The new Peninsula Istanbul offers perhaps the best view of this millennia-old city. Take a seat on the terrace and gaze out over the waters of the Golden Horn. See the Topkapi Palace, the 400-year-old Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sofia and the Süleymaniye Mosque all at once – there is no better place in the city.
Whether you choose a room with a view or a garden suite, the high energy of the river feels and sounds like what the city is all about, a bustling melting pot of art, creativity, merchants, history and more.

The day starts with a delicious breakfast, also served on the riverside terrace in the morning sun.
Situated on the European side of the Golden Horn, where it meets the Bosporus, the hotel comprises four buildings; two from the early 20th century, a 1930s Bauhaus section and a new glass building. You arrive in what used to be the port’s passport office.
We recommend staying in building no. 4, the Rihtim Han from 1912, with beautifully designed rooms, some with terraces or gardens, in the typical Art Deco style of the peninsula and with many handcrafted details made in Turkey.

Close to the garden and the river is the Peninsula Spa, which has eight treatment rooms, a 25-metre indoor pool, a hammam and separate suites for men and women with saunas and steam rooms. From the moment you enter the spa, you will feel like a child or a princess, with at least two ladies on hand to help you with everything from handing you a towel after your morning swim to tying you back into your robe after the sauna.

The newly opened Peninsula Istanbul has worked primarily with Turkish creatives whose skills have helped shape the stunning new property. Creative partners include renowned interior designer Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu, art consultant Çağla Saraç, landscape architect Enzo Enea, fashion designer Arzu Kaprol and two Michelin-starred chef Fatih Tutak, who already has a well-known restaurant in the city, TURK, opening in June.

The hotel is located in the Karaköy district, one of the oldest parts of Istanbul. It has always been a melting pot of newcomers and refugees from all over the world, creating a unique cosmopolitan mix that is now reflected in the international guests.
Although none of the famous green Rolls-Royces (signature Peninsula) will be there to pick you up, a fleet of customised Mercedes Maybach vans will be on hand to shuttle you around the city, which you will appreciate as there are a million things to see.

IRMAS TIP: Walk from the hotel to the spices market, cross the bridge and lose yourself in the old city where there is so much to explore.