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Hotel Ilkay

History meets elegance at this Grand Bazaar-adjacent hotel where travelers enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet before stepping out to explore Istanbul's ancient wonders

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Hotel Ilkay blends Ottoman charm with modern comfort in a convenient location. The day begins with a satisfying breakfast buffet before guests browse the on-site shops or visit nearby Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia. The attentive staff consistently earns praise from visitors.

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning
  • Business services
  • Bar

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 4 of 4 rooms

View all photos for Single Room, 1 Twin Bed

In-room safe, desk, soundproofing, iron/ironing board

Single Room, 1 Twin Bed

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(5 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Flat-screen TV
Separate bedroom
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
  • City view
  • 15 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Double Room

Double Room | In-room safe, desk, soundproofing, iron/ironing board

Double Room

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Separate bedroom
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
Electric kettle
  • City view
  • 16 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Triple Room

Triple Room | In-room safe, desk, soundproofing, iron/ironing board

Triple Room

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
Electric kettle
Satellite channels
  • City view
  • 22 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed OR 3 Twin Beds

View all photos for Twin Room

Twin Room | In-room safe, desk, soundproofing, iron/ironing board

Twin Room

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Separate bedroom
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
Electric kettle
  • City view
  • 16 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

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About the neighborhood

Located in Istanbul City Center, a neighborhood in Istanbul, Hotel Ilkay is near a metro station. Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace are notable landmarks, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit Grand Bazaar and Istiklal Avenue. Check out an event or a game at Rams Park, and consider making time for Istanbul Expo Center, a top attraction not to be missed. Visit our Istanbul travel guide
Map
Hudavendigar Street No: 44-46, Eminonu, Istanbul, Istanbul, 34210

What's nearby

  • Gulhane Park
    Gülhane Park
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Bosphorus featuring a monument, a bay or harbor and a bridge
    Bosphorus
    5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Topkapi Palace featuring a sunset and heritage architecture
    Topkapi Palace
    7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Blue Mosque featuring heritage architecture, a mosque and religious elements
    Blue Mosque
    8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Hagia Sophia
    Hagia Sophia
    8 min walk - 0.7 km

Getting around

  • Sirkeci Marmaray Station
    1 min walk
  • Gulhane Station
    2 min walk
  • Istanbul Airport (IST)
    52 min drive

Restaurants

  • Roof Mezze 360 Restaurant
    1 min walk
  • Red River
    1 min walk
  • Gulhane Turgut
    3 min walk
  • Bosphorus Terrace Restaurant
    2 min walk
  • Fiyeli Coffee Co. Sirkeci
    2 min walk

About this property

Hotel Ilkay

Hotel near Bosphorus
A short walk from Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, Hotel Ilkay provides a free breakfast buffet, shopping on site, and a coffee shop/cafe. In addition to a hair salon and a library, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Other perks include:
  • Babysitting (surcharge), a water dispenser, and smoke-free premises
  • A front-desk safe, a banquet hall, and a 24-hour front desk
  • Multilingual staff, an elevator, and laundry services
Room features
All guestrooms at Hotel Ilkay boast perks such as 24-hour room service and air conditioning, in addition to amenities like free WiFi and safes.
Extra amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with showers and hair dryers
  • Flat-screen TVs with satellite channels
  • Wardrobes/closets, electric kettles, and daily housekeeping

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast
  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • Library
  • Shopping

Family friendly

  • Babysitting (surcharge)
  • Laundry facilities
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Hair salon
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • 24-hour business center

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible concierge desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

More

  • 3 buildings
  • 6 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1986
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with satellite channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out fee: EUR 30

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Late check-out fee: EUR 30

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Property Registration Number 22340

We should mention

Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

Property is also known as

Hotel Ilkay
Hotel Ilkay Istanbul
Ilkay Hotel
Ilkay Istanbul
Ilkay
Hotel Ilkay Hotel
Hotel Ilkay Istanbul
Hotel Ilkay Hotel Istanbul

Frequently asked questions

Is Hotel Ilkay pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Hotel Ilkay?

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at Hotel Ilkay?

Check-out is at noon. Late check-out is available for EUR 30.

Where is Hotel Ilkay located?

Located in Istanbul City Center, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Bosphorus, and Eminönü Square. Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar are also within 15 minutes. Gulhane Station and Sirkeci Marmaray Station are within a 2-minute walk.

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Reviews

Hotel Ilkay Reviews

8.2

Very Good

8.4

Cleanliness

9.2

Location

8.6

Staff & service

7.8

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 129 out of 375 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 169 out of 375 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 52 out of 375 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 15 out of 375 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 10 out of 375 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent location as a base for a visit to Istanbul. Quiet room and all the facilities worked. Close to the historic sites and very convenient for public transport links.
Stayed 21 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Peter John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A nice hotel - very well situated, room was very clean, all facilities worked and the staff are friendly and helpful.
Stayed 18 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sandra

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Highly Recommend This Hotel

Great Location to get anywhere in the city you need. Easy walking area right out your door - as well as a tram stop close by. Simple hotel but very comfortable and reasonable. And includes a very nice Turkish breakfast in the adjoining restaurant. A great place to stay in Istanbul. All food and shopping right there and at better prices than any of the bazaars.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

norman

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Really well located hotel with an excellent breakfast. Staff changed our room to the rear of the hotel when we asked a quiet room. I would definitely stay again Room quite small, but this is to be expected in city centre hotel.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Dieter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The staff was friendly. The service was attentive. The breakfast was very good. I can recommend this hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carla

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Check-in and out was smooth, near Eminönü and Marmaray Sirkeci, next to shops, Topkapi, Blue mosque and Hagia Sophia, breakfast buffet delicious, resaturant downstairs a lovely place, people are attentive, room clean, simple and comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Moderately comfortable accommodation

It's located in the bustling old town area in Istanbul near a tram station, a metro station as well as a ferry pier. Also, some of major tourist sites are near the hotel. It's nice and clean accommodation with delicious breakfast. Most receptionists were fundamentally nice to me and quickly reponded to my requests.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

tsz yan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very good. The hotel changes towels and clean up every day, very clean. The room is big enough and the breakfast buffet is delicious. There are slightly different styles every day.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Kathryn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I like this hotel very much. The breakfast is good. I wish they were open a little longer in the morning. My room was comfortable. The carpeting needs cleaning. The staff is very nice. I like the location.
Stayed 14 nights in May 2024

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Generally good
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anastasiia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very nice hotel, enjoyed my stay, convenient location, breakfast is standard and good, the stuff were very friendly and helpful. Did not have any issue in the room. Cleaning was daily too
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Kathryn Anne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Hello! I like staying here. I was very disappointed with the available channels on the television in my room. There are no English channels. I wanted to watch the news once in a while. I was unable to do so. Breakfast is good; however, it could be a little more relaxed for the guests. One last thing: One day I asked for a wake-up call and it came about an hour late. Please check your system. Thank you, Kathryn Daley
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Kathryn

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hello! I have stayed at the Ilkay on several past trips. I was disappointed this last time at the breakfast. I admit that I get to breakfast during the last 15-20 minutes. I dislike the way the staff make me feel pressured to hurry. The staff intends to clean up the area at exactly 10:30 a.m. and if you are eating, it feels uncomfortable. I try to hurry. I want to feel more relaxed on my holiday. People spend a lot of money to travel, and they don't want to feel pressure to hurry up and eat their breakfast. The restaurant staff can clean up without making guests feel uncomfortable. The staff at the front desk are very nice as are the cleaning staff. I like this hotel; just chill out a little at breakfast.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Comfortable & Convenient

I needed a clean, comfortable, and conveniently located place to stay, as I planned to spend most of my time exploring Istanbul. For this purpose, this hotel was a great choice, and I can see why it receives consistently high ratings. The room was clean, the bed comfortable, and the bathroom well-equipped. Breakfast was included, and the staff were welcoming and friendly. Gulhane and Sirkeci tram and metro stations are just a short walk away, making it very easy to get around the city. Although my reservation was for the Ilkay Hotel, I was actually checked into the Lalahan Hotel. This was a bit confusing at first but didn’t impact my stay overall. A few points for future guests and for management: The adjoining street is very noisy in the evenings, be sure to close your window if you’re a light sleeper. The lift didn’t work, not a problem for me being on the first floor but not for those higher up. The television in my room wasn’t working, though I didn’t really need it. The sealant in the shower is starting to get mouldy and could use a refresh. Please consider covering the food in the breakfast buffet. Some of it was left exposed, and I noticed flies around, along with guests coughing nearby. Overall, my stay was pleasant, and I would definitely recommend this hotel for anyone looking for a central, affordable base in Istanbul.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Kihl

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

Very friendly, informative, competent staff

Central location, breakfast ok, clean rooms, good bathroom, noise level ok. Adjacent restaurant Reed River good with reasonable prices.

10/10 Excellent

Guldaran

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Near every where
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2024

4/10 Poor

Cigdem

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
War ok
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

James

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

Solid Hotel

Solid Hotel in a great location. Great access to public transportation and ideally located for walking. Ok breakfast. My only issue was that I had asked for a room on a higher floor and was placed directly over the bar. Only realized that I was over the bar when I came in after a day of walking and tried to get some sleep.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

suitable for a reasonable price

Convenient location, included breakfast in a pleasant room, accomodations were adequate. The walls were thin and noisy neighbors made sleeping difficult. I would try elsewhere.

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

not good

lifts not working, lights not working, horrid room, rude receptionist. After complaining, we were immediately moved to a sister hotel which was very good. I would not recommend the Ilkay unless you are used to staying in a hostel.

4/10 Poor

Mark

Disliked: Room comfort

Great location, not a haven after a long day

The hotel was centrally located, easy walking distance to main attractions. The room was a little tired looking, but functional. It felt a bit like a dorm room, instead of a welcoming hotel room. The room we had was in the older section of the hotel, above a noisy bar, and facing onto a busy (ready more noise) tramline. After a long hard day, we didn't really see our room as a retreat from the vibrant city. Sleeping in the early hours also proved difficult. Perhaps the other side of the hotel would have given more joy? Given the cost and location, I wasn't expecting much, but perhaps a little more.

4/10 Poor

Venus L.

Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort

Misleading

1. The walls are paper thin, so you hear the plumbing, doors closing, and any footsteps. 2. The nice pictures are of the renovated rooms. Unfortunately, we had an un-renovated one and it was old and dirty. 3. Our window faced a brick wall. Literally. 4.The location is conveniently close to the tram and sultanahment. 5. Breakfast is ok. 6. We had a double bedded room and it was just two twins pushed together.

4/10 Poor

BENNY

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities
I stayed in this hotel for few days. Will NOT mention names as I follow the RULES and REGULATIONS of EXPEDIA. My hotel room bed sheets were NOT CHANGED AT ALL for 5 days, even though I REQUESTED FEW TIMES from the 2 cleaning ladies and also told the house keeping and also requested/complained to the lady at the Hotel Reception. On my last day, I nice house keeping man changed bed sheets. For 5 days, I HAD TO SLEEP ON DIRTY SHEETS FROM PREVIOUS GUESTS.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

6/10 Okay

Jnk Acme

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort

Ok, just ok

The location is amazing, and the staff very helpful and friendly, unfortunately this hotel is very old and pretty dirty. It is also very noisy (that is actually the main problem.) I had to change room because of the noise but I had the same problem in the other room also as the main noise wouyld come from the water pipes mainly from the toilet. Very bothering, loud and you could hear it mainly in the early mornings. A bit pricey for what you get.

2/10 Terrible

Alan

Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
There is a construction site behind the hotel. This has, apparently, permission to run three shifts over 24 hours, seven days a week. This makes the hotel fine for anything but actually sleeping at night, a fact the hotel manager seems to have difficulty with. We did not appreciate sarcastic offers to stay at his house instead. Eventually, we were moved to Hotel Erboy around the corner. The staff here were lovely and the hotel far superior. At present, the Alkay is not suitable for anyone to stay there and I suggest that Expedia remove it from their website. Oh, and by the way, we didn't enjoy being lied to about the availability of other rooms in the hotel.