Amy Adejokun
Section editor
This modest hotel has the advantage of being close to the centre of Istanbul. It is also located near Gülhane Park and the Galata Bridge, where groups of fishermen supply the restaurants below.
It is an establishment that will suit those who do not have high expectations and are just looking for budget accommodation for their stay in Istanbul.
The Metropol is located in the Sirkeci district in the heart of Istanbul.
Ataturk Airport is about 8 mi away and it takes around 20 minutes to get there in normal traffic. If you do not have your own transport, you can take the bus that regularly departs from the city centre. The hotel also offers a car hire service.
The guest rooms are small, in keeping with the rest of the hotel. They include 45 standard rooms and one suite,
which is obviously the most spacious. With a personal Jacuzzi, it has been designed with more care and in a more modern style than the standard rooms,
which are much less interesting and lacking in the charm department, mainly because of their small size. However, they include all the usual modern amenities: a television, a direct telephone line, and a minibar.
As we have mentioned, the main purpose of this hotel is to provide cheap accommodation. This goal is met with minimum but decent service.
Built in 1990, this building lacks charm.
It was renovated in 2002 using cold materials and the very ordinary decoration and furnishings do nothing to compensate for this fact.
This is a hotel for tight budgets and cannot claim to be anything else. The spaces are functional but lack in natural design elements and lighting. The poorly ventilated spaces are covered with carpets and rugs.
Overall, the hotel looks more like a guest house on the Riviera than a 3 star hotel. However, it is clean.
This is certainly the service that convinced us the least.
However, as we did not try out this rather spacious restaurant, we cannot judge the quality of its cuisine. In any case, the menu offers typical specialities as well as international dishes, and
breakfast is served as a buffet in the same room.
This hotel is near the Grand Bazaar and Galata Bridge, both of which are worth visiting.
The bazaar is a large market held daily and where lots of different transactions take place. Lively and colourful, you can explore this area without hesitations: of course you should pay attention to your personal belongings, but no more than anywhere else. Residents of Istanbul are very friendly so do not hesitate to ask for directions if you are lost. Fans of small alleys and nooks and crannies will be delighted: you will find many small improvised restaurants and bistros dotted around the bazaar where the catch of the day catch and soups are served with a friendly smile.
These places have no menus, of course, so if you are lucky enough to find one, just go with the flow.
Fish lovers cannot leave Istanbul without spending an evening at the Galata Bridge.
In the lower section, there are small spaces where the catch of the day is barbecued and served with vegetables. However, as they tend to be very busy and not always very clean, it is advisable to choose carefully. If you can, ask for advice before you go.
beauty salon, Turkish bath
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