Istanbul is famously devoted to its animals. Whole neighbourhoods care for street cats and dogs, and locals don't mind sharing a café terrace with a dog at their feet.
Travelling with your own dog is easier than you might think, and we've found the hotels that welcome them properly. Our picks include grand palaces on the Bosphorus, stylish design hotels in Karaköy and elegant addresses in Nişantaşı and Taksim. Several are a short walk from Maçka Park, one of the city's greenest spaces, while others sit on the Bosphorus, perfect for long waterside strolls. Policies and fees vary, so check the details when you book.
A garden retreat in the heart of the city, between Taksim and Maçka, with an outdoor pool, a tennis court and generously sized rooms.
Luxury
Swimming pool
Spa
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Pet friendly
Room sizes from 38 m²Read the full story
Harbiye
Grand Hyatt stands in Harbiye, set back from the traffic in its own gardens, about a seven-minute walk from Taksim Square. Maçka Park is around ten minutes away, and the nearby Taşkışla cable car glides across the valley to Maçka. The Atatürk Cultural Centre and the boutiques, cafés, and restaurants of Nişantaşı are both an easy stroll away, making this a well-placed base for the city.
A Garden Retreat in the City
Peaceful gardens, a rare luxury in central Istanbul, surround the hotel, along with a large outdoor pool, sun loungers, and a floodlit tennis court. Inside, the design blends traditional Turkish style with modern colours and architecture to create a warm, relaxed atmosphere.
Spacious Rooms & Bosphorus Suites
Rooms are among the most generous in the area, starting at 38 square metres, with a sitting area, a work desk and marble bathrooms featuring both a bathtub and a glass-enclosed rain shower. Selected rooms and the terrace suites offer superb views of the city, the gardens, or the Bosphorus. The hotel also offers Family suites and three-bedroom terrace suites, both with kitchens and ideal for larger groups.
34 & Grasidi
34 is the hotel's signature restaurant and a favourite with locals, serving seasonal Turkish and Mediterranean dishes from an open kitchen, with a fire on the patio on cooler evenings. In the garden, Grasidi serves Aegean and Mediterranean flavours beneath its signature olive tree, and in summer Gazebo offers pizzas, pides and homemade gelato by the pool. The Mezzanine Lounge & Bar is a relaxed spot for a drink.
Spa & Garden Pool
The spa offers modern treatments and traditional hammam rituals in a calm, soothing setting, with a sauna and steam room to unwind in afterwards. The seasonal outdoor pool, surrounded by gardens, is one of the city's most inviting places to swim in summer, and the fitness centre and tennis court keep active guests busy.
An 1867 neo-Renaissance bank on Karaköy's historic banking street, reimagined with bold design, a rooftop bar and a marble hammam.
Luxury
Boutique
Trendy
Spa
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Rooftop bar
Pet friendly
Room sizes from 20 m²Read the full story
Karaköy Waterfront
The Bank Hotel stands at the Karaköy end of Bankalar Caddesi, a few steps from the harbour, where ferries leave for Kadıköy and the Asian side. The surrounding streets mix Ottoman-era buildings with street art, fashion boutiques, galleries and busy seafood restaurants. Galata Tower is a short climb uphill, and the tram to the Old City stops nearby.
A Grand Bank, Reimagined
Built in 1867 by Italian architect Antoine Tedeschi, the neo-Renaissance building once housed some of the city's great banks. Today, designer Sinan Kafadar fills its marble halls and soaring ceilings with contemporary art and bold colour; an in-house curator arranges cultural events, and the original bank vault survives as a unique meeting space.
High-Ceilinged Rooms
Rooms feel grand yet contemporary, with patterned ceilings, parquet floors, goose-feather bedding and Carrara marble bathrooms stocked with L'Occitane products. Rooms in the historic main building have the highest ceilings, while the Penthouse Suite adds a freestanding bath with views of the Bosphorus Bridge, the Golden Horn and the Old City. Interconnected rooms are available in Deluxe room categories.
Serica & the Roof Bar
Serica, the hotel's restaurant, draws on Anatolia's rich culinary heritage for a refined, locally focused menu, served behind floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping city views. Up on the roof, The Bank Roof Bar pairs signature cocktails with panoramic views from the Bosphorus to the Old City, and the Lobby Bar mixes classic and creative drinks.
Spa & White Marble Hammam
Tucked away downstairs, the spa is a calm counterpoint to the lively streets outside. Its classic white marble hammam is the centrepiece, perfect for a traditional scrub and foam, alongside a sauna, steam rooms and a couples' room for massages and facials. A fitness centre completes the facilities.
The only Ottoman imperial palace hotel on the Bosphorus, between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy, with a heated infinity pool at the water's edge.
Ultra luxury
Swimming pool
Spa
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Pet friendly
Room sizes from 32 m²Read the full story
Çırağan Avenue & the Bosphorus
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.
A Sultan's Palace on the Water
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.
Rooms & Palace Suites
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, Bellini & Laledan
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.
Sanitas Spa & Infinity Pool
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.
Restored maritime buildings on the Galataport waterfront in Karaköy, with Bosphorus views and the Old City skyline across the water.
Ultra luxury
Trendy
Swimming pool
Spa
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Rooftop bar
Pet friendly
Room sizes from 40 m²Read the full story
Karaköy & Galataport
The Peninsula stands on Galataport's waterfront promenade in Karaköy, one of Istanbul's most creative neighbourhoods. The surrounding streets are lined with speciality coffee shops, galleries, street art, and small restaurants, and Karaköy's famous baklava shops are nearby. Istanbul Modern is a five-minute walk along the water, Galata Tower is a short climb uphill, and the tram crosses the Galata Bridge to the Old City.
Maritime Landmarks, Turkish Craft
The hotel spans four buildings, three of them restored maritime landmarks, including the historic passenger terminal. Turkish designer Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu created interiors rich in local craftsmanship, from wood and mother-of-pearl inlay to kilim-style carpets and Marmara marble.
Rooms with Bosphorus Views
Every room has at least 40 square metres, with deep soaking tubs in marble bathrooms. Entry categories overlook Karaköy, while Bosphorus categories overlook the water and the Old City skyline. The finest suites add garden terraces or, at the very top, a private rooftop pool. For larger groups, the hotel offers family and connecting rooms.
Gallada & The Lobby
Gallada is the signature restaurant, set on the rooftop of the historic passenger terminal. Michelin-starred chef Fatih Tutak cooks Turk-Asian dishes inspired by the Silk Road, and Topside Bar sits just above. The Lobby serves Mediterranean dishes and the Peninsula's classic afternoon tea, while Abelia Pool offers mezze and sushi in private cabanas.
Spa & 25-Metre Pool
The Peninsula Spa is one of Istanbul's most impressive, a calm world of Marmara marble and soft light. Hammams, saunas and a tea lounge set an unhurried pace, and the 25-metre indoor pool plays music underwater. Outside, a second pool runs along the Bosphorus, framed by landscaped gardens and private cabanas, with ships sliding past as you swim.
A playful, design-led hotel on historic Bankalar Caddesi, with loft-style rooms, local art and live music at the W XYZ Bar.
Affordable
Fitness centre
Pet friendly
Room sizes from 22 m²Read the full story
Bankalar Caddesi, Karaköy
Aloft stands on Bankalar Caddesi, Karaköy's grand old banking street, where the former Ottoman Bank headquarters now houses SALT Galata, a cultural centre with exhibitions, a research library, and a café. Karaköy's fish market and waterfront are moments away, Galataport is a short stroll, and the lanes above climb to Galata Tower and the cafés, bars and boutiques around it.
Bold Colour & Local Art
Aloft brings a bright, energetic look to Karaköy, with vibrant colours, neon accents and artworks by local artists including Serap Sokol and Ecem Dilan Köse. The social spaces encourage lingering, with a billiards table and a game console in the lobby.
Loft-Style Rooms and Views
Rooms and suites are loft-inspired, with high ceilings, platform beds, modern bathrooms and large screens. The most memorable have balconies and views over the Golden Horn.
W XYZ Bar
The W XYZ Bar is the hotel's social heart, serving signature cocktails and sharing plates, with live music bringing the space to life in the evenings.
Breakfast at Poché
Poché serves an international breakfast indoors or on its terrace, and Re:fuel offers grab-and-go snacks and drinks around the clock. A 24-hour gym completes the facilities.
Two restored Ottoman mansions high above the Bosphorus in Sarıyer, with laurel gardens, an infinity pool and a spa of traditional hammams.
Ultra luxury
Boutique
Swimming pool
Spa
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Pet friendly
Room sizes from 40 m²Read the full story
Sarıyer, on the Upper Bosphorus
Kocataş Mansions sits above Sarıyer, a green, village-like corner of the upper Bosphorus close to the Black Sea. Its waterfront is known for fish restaurants and traditional pastry shops, and the elegant villages of Tarabya and Yeniköy are a short drive away. This is a place to slow down: the Old City is around an hour away by car or on the hotel's private boat.
Ottoman Mansions Reimagined
The hotel occupies two faithfully restored Ottoman-era mansions, the Kocataş and Sait Paşa mansions, separated by about 150 years of history. Laurel gardens and lush pathways wrap around the buildings, and heritage architecture meets contemporary comfort, with a gallery and an open-air cinema adding to the charm.
Rooms with Strait Views
The rooms are spacious, with 40 square metres or more, and feature high ceilings, Ottoman-inspired interiors and marble bathrooms, so that no two are quite alike. Some overlook peaceful courtyards; others face the Bosphorus. Connecting rooms are also available.
Turkish Dining & Gastro Bar
Dining is a highlight, with a fine Turkish restaurant, a Latin- and Asian-inspired gastro bar, and an all-day lounge for coffee, light meals, and evening drinks, many of them enjoyed on terraces overlooking the gardens and the water.
Anantara Spa & Infinity Pool
The spa is the hotel's heart: a calm, beautifully designed retreat with three traditional Turkish hammams for time-honoured bathing rituals and a menu of signature treatments. Outside, the infinity pool offers panoramic views over the Bosphorus, and the hotel also has an indoor pool and a well-equipped fitness centre.
An Istanbul classic since 1956, beside Gezi Park and a short walk from Taksim, famous for its patisserie and home to a semi-Olympic pool.
Luxury
Swimming pool
Spa
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Pet friendly
Room sizes from 32 m²Read the full story
Taksim & Gezi Park
Divan Istanbul stands beside Gezi Park, one of the few green spaces in central Istanbul, a short walk from Taksim Square and the start of Istiklal Avenue. The Atatürk Cultural Centre, home to the city's opera and ballet, is close by; the boutiques and cafés of Nişantaşı are within easy reach, and the Taksim metro connects quickly to the rest of the city.
An Istanbul Institution since 1956
Opened in 1956 by the Koç family, the Divan was one of the city's first hotels built to international standards and has been a favourite of locals ever since, not least for its much-loved patisserie. Today it pairs that heritage with elegant contemporary interiors, where Turkish kilims and textiles sit alongside modern design.
Rooms with Turkish Touches
Measuring a comfortable 32 square metres, rooms combine Turkish textiles with contemporary furnishings, cosy seating areas and wooden desks, and higher floors enjoy views over the city. Families can choose from family rooms, two-bedroom family rooms, and connecting family rooms.
Divan Restaurant & Patisserie
The Divan Restaurant has long showcased Turkish cuisine, now served in a striking, lofty dining room. Maromi offers authentic Japanese cooking, the Divan Bar is a classic spot for a drink, and the Divan Patisserie, with its pavement café, remains one of Istanbul's best-loved addresses for cakes and chocolates.
Spa & Semi-Olympic Pool
The spa is a calm retreat from the bustle of Taksim, centred on a semi-Olympic indoor pool, perfect for proper lengths. A traditional hammam, sauna, and steam room, plus a massage menu and a well-equipped gym with Pilates classes, complete the facilities.
Two 19th-century buildings in Galata, named after the Camondo banking family, with two rooftop restaurants and live music.
Trendy
Restaurant
Rooftop bar
Pet friendly
Room sizes from 20 m²Read the full story
Galata & Bankalar Caddesi
DeCamondo Galata spans two historic buildings a block apart, on Bankalar Caddesi and Felek Street. Galata Tower is a couple of minutes' walk away, at the centre of a district of cobbled lanes, vintage shops, record stores and cosy wine bars. The famous Camondo Steps are around the corner, and Karaköy's cafés and the Galata Bridge to the Old City are just downhill.
The Camondo Legacy
The hotel is named after the Camondo family, a prominent 19th-century banking dynasty of Galata. Old photographs of the family line the walls, and Italian artisans' reliefs survive in the historic interiors.
Stylish Rooms in Two Buildings
Rooms are individually designed, blending clean lines and warm simplicity with historic detail. The Banque Building sits at the heart of the action on Bankalar Caddesi, while the House Building is a little quieter and closer to Galata Tower. Connecting rooms make it a good fit for families too.
Moise & Nissim Rooftops
Each building has its own rooftop restaurant. Moise Karaköy serves Turkish cuisine with views of Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace. Meanwhile, Nissim focuses on Mediterranean fish dishes and tapas, with cocktails and live jazz and acoustic music on certain nights.
Vigneron Wine House
In the House Building cellar, Vigneron Wine House serves wine among red-brick walls, with saxophone performances on weekends.
Art Deco glamour in Nişantaşı, opposite Maçka Park, with Wolfgang Puck's Spago on the roof and designer boutiques on the doorstep.
Ultra luxury
Trendy
Swimming pool
Spa
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Rooftop bar
Pet friendly
Room sizes from 35 m²Read the full story
Nişantaşı & Maçka Park
The St. Regis sits in Nişantaşı, Istanbul's most elegant neighbourhood, directly opposite Maçka Park's green lawns. Designer boutiques line Abdi İpekçi Street moments away, while the surrounding streets are filled with stylish cafés, brasseries, and cocktail bars that stay busy late into the evening. The Maçka cable car crosses to Taksim, and the Old City is a short metro or taxi ride away.
Modern Art Deco by Emre Arolat
Designed by Turkish architect Emre Arolat, the hotel is a modern interpretation of Istanbul's Art Deco era, inspired by the brand's New York heritage. Works from the owners' Demsa art collection hang throughout, and a library of books on art, design and Ottoman history sets an elegant tone in the public spaces.
Rooms, Suites & Butler Service
Floor-to-ceiling windows frame Maçka Park or Abdi İpekçi Street, and even the smallest rooms offer a comfortable 35 square metres, with Marmara marble bathrooms and deep soaking tubs. The finest suites add terraces with views over the park to the Bosphorus, and St. Regis butlers are on hand around the clock. Connecting rooms in most categories suit families travelling together.
Spago & St. Regis Brasserie
Wolfgang Puck's Spago is the dining centrepiece, serving Californian cuisine on the rooftop with views over Maçka Park to the Bosphorus. St. Regis Brasserie offers Parisian-style dining with Turkish and international flavours on its leafy terrace. The bar serves the Misty Mary, the hotel's own take on the Bloody Mary that St. Regis created, and afternoon tea is a daily ritual.
Iridium Spa & Indoor Pool
Iridium Spa is one of the most complete spas in central Istanbul, a serene space designed for unhurried time. Bespoke treatments are tailored to each guest, three Turkish baths offer the traditional scrub-and-foam ritual, and three relaxation pools, including an indoor pool, invite a long, restorative afternoon. Afterwards, the Tea Bar serves herbal teas and fresh fruit, and the gym features Technogym equipment.
A restored 19th-century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus shore in Beşiktaş, with gardens, a seafront pool and views across to Asia.
Ultra luxury
Swimming pool
Spa
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Pet friendly
Room sizes from 45 m²Read the full story
Beşiktaş & the Bosphorus
Four Seasons occupies a waterfront stretch of Çırağan Avenue, lined with Ottoman palaces and grand old mansions. Beşiktaş, about a five-minute walk away, is full of fish restaurants, meyhanes, coffee houses, and lively bars, and its ferry pier offers boats to Üsküdar and Kadıköy. Ortaköy's waterfront cafés are nearby, and a complimentary shuttle runs to the sister hotel in Sultanahmet.
A 19th-Century Ottoman Palace
The historic palace forms the hotel's heart, flanked by two newer wings. Contemporary Turkish art fills the public spaces and sculptures line the seafront, giving the palace a lively, modern spirit without losing its sense of history.
Rooms & Palace Suites
Custom fabrics, mahogany furniture, and deep blue or terracotta tones give every room a strong sense of place, and even the smallest offer a generous 45 square metres, with many featuring a divan set into a bay window. All suites are in the historic palace and face the Bosphorus, while the rooftop suites add private sunken terraces above the water. Two-bedroom suites and connecting courtyard rooms work well for families.
Aqua & Yalı
Aqua is the main restaurant, serving Mediterranean seafood with a Turkish influence on a terrace beside the water, including a tasting menu by executive chef Görkem Özkan and a popular Sunday brunch. Yalı is the all-day lounge for cocktails, afternoon tea and Turkish pide, while the seasonal Ocakbaşı serves kebabs and mezes on the terrace.
Hammam Spa & Two Pools
The spa is a serene, light-filled space of mosaic tiles and pale marble, built around the ancient ritual of the Turkish bath. Separate hammams for men and women host the signature Turkish Indulgence, a traditional hammam followed by a personalised massage. A skylit indoor pool is perfect in winter, while the heated outdoor pool on the quayside looks straight across the water to Asia.
