Intercontinental Istanbul By Ihg

“Amazing experience in Istanbul”

Room & Comfort Upgrades: Booked a Club Room and received a complimentary upgrade upon arrival—a wonderful touch that set a great tone for the trip. Highlights: Exceptionally comfortable bed, excellent air conditioning, and a fantastic high-pressure shower. In-room Nespresso machine refilled daily a… more

Room & Comfort Upgrades: Booked a Club Room and received a complimentary upgrade upon arrival—a wonderful touch that set a great tone for the trip. Highlights: Exceptionally comfortable bed, excellent air conditioning, and a fantastic high-pressure shower. In-room Nespresso machine refilled daily alongside tea/coffee options. Luxury Byredo Bal d'Afrique toiletries provided. Areas for Improvement: Room showed minor wear and tear from age; bathtub plug failed to hold water. Towels were clean but showed noticeable wear. Ground-Floor Club Lounge Daytime Refreshments: Access to complimentary soft drinks, tea, and coffee throughout the day. Afternoon Tea (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM): Daily service featuring sweet and savory bites with Turkish tea. Happy Hour (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM): Great cocktail selection, local Efes lager, and an excellent hot/cold buffet spread. Atmosphere Note: Lounge shares space with the Winter Garden, which can occasionally reduce the private lounge feel during busy hours. Breakfast Operations & Proactive Service Recovery Morning Breakfast Service: Breakfast gets very busy during peak hours. Ordering custom eggs via table cards is simple, though omelettes can take 10–15 minutes during peak times. There can also be short queues for the single specialty coffee machine and occasional delays restocking items like juice, mugs, or bowls. Proactive Management & Outstanding Service Recovery: When brought to the attention of hotel management, their response was immediate, professional, and genuinely caring. To make up for any morning inconvenience, they generously invited us to dine at Safran, the hotel's fine-dining restaurant. Safran Restaurant Highlight: This gesture completely elevated our stay—our meal at Safran was absolutely stunning and easily the most amazing food we had during our entire trip to Istanbul. Paired with sweeping Bosphorus views, the culinary quality and hospitality at Safran represent top-tier luxury service. Spa, Gym & Pool Facilities Turkish Hammam & Spa (Highlight): The Turkish Hammam experience, complete with a traditional bath and massage, was a standout highlight of the trip. The therapists and staff were super attentive, professional, and delivered a truly memorable experience. Fitness & Gym: Impressive fitness facility with dedicated cardio and weights suites, plus sauna and steam room. Outdoor Swimming Pool: Fantastic pool area with cool, refreshing water. Pool staff were exceptionally attentive, immediately bringing towels and setting up sun loungers upon arrival. 2. Getting Around Istanbul (Logistics & Transit) Hotel Transit Hack (Taksim Station to F1 Funicular) Underground Access: The Taksim Metro Station (M2) entrance right near the hotel on Cumhuriyet Cd. features an underground travelator taking you directly under Taksim Square to the F1 Kabataş Funicular. This bypasses walking across the busy square. Easy Transfers: Taking the F1 funicular down to Kabataş connects directly to the T1 tram line into the Old City (Sultanahmet) or the ferry terminal. Istanbulkart Usage Shared Card: You only need 1 Istanbulkart for 2 people—simply tap it back-to-back at turnstiles. Cost & Value: Very affordable (~47 TRY per scan, roughly £1.50 total for two people to travel across the Golden Horn/Bosphorus). 3. Sights & Attractions Hagia Sophia Admission: ~€40 per person. Visit is focused on the upper gallery level (~1 hour tour). Dress Code Note: Headscarves and modest clothing required. Disposable head coverings cost ~110 TRY at the entrance. Topkapı Palace Admission & Scope: ~€40 per person. Vast complex taking roughly half a day. Highlights: Harem Quarter, Imperial Treasury (Royal Jewels), and panoramic Bosphorus views from the final courtyard. Facilities Note: Restrooms in the first courtyard use traditional squat toilets; food options inside are limited. Blue Mosque Admission: Free entry. Dress Code: Trousers and covered shoulders for men; covered heads, shoulders, and legs for women (complimentary coverings provided at entrance). Dolmabahçe Palace & Beşiktaş Stroll Dolmabahçe Palace: Spent 2 hours touring the palace (~2 hours). Reasonably priced and visually grand, though can feel slightly repetitive toward the end. Beşiktaş Walk & Minoa Bookstore: Pleasant waterfront walk from the palace into Beşiktaş. Stopped for lunch at a local cafe and browsed Minoa bookstore in Akaretler. Easy Return: Local buses run straight from Beşiktaş back to Kabataş transit hub. 4. Asian Side Day Trip: Kadıköy & Moda Ferry Crossing: Scenic, relaxing ferry from Kabataş to Kadıköy for 76 TRY per person each way (~£1.70). Nostalgic Tram (T3 Line): Fun, inexpensive loop tram ride through the streets of Kadıköy and Moda. Lunch at Çiya Sofrası: Exceptional Anatolian lunch featured on Netflix's Chef's Table. Shared chicken and traditional bulgur wheat for ~1,100 TRY per person (~£25). Outstanding food quality and value. Market Exploration: Vibrant local street markets, cafes, and boutique shopping streets. A fantastic, authentic budget day trip. 5. Shopping & Dining: Galataport Waterfront Setting & Location: Modern outdoor shopping promenade along the Bosphorus, just a 10-minute walk from the Kabataş ferry terminal. Spotless, immaculate facilities and modern restrooms. Cafes & Shops: Great selection of shops and boutique options; enjoyed coffee at Espressolab. Dinner at Kiva (Galataport): Outstanding dinner featuring delicious meze, prawns, and lamb with phenomenal views across the water. Pro-Tip: Book an upstairs table for elevated Bosphorus views. Antiochia Visit: Explored regional Hatay/Antakya culinary specialties in Beyoğlu.

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