Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul

Çırağan Palace faces the Bosphorus on the European shore, with the wooded slopes of Yıldız Park rising behind it. A pleasant waterfront walk leads to Ortaköy, with its baroque mosque, lively cafés, weekend craft stalls and famous stuffed potatoes, while Beşiktaş's fish restaurants and meyhanes lie the other way. Dolmabahçe Palace is nearby, and the Old City is about a 20-minute drive away.

Built in the 19th century for Sultan Abdülaziz, the palace is one of the Bosphorus shore's great landmarks. Marble halls, high ceilings, and palm-fringed gardens that run down to the water give the hotel the feel of a waterfront resort in the city's heart.

Most rooms sit in the hotel building beside the palace, dressed in rich fabrics with Ottoman touches, and the entry-level rooms start at a generous 32 square metres. Views take in Yıldız Park, the gardens or the Bosphorus, and many water-facing rooms have balconies. The palace also offers the grand suites that made Çırağan famous, and connecting rooms make it an easy choice for families.

Tuğra is the fine-dining centrepiece, serving Ottoman recipes researched from the palace archives beneath high ceilings and marble columns. Bellini brings Italian cuisine to the historic palace, and Laledan is known for its breakfasts and Sunday brunch. The Gazebo Lounge serves afternoon tea, while Le Fumoir offers an evening drink.

The heated infinity pool is the hotel's showpiece, stretching along the water's edge so that swimmers seem to float on the Bosphorus itself, with ships gliding past. It stays open all year, even in the depths of winter. Below ground, the Sanitas Spa is a quiet, softly lit retreat with a traditional Turkish hammam, an indoor pool, a sauna and a full menu of massages and treatments.