Amy Adejokun
Section editor
Located close to the business quarter and the best bars and nightclubs in Istanbul, the Intercontinental Ceylan offers all the services of a top international hotel. A practical and comfortable place with no unpleasant surprises.
The Intercontinental Ceylan Istanbul is in Taksim area just behind the park of the same name. It is only a 5 minute walk from the famous Istiklal street, the epicentre of Istanbul's nightlife. Allow 15 minutes by taxi to get to the historical area of Sultanahmet. The airport is 12.5 miles from the hotel (allow 25 minutes by taxi for the transfer).
The hotel has 335 standard rooms. There are two different types: those with a view of the Bosphorus, and the others. The view is unmissable thanks to the large bay windows that take up a whole wall, from ceiling to floor. Stay away if you get vertigo, particularly if the room is on one of the top floors! The decor is inspired by Ottoman theme: marquetry furniture, blue and ochre colours... In terms of comfort and equipment, all the rooms are the same: air conditioning, full mini-bar (crisps, biscuits, fruit juice, alcohol, chocolate, etc.), satellite TV, telephone with 2 lines, and safe. The bathrooms are very clean and bright. There is a bath, toilet, hairdryer, scales, comb and telephone.
The Intercontinental Ceylan is a high, 18-storey modern building that was built in 1979 and renovated in 1996. Its large lobby and high ceilings house a lounge surrounded with palm trees and columns. At one end, the English Bar, with a very British vibe, welcomes you every evening from 5 pm. A fitness centre offers a range of activities including yoga, stretching, step, and tum-and-bum programmes. You can also use the large gym room, hammam, sauna, solarium or hammam. In summer, the hotel opens its outdoor pool with kid's pool.
From the lobby, a large staircase in glass and gilt leads to the main restaurant. For all meals, the chef offers international cuisine either as a buffet or a la carte. In the evening you can dine in the panoramic restaurant, the Safran, at the top of the hotel. This Turkish restaurant gives you a taste of local gastronomy. You can also have dinner in the Citronelle (French and Thai cuisine). For a snack during the day, you can have a light meal at the panoramic bar (snack menu) in a Latino atmosphere, or a bite in the tea room of the lobby (buffets and pastries) to the sound of the piano and the violin. The ample room service menu offers a proper meal in your room 24 h a day.
To avoid traffic noise and get a good view, choose a room on the 9th floor or above. If you opt for a room without a view of the Bosphorus, ask for a room with a view of Taksim park. Those allergic to tobacco smell should ask for one of the 26 non-smoking rooms.
massage, (paying), beauty salon, sauna, hammam, stretching, keep fit, Turkish bath, wellness
tennis, gym, aqua gym, aerobics, golf, mountain bike, step, bums and tums, fitness, sports
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