Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul

The room view is unbeatable, but the 'palace' is just a building next door, not actually staying in a palace. The area of the palace that can be visited is not large. Dining is quite expensive.

The experience at Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul was simply perfect. As a hotel converted from an Ottoman palace, it's steeped in historical ambiance. Located right on the Bosphorus Strait, my room's balcony offered breathtaking sunset views over the strait. The room itself was spacious and comfortable, with high-quality bedding and thoughtful amenities. Breakfast was plentiful, and dining by the Bosphorus was a delightful experience. The concierge and room service were professional and attentive, with great attention to detail. Guests can explore the ancient palace architecture and stroll along the waterside lawns, enjoying the unique scenery where Asia and Europe meet. This stay left me with unforgettable memories, making Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul my top choice for any future visit to Istanbul.

The hotel is located on the shores of the Bosphorus, in the new European district, right next to a palace which guests can visit. The overall environment is indeed beautiful, and the outdoor pool offers a great resort-like feel. I booked a standard room, which faced a road. It was extremely noisy at night, so I wouldn't recommend it for light sleepers. During check-in, they tried to upsell me to an upgraded room for an additional 200 Euros per day. However, even with the upgraded room facing the Bosphorus, the view was still quite limited. At nearly 7000 a night after the upgrade, I personally felt it wasn't worth it, and one could easily opt for the nearby Four Seasons Hotel instead. For a hotel in this price range and category, its hardware facilities and dining only rate about an 80 out of 100. The cleaning was relatively good, but the bathroom was tiny and lacked a bathtub. Overall, the value for money was average. Transportation was also not very convenient. There's no light rail nearby, only public buses or taxis. The ferry station is also quite far and requires a ride to get there.

Overall, it was okay, but the bathroom drain had a really bad smell. Every time I walked into the restroom, I'd get a whiff of it.

A Hotel in a Palace Very luxurious. The balcony was nice; it was very pleasant to sit there, enjoy the breeze, and look out at the strait. The service was excellent, and the breakfast had a wide variety of choices, though I'd recommend avoiding the meat dishes as they were incredibly salty. However, having three servers attend to you more than made up for it in terms of emotional value. At one point, an orange tabby cat insisted on joining us, and a server gently came over to pick it up. A family of three could book a suite or pay extra for an additional bed.

I don't even know where to begin praising this hotel, it's simply the best and most satisfying I've ever stayed in. The breakfast was delicious, the Sala Thai restaurant was exceptionally grand, and although the pool was a bit shallow, the views were stunning. As for the service, how good was it? Our butler saw us using laptops and proactively brought us two screen cleaning sprays. They also left bookmarks when they noticed we had books. When we wanted to weigh our luggage to avoid overweight charges, the front desk immediately called two porters who took our bags to be weighed and even attached labels with the exact weight. We were upgraded to a garden suite and honestly, we didn't want to leave the room at all – I just couldn't bear to check out! (＞_＜)～

My stay here was absolutely fantastic, and I highly recommend this hotel. The hotel boasts an excellent location right on the Bosphorus, sharing the same side of the strait with properties like the Four Seasons and The Peninsula, with the Asian side directly across. You're treated to stunning views of the strait from your room, the restaurant, and the pool, especially beautiful during sunset. A truly unique feature of this hotel is that it houses an actual Ottoman palace. During your stay, simply inform the front desk or concierge, and a staff member will give you a guided tour of the palace, detailing its history and architecture. It's a truly worthwhile experience and a distinctive charm that's hard to find in other hotels. The service at the hotel is also outstanding. We frequently used the in-room dining service, and the staff would bring the dining cart directly into our room and meticulously set up the table, creating a very ceremonial experience. Whether it was room service, restaurant service, or concierge assistance, the staff were consistently professional, warm, and attentive, delivering the kind of service you'd expect from a true five-star hotel. The hotel's dining options were equally impressive. The breakfast restaurant faces the Bosphorus, with a large green lawn stretching out front. Sitting outdoors, enjoying breakfast while admiring the sea view, creates a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere. We also tried the hotel's Turkish-themed dinner, which featured excellent dishes and exquisite presentation. Both the taste and the dining environment were thoroughly satisfying. If you're visiting Istanbul and want to experience the most iconic Bosphorus views, the historical ambiance of an Ottoman palace, and truly top-notch service and dining, this hotel is definitely worth recommending, and it's a place I'd happily stay at again.

I booked a sea view room, and the Bosphorus Strait view was truly stunning. The hotel facilities are excellent. While the restaurant prices are higher than outside, the food quality is significantly better, making it worth it. The breakfast spread is rich and varied. All in all, you get what you pay for here; this hotel is the pinnacle in Turkey – it doesn't get any better than this.

Many thanks... the hospitality was great. Also, a special thank you for the delicious food.