Here are my favorite hotels in the Talimhane hotel district just northwest off Taksim Square (), arranged by price from cheapest to most expensive (more or less):
Otel Avrupa
This old-fashioned, simple pension-style hotel, here since 1966, is an anomaly among the shiny 4- and 5-star hotels of Talimhane—but it has the cheapest rates near Taksim Square. More...
Midtown Hotel
At Lamartin Caddesi 13, corner of Aydede, a classy modern hotel just off Taksim Square, but blissfully quiet. More...
Best Western Eresin Taxim Hotel
One of the older hotels in the area, but well maintained, at Topçu Caddesi 16, corner of Lamartin Caddesi. The Eresin Taxim Premier is a step up in comfort. More...
Formal fun at the Central Palace Hotel...
Taksim Gönen Hotel
Also modern and quiet, at Aydede Caddesi 15, corner of Abdülhak Hamit Caddesi, with a large subterranean car parking garage very near—good if you have a car. More...
Nippon Hotel
Favored by thrifty travelers who want good comfort and service at moderate prices in an excellent—and quiet—location. More...
Central Palace Hotel
More formal (pretentious?) hotel—but in a fun way, at Lamartin Caddesi 18. Quiet, of course, like most Talimhanehotels. More...
Germir Palas Hotel
Want a switch from modern? The Germir Palas is pure 19th-century Pera (Beyoğlu), with tufted leather armchairs, oil paintings, lots of fine granite and woodwork. Gets you in the mood for old Beyoğlu. Right across busy Cumhuriyet Caddesi (No. 7) from the Havaş Airport Busstop, Taksim Metro station, and spacious Taksim Park. More...
Elite World Hotel
Now we're into the fancier places. The Elite World, at Şehit Muhtar Caddesi 42, corner of Abdülhak Hamit, and its even classier sister, the neighboring Elite World Prestige, offer 5-star comforts at 4-star prices. More...
Titanic City Hotel
Posh, stylish and boldly modern, the Titanic gives you status as well as comfort, at Lamartin Caddesi 47, corner of Abdülhak Hamit. More...
Martı Istanbul Hotel
Want all the services of a large 5-star luxury hotel? That would be the 270-room Martı Istanbul Hotel at the edge of Talimhane, near Elmadağ. Views from the rooftop terrace are spectacular! More...
The Point Hotel
Smooth, cool and trendy, The Point, at Topçu Caddesi 2, just off Cumhuriyet Caddesi, more or less across the avenue from the 5-star Divan Oteli, is where the people who can pay for big hotels, but who prefer chic small hotels, prefer to stay. More...
Getting to Your Talimhane Hotel
For individual travelers and couples without a lot of luggage, the cheapest way to travel between these hotels and Istanbul's airports is by Havataş airport bus which stops right at The Point Hotel.
For families or travel parties of three or more (or couples who want better comfort and service), especially if there's plenty of luggage, Efendi Travel's airport transfer service offers excellent value for money.
—by Tom Brosnahan
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