personalities such as artists, royal families and other distinguished people.Accommodation advice: Several categories of bedroom are available to you, although the superior rooms (equivalent to standard rooms) already provide an excellent level of comfort.

Opened in 2007, the Ciragan Palace Kempinski consists of two hotels; the Ciragan Palace (main building) and the Deluxe hotel (right wing). In terms of restaurant services you have the choice of 3 restaurants in the winter and 4 in the summer, when the time comes to enjoy barbecues in the huge garden overlooking the Bosphorus. The hotel also has its own spa (with, amongst other things, a sauna and a fitness room) where face and body treatments take on another dimension.To top it all off, doing lengths in the outdoor swimming pool is perfect for imagining yourself swimming in the Bosphorus.

Whether you are staying in one of the 284 bedrooms or in one of the 31 suites, you will have only one desire here - to imagine that this is home. It is pointless expecting to find a "standard" room here; the lowest category is the "superior" room. Decorated in blue and white, they provide optimum comfort. Note the light switches as proof of this. There is no point in looking for them (I must admit that I tried) - there aren't any. You can operate everything in the room (light, etc...) in the blink of an eye using the touch telephone beside the huge raised bed you will not be able to resist. The lovely wooden coffee tables, the view over the Bosphorus, the soft carpets and other facilities will not suit workaholics who have no choice, unless they are working even in holiday time (a study area has unfortunately been included). Rest assured, ladies, that the bathroom is perfect. With more than just basic hospitality products, you will find a range of treatments available for you to take care of yourself and your body. If you really want to relax you will find a list of treatments on offer in the spa in your bedroom (you are already in your bathrobe, so why not!). So let your senses run free and just do as you please. There is a safe deposit box at your disposal, room service is available 24 hours a day, 72 international television channels, and a direct-dial international line.

The Ciragan Palace has 3 restaurants, each as exceptional as the last. The first, the "Laledan Restaurant", offers various fish specialities. The second, the "Gazebo Lounge & Restaurant", open 24 hours a day, enjoys an impressive view over the Bosphorus. The continental buffet breakfast deserves a special mention. Finally, the "Tugra Restaurant"; we liked this oriental-style cuisine and the view over the Bosphorus you definitely never tire of.