Holiday Inn Istanbul Old City, an IHG Hotel

Holiday Inn Istanbul Old City, an IHG Hotel Overview

First Impressions

Walking into Holiday Inn Istanbul Old City, an IHG Hotel, you immediately get that sense of being right in the thick of things — but in a good way. The lobby has this modern, polished feel that honestly surprised me a bit for a Holiday Inn. I mean, you know what to expect from the brand, but this one actually feels more upscale than your typical property. The staff greeted me in multiple languages without missing a beat, which you’ll appreciate if you’re jet-lagged and struggling with basic Turkish phrases.

Location That Actually Matters

Here’s the thing about staying in Fatih — you’re literally walking distance from the Süleymaniye Mosque, and Istanbul University is right there too. The hotel sits on this quiet side street off Gencturk Cad, so you get the best of both worlds: easy access to everything but none of the constant noise. I walked to the Grand Bazaar in about fifteen minutes, and honestly, that morning stroll through the old neighborhoods became my favorite part of each day. Couples seem to really get this location (they rate it super highly), and I can see why — there’s something romantic about wandering these historic streets together.

The Room Experience

My room was on the fifth floor with a partial view of the Süleymaniye Mosque — not guaranteed, but worth asking for when you check in. The four-star rating feels accurate here; everything works well without being fancy. The bed was comfortable enough after long days of sightseeing, and the bathroom had good water pressure, which you don’t always get in this part of the city. Air conditioning worked perfectly too, something I was grateful for during those warm Istanbul afternoons.

Breakfast Worth Waking Up For

The breakfast spread actually impressed me — and I’m usually pretty skeptical about hotel breakfasts. They’ve got this whole international buffet thing going with Turkish specialties, continental options, and even some Asian dishes. What really stood out was how they handle dietary restrictions; I watched them accommodate vegan, halal, and gluten-free requests without any fuss. The restaurant area gets busy around 8 AM, so I learned to either go early or wait until after 9:30 when the tour groups had cleared out.

Why Guests Love It

Look, this isn’t the fanciest place you’ll ever stay, but it gets the fundamentals right in a city where location trumps everything else. The fact that parking is available on-site is actually a huge deal if you’re driving — trust me, you don’t want to deal with finding street parking in this neighborhood. Recent guests consistently rate the location highly, and after spending time here, I totally understand why. You’re close enough to walk to major sights but far enough from the tourist chaos to actually get some rest. Plus, the staff genuinely seems to care about helping you navigate the city, which makes all the difference when you’re trying to figure out Istanbul’s wonderful but sometimes overwhelming old quarter.

Istanbul’s hotels showcase calligraphy ateliers, tea sommeliers, and concierge-led vintage tram tours.

Holiday Inn Istanbul Old City, an IHG Hotel Accommodations

Reviews of Holiday Inn Istanbul Old City, an IHG Hotel

• El from United Arab Emirates (9/10)

  The staff at the property have been extremely nice and accommodating specially Fatih 🙏🏾
  Short but confortable stay

• Kamilla from Kazakhstan (9/10)

  Great hotel to stay in! The staff was very welcoming and helpful, they even extended my check-out time for couple hours and helped to call a taxi to the airport. Breakfasts were amazing, lots of options to choose from. Room was very good, clean and spacious, with a nice view. Nice neighborhood.

• Prashanth from India (8/10)

  Staff

• Pereira from Malaysia (8/10)

  Great location close to
  metro stations, shopping and food availability.

• James from United Kingdom (9/10)

  The breakfast was good. It's very close lots of different shops

• Amr from Egypt (9/10)

  BF there was no much variety , mostly every day same items ,location of the Hotel superb

• Amir from United States (9/10)

  Everything was perfect ! Especially the front desk young gentleman working the night shift, he pleasantly greeted us, helped us with all our questions and went all out to give us comfort while in a strange city to us. The other gentleman working the morning shift was also pleasant and helped with arranging taxis. AOL were polite. The spa personnel was good too. We had massages and it was reasonable priced and hygienic.
  Our room was a bit hot so we opened the windows during the night. It would be helpful to be able to adjust your own temp in the room during wintertime. The central heat system did not work for us. The beds were comfortable! And the service in restaurant was good. Overall a great stay in Istanbul. The location is a bit far from sultanahmed but the tramway is a 5 min walk. So it’s a decent and safe location. One stop away from grand bazaar. 15 min. To all the attractions by tramway.
  The room was clean and modern. We will definitely consider the hotel again when we return to Turkey.

• Marg from United States (7/10)

  breakfast was very good.

• Nabulsi from Palestinian Territory (8/10)

  The staff especially the lady in the breakfast area was amazing and friendly

• N from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Excellent customer service

Surroundings

Facilities