Pera Palace Hotel, Istanbul
Expert reviews
“The Pera Palace speaks of the fin de siècle era when well-to-do Europeans “took the air” on the leafy Grand Rue de Pera (now the heaving Istiklal Caddesi). Stepping through the doors feels like stepping straight back in time to an altogether more glamorous era.”
Featured as Frommer’s Exceptional Choice in Istanbul.
“Extensive restoration has brought this Istanbul landmark—founded in 1892 to provide upscale accommodations for travelers arriving on the Orient Express—back to its former glory, with beautifully outfitted rooms and plenty of period decorations and antique furniture.”
Featured as Fodor’s Choice in Istanbul.
“They don’t come more history-filled or atmospheric than this, the hotel built by Belgian entrepreneur Georges Nagelmackers to accommodate travellers arriving on his Orient Express train from Paris. Guests here have included everyone from Ernest Hemingway and Agatha Christie to Atatürk and Greta Garbo.”
What guests liked
- Historic hotel
- Friendly staff
- Top location
- Excellent Wifi
- Comfortable beds
All you need to know
This fine hotel is located on 52 Mesrutiyet cad, in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul where it offers guests the best in hospitality services and facilities. The hotel rooms are well furnished and adorned with modern décor and feature the finest furniture available in the world. Pera Palace Hotel is rated five-stars for its high quality of hospitality services rendered which is seen in its superb cleanliness, comfort, perfect location, great value for money and finally, the extra friendly staff of the hotel.
The hotel was established in 1892 by the French-Ottoman architect Alexander Vallaury whose visionary mind is seen in the grandiose and sleek design of the hotel. Pera Palace is a museum hotel designed in neoclassical, art nouveau and oriental styles.
The hotel offers its guests a stunning view of the famous Golden Horn which further makes it attractive to travelers, tourists, and visitors in Istanbul.
Pera Palace offers stylish room options such as Connecting Family Suite, Deluxe Pera Side Room Twin, Great Garbo Corner Room, Business Double Room, Presidential Suite, Deluxe Golden Horn Side Room King, Ernest Hemingway Suite and the Senior Suite.
Other rooms such as the Grand Pera Studio Room King, Deluxe Pera Side Room King, and Pierre Loti Suite are available in the five-star hotel.
The on-site hotel restaurant offers a wide variety of local and international cuisines.
The hotel provides other services, facilities, and amenities such as concierge services, luggage storage, 24-hour front desk, airport shuttle, daily maid service and room service.
Lowest price guarantee
We partner with Booking.com and Agoda. Both booking websites offer the lowest price guarantee so you can be certain you will always get the best deal for this hotel. If you have seen a better price elsewhere, all you need to do is contact the booking website and they will refund you the difference immediately. You can price match right up until the day before check-in.
Location
Recent guest reviews
12 July 2025
Fabulous
breakfast was delicious and inventive. great salads , but as a trans continental guest i would have appreciated a little variety of cooked vegetables , instead of all raw.
front desk could have k looked crispier.as a 5 star hotel is usually.. beautiful historic hotel..
10 July 2025
Feels like living in the museum with a comfort of 5-star hotel
Unique site, historical and very well maintained space. Seems like leaving in the museum, but with the comfort of a good hotel. Breakfast was excellent
Hairdryer was very difficult to use
9 July 2025
It was a great experience.
The locations is perfect, near most of amenities in Istanbul walking distance. The staff was superb, specially Ekrem Emre,can’t wait to comeback again.
Nothing
8 July 2025
Nice, scenic, emotional. But need to improve wifi and spa faciilitiea.
Ambient. Staff. History.
Wi fi and spa. Not all places were available because of event.
8 July 2025
Charming luxury
As many already know, I guess, Pera Palace is one of the finest hotels in the world, thanks especially to its indescriptible charm (fruit of a rich history, but also of a very carefully kept balance between splendor of the past and the most advanced technologies of the present) and to the high standard of its services. We found again all these qualities, enhanced by the upgrading of our rooms (thanks, Booking!), so we had balconies with a view of the Golden Horn and Istanbul's amazing skyline. The breakfast was incredibly varied and tasteful - and yet we missed some fresh Turkish yogurt... Maybe next time!
It was not cheap, but all was absolutely splendid.
8 July 2025
A Grand Hotel but Let Down on the Promise
Pera Palace is an excellent historic property. Located on a historic street full of beautiful cafes and museums. This was one of the reasons to book it. It lived up to the expectation on this front. The room was appointed with beautiful historic furniture. The Lobby and the Salon were beautiful, the patina very evocative. We loved seeing the Kamal Ataturk Museum. Staff was warm and helpful. AND YET : Will I ever return here : NO. The reason is given in What we did not like.
Besides its historic and iconic status, the most important reason for us to book this hotel was the description of the Grand Suite we booked. It said that the large windows of the room open on Golden Horn/ Bosporus. THIS WAS NOT TRUE AT ALL. A small diagonal section of the water body was visible from a small angular balcony that was un-sittable because of the traffic noise. This was extremely disappointing and a letdown. We had booked a second three day stay at Pera Palace on our return from Cappadocia and Ephesus. We cancelled the booking and shifted to Sultanahmet. How much ever the historic importance and iconic location, the Sales Team has no business lying to guests.
4 July 2025
Definitely will go again.
Awesome hotel with a rich history. Delicious breakfast. Helpful and welcoming staff. Especially Ergun and Aziz.
Nothing.
4 July 2025
Very good
The room’s view was not nice… looking into the construction and giving its back to the nice views, make sure you chose the right location. As it was a nice suite and in a bad location from view point of view.
Nice and authentic
3 July 2025
An historic hotel with full amenities
Charm of historic hotel. Staff was excellent. Breakfast was extra but exceptional.
Small room with terrible view.
27 June 2025
Beautiful hotel .. kind staff
There was no view I looked over a construction site
27 June 2025
Love this place, not our first time here
We love this place. Just one little minus: we booked room with bathtub, and the room was with shower. We asked to change the room, but there was no free rooms for change. Everything else was perfect
We booked room with bathtub, and the room was with shower
26 June 2025
A beautiful and well maintained hotel - rich in history and character - with excellent staff
Such a beautiful and historic hotel - originally built for the passengers of the Orient Express - the former room of the founder of modern Turkiye, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, is preserved as a museum here (Room 101). Ataturk was key to the Ottoman forces successfully defending Gallipoli (against the invading British/Australian/New Zealand forces) in 1915 during WW1, and successfully leading the post-war independence movement (in the wake of the defeat of Germany and the Ottoman Empire) to create what is now modern Turkiye. It has the second ever lift in the world, after the Eiffel Tower, and it's where Agatha Christie (a regular guest) supposedly wrote part of 'Murder on the Orient Express'. You can stay in her room, but we managed to book the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis room (also a regular guest) - which has a range of photos, books and fashion accessories (perhaps left at the hotel?). The staff are friendly and helpful, the breakfast in the Agatha Restaurant is fantastic, with a wide range of options and eggs/omelettes cooked to order.
Not exactly cheap at AUD$520 a night - but totally worth it!
25 June 2025
We spent 5 nights in this beautiful historical hotel. Rooms were very clean and service was excellent. Staff were very f
history
25 June 2025
Exceptional
The staff was very efficient unfriendly
21 June 2025
Exceptional
I have a special connection to this hotel — my grandfather and grandmother spent their honeymoon here in 1932. While they were staying, there was a 7-year-old girl playing the piano in the lobby. When my grandparents returned from their trip, they decided that if they ever had a daughter, they would name her Hajal, like that little girl. I came to see the place my grandparents once visited, and it was incredibly beautiful — everything was absolutely perfect.
21 June 2025
Exceptional historical hotel next to Istiklal Caddesi. Warm, helpful staff, great breakfast, and a unique Atatürk museum
This hotel is an absolute gem—rich in history and located right next to the iconic Istiklal Caddesi. You’re in the centre of it all, yet the hotel feels peaceful and full of character. The staff were truly exceptional—warm, attentive, and always ready to help with anything. The breakfast was generous, delicious, and beautifully presented—definitely worth booking with your stay. One of the most unique parts of this hotel is the preserved room that Atatürk once lived in, now turned into a mini museum. The tour was fascinating and gives a powerful sense of the building’s significance. If you’re after a stay that combines comfort, location, and heritage, this place delivers on all fronts. Highly recommend.
20 June 2025
Fabulous
excellent
the carpeting at the entrance could look cleaner, and the uniforms worn by staff reception od look c fresher.. somewhat tired.. not normal for a 5 star hotel.
17 June 2025
Super location
Location, location location, perfect for cafes, restaurants and shopping.
Room service was difficult, took 30 minutes to bring a milk sachet, maybe they were down on staff
17 June 2025
If you’re ever in Istanbul, this place is a true experience!
Location was great to restaurants, shopping, staff were attentive to our needs.
Perhaps a few minor things, but given it is a museum hotel, the experience more than compensated!
12 June 2025
Pera Palace hugs me from the minute I walk in and is my home from home
I loved the choice, freshness and excellent service
10 June 2025
Overall very good.
Very good - classic elegant hotel.
Gym facilities was not very modern or spacious Also, shame there wasn’t a rooftop restaurant or bar.
7 June 2025
Wonderful stay as always at Pera Palace
Lovely room, fantastic bed, very responsive service
Leaky air conditioning and blocked sink but neither really affected us
5 June 2025
Very good
It was a wonderful experience to stay in this gorgeous, historic building on my first visit to Istanbul. We really enjoyed the spa and pool area, as well as the sitting area and bathtub in our room. The staff were extremely helpful and responsive, and I was very grateful that they allowed us to move to a different room when we had an issue.
Our room was noisy at times from traffic (there's a major road behind the hotel). The hotel uses heavy air fresheners and strong fragrances on the bedding, which affected my asthma and was just generally unpleasant if you're sensitive to strong smells. However, it was okay because the staff kindly provided us with unscented bedding. The beautiful Oriental Bar downstairs has some colored LED lighting and tacky decorations that detract from the 19th-century ambience (but, for the most part, the public areas of the hotel are absolutely beautiful!).
31 May 2025
Very good
Historic charm
Sometimes service a bit off
31 May 2025
Don’t miss the opportunity to stay in this historic gem
Historically significant with beautiful architecture and decor. Charming helpful staff Old world etiquette Best huge gourmet breakfast ever
Nothing. Right down to maid service exceptional
31 May 2025
Historical, beautiful, and good location
The hotel is very cozy, a truly historic location. It is very close to everything, practically accessible by walking or public transport. The staff was very friendly, and the breakfast was plentiful.
Perhaps a little renovation would be beneficial for the rooms, but it was completely acceptable.
30 May 2025
Staff were extremely helpful and friendly. Let belt ambience.
Good choice. Quality of fruit poor however.
Service a little slow
28 May 2025
Fabulous
Heritage , location , legacy and service levels … Particularly at breakfast … hard working team … as well as at the Front Desk ..
Could do with a refresh/upgrade in some areas … The loud music from the street parties over the weekend is off putting ..goes on till past midnight
26 May 2025
Iconic, luxury property.
A lavish breakfast buffet offers a wide variety of Turkish and international options, including fresh pastries, cheeses, fruits, and eggs cooked to order. The hotel is steps from Istiklal Avenue, a 10-minute walk from Galata Tower. The immediate area is lively and upscale, filled with restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and cultural attractions.
There is only one elevator, and the rooms on the sixth floor are situated directly beneath the central ventilation system, causing a constant, annoying noise.
25 May 2025
Exceptional
Historical place
In theory is Luxurious , but simple
23 May 2025
Back in time
Unique. Old world
Concierge needs more suggestions
21 May 2025
Exceptional
Everythings
19 May 2025
Fabulous
Stunning building with lots of history and well appointed room - was a wonderful place to stay and perfect location near to lots of restaurants, bars and shops
Breakfast charged as extra was quite expensive
17 May 2025
Great location but on top hill, excellent area for restaurants and stroll to ferry orOld to
Ambience, staff were excellent
Dripping shower from ceiling was only letdown
15 May 2025
Exceptional
Beautiful atmosphere well kept in the hotel, kind staff. It was my second time back and worthwhile again!
15 May 2025
A great experience
Fantastic hotel! Attention to detail is impressive, the hotel really embraces the history and culture, and great facilities and service
Nothing
14 May 2025
Classy stay
breakfast delicious, bedroom beautiful, ask for the suites on the corners of the hotel and you get a great view. For my sister´s birthday they had an exquisite chocolate cake in the room waiting for us.
the extra bed we requested was very uncomfortable. the swimming pool is cold.
11 May 2025
Great
I loved the vibe of the ambiance
Everything was great
10 May 2025
Amazing stay!
Location was perfect. Very walkable to Galata tower and all the lively neighborhoods and bars close by. Room was beautiful, clean and comfortable. Breakfast was good with a choice to customize. Front desk was very helpful. The history in this hotel and the celebrity guests who have stayed here, is truly something. Felt blessed to stay in the same hotel where Agatha Christies once stayed.
9 May 2025
Iconic gracious hotel in Istanbul that I will return to.
The hotel is iconic. It’s like the building has a soul. The employees maintain the grand old era this hotel has seen with their gracious warm professional attitude. I booked this hotel and had to leave urgently the day of my arrival. The front office manager assisted me with this and when I was able to return, he remembered me. I felt as if I had been patronising the hotel for years. I used the spa and pool service, room service, the famous afternoon tea. All were excellent. The breakfast on offer is a good quality Turkish one, not the generic 5 star buffet the rest of the world offers.
Don’t use the lift during peak times, after breakfast or at checkout time, or just slow down and be prepared to wait. After a day you start to wind down and it doesn’t really matter.
9 May 2025
A hotel-museum. History, atmosphere, service, and a magnificent view of the Bosphorus.
For several years now, I have chosen to stay exclusively at this hotel. Each visit reaffirms what makes it so special — its unique, almost magical sense of home. The service is excellent, the cleanliness impeccable, and the food always delightful. But the true soul of this hotel lies in its people. It’s the staff — many of whom remain unchanged over the years — that create this atmosphere of familiarity and comfort. I know them by name, and they know me. When I arrive from the airport, I already know Emre will greet me at the door with his warm smile and a heartfelt “hoş geldiniz.” And at reception, it’s always Akin, the manager, who welcomes me. I must honestly say — having stayed at many hotels around the world — I have never encountered a manager like Akin. He treats every guest with sincere care, attention, and quiet professionalism. For me, this hotel would lose its feeling of “home” without him. My friends, too, have noticed his genuine warmth and professionalism. I sincerely hope the management understands how valuable he is. I always book a suite or a studio — in my view, the best value-for-money choice in Istanbul. The rooms are spacious, the pillows comfortable, the bedding luxurious, the toiletries high-quality, and even the hairdryer is a thoughtful detail for women who care about such things.
Now, I want to address the hotel management directly — because I know you read every guest review, and that alone speaks to your high standards of service and guest care. Unfortunately, this 05.05 something happened that has now repeated itself for the third time. The first time, I experienced a situation that left me with a bad impression — but I chose to say nothing, assuming someone was having a bad day. The second time, I again stayed silent, thinking perhaps the person was going through something personal. But the third time, I’ve decided it’s time to speak up. Once again, the issue was with Mr. Emre at reception. His tone is cold, his communication dismissive, and his attitude, frankly, inappropriate for a hotel of this standard. During a previous stay, I had already made a new reservation for my next visit. I kindly asked Mr. Emre to assist me with it. His reply was rude and unhelpful — simply because the reservation had been made on Booking.com rather than the hotel’s official website. After three days of excellent care and service from everyone else, one person managed to erase the good impression — and I left with a heavy heart. This time , I had the misfortune of checking out with him again. I already sensed there might be a problem, but hoped for better. Since my room had been prepaid several days earlier, I asked him to confirm that the charge wouldn’t be processed a second time. To avoid any misunderstanding, I involved Daria to help with translation. And yet again, I was met with a disrespectful tone — and even accused of lying. Of course, misunderstandings can happen, especially in a hotel that welcomes international guests. Not everyone speaks fluent English. But any issue can be solved with kindness and willingness. With Mr. Emre, these qualities are consistently absent. Once again, I left your hotel with disappointment.
8 May 2025
Making amazing memories at Pera Palace
Beautiful, historic hotel in the heart of the Pera district.
7 May 2025
Wonderful Stay!
It was well kept and clean
6 May 2025
A historic hotel that preserves the charm of Istanbul.
A historic hotel that takes you back in time. For the service and comfort it’s one of the best bargains in Istanbul.
1 May 2025
Very good
Service, confort, location and history of the hotel
The view and the noise from the bedroom overlooking the busiest road.
30 April 2025
Always my choice when in Istanbul
Location and the beauty of the hotel
30 April 2025
Fabulous
Historic hotel with all modern cons
Bar had lousy service
29 April 2025
Memorable stay, room comfort could have been better.
Atmsophere is unsurpassable. You felt you were part of a historical watershed. Location is also super for restaurants, bars. People very friendly.
Room facilities (Room 618) were not optimal.Basically there was no where to hang up your stuff apart from rather inadequate wardrobe, which squashed the clothes. rence. TheA couple of strategically located wall hooks would make all the difference. My wife couldnt get into the room once because the wadrdrobe door had been left open across the entrance door. There was one curatin only to cover window/doors which opened in the middle, so it was had to keep window open at night for fresh air. The wasy chair provied was uncomfortable, you tended to slide off if you stretched out on it. Lack of proper lobby or waiting area is a product of history -You could perhaps make better use of limited space by having smaller chairs in the windows. Give guests not only complimentary nuts, etc, but nice looking (possibly wood coated) ball point pens, with Perera Palcae Hotel wirtten prominently on them.
29 April 2025
Excellent
Le style immuable
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Kid meals (additional charge)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Fruits (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Car hire
- - Heating
- - Air conditioning
- - Shuttle service (additional charge)
- - Airport shuttle (additional charge)
- - Pet basket
- - Pet bowls
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Business centre (additional charge)
- - Fax/photocopying (additional charge)
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Currency exchange
- - Tour desk
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
- - Private check-in/check-out
- - Lockers
- - Invoice provided
Activities
- - Sauna
- - Fitness centre
- - Spa and wellness centre (additional charge)
- - Massage (additional charge)
- - Hammam
- - Indoor pool
- - Indoor pool (all year)
- - Spa facilities
- - Steam room
- - Spa lounge/relaxation area
- - Spa/wellness packages
- - Back massage
- - Neck massage
- - Foot massage
- - Couples massage
- - Head massage
- - Hand massage
- - Full body massage
- - Fitness
- - Personal trainer
- - Fitness/spa locker rooms
- - Walking tours (additional charge)
- - Tour or class about local culture (additional charge)
- - Live music/performance (additional charge)
Outdoors
- - Terrace
- - Outdoor furniture
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Trouser press (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Parking
- - Accessible parking
Accessibility
- - Wheelchair accessible
- - Toilet with grab rails
- - Lower bathroom sink
- - Emergency cord in bathroom
Pool and wellness
- - Heated pool
- - Swimming pool
- - Swimming Pool
Transport
- - Airport pick up (additional charge)
- - Airport drop off (additional charge)
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - Security alarm
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Access to health care professionals
- - Thermometers for guests provided by property
- - Face masks for guests available
14 July 2025
Charming and historic place...you won't be disappointed :-)))