Lots of old school charm, character and history . Every floor has artefacts from the hotel’s rich past with detailed explanations and they are laid out with thought. The old lift is an exciting trip if you are in the right place at the right time and I was. Barak took me for a spin and I loved it. The room was spotlessly clean. I never got that horrible dusty foot feeling in bed at night because the floors are beautifully cleaned. The bathroom and the toilet also flawless. The bed linen is beautiful and the towels are in good order. The kettle is a joy with plenty of tea bags and coffee which is so relaxing in the morning. Breakfast is excellent-lots of variety and catering for all tastes. Service is really good and subtle. The bar and salon areas are really cosy and atmospheric and again we had great service. My only complaint is that our room faced the main road which was noisy (even with the window shut!) However we were so relaxed and happy that we slept through all the beeping and shouting. We left our window open in the daytime to get lots of fresh air in and closed it at night and didn’t need air-conditioning. The temperature was perfect. Chocolate on your pillow at night and Molton Brown toiletries. Lovely little extras.

I’m afraid I loved it. Maybe sometimes you can hear other people through the walls but I didn’t really care!

This is, in my opinion the best hotel in Istanbul. The location is perfect in that a main shopping street is 2 minutes walk, Galata tower 10 minutes and then Bosporus another 10 minutes. There are also lots of bars and such in the area. The breakfast was great, the room was huge and the staff were all very polite and friendly. Finally, the building by itself is a gem.

Not the hotel's fault of course, but getting there by car can be a bit challenging as there is nearly always traffic in the street leading to the hotel. Also beware of taxis not found by UBER or other such services. We had a bad experience with a taxi booked by the hotel for the airport.

Every time I travel to Istanbul, I think about changing hotels for variety, but after 15 minutes of searching, I end up going back to Pera. It offers an excellent combination of price and quality. For me, Pera is not just a hotel, it is primarily about the people who feel like family. Delicious food, the best view of the city from the 6th floor, very comfortable pillows, crisp sheets, and fragrant quality toiletries. Everything is perfect. It is fair to note that I stay in the higher category rooms, which are 45 sqm and above, and they are always wonderful. I cannot judge the standard rooms and how comfortable they are, as room size is very important to me.

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The staff was extremely friendly and helpful with so many things, from advice for food and sightseeing places, to booking taxis and restaurants, to generally being super attentive. The hotel is beautiful, with a rich history. The room we stayed in was really nice, and unlike other old hotels, a great mix of clean and old. The location was top. Also, the afternoon tea was a highlight, definitely worth it.

While the pool was definitely not the reason we booked, we checked it out, and it was not necessarily worth it. However, this is not actually a grievance.

Beautiful historic hotel with a magnificent lobby area and wonderful associations with Agatha Christie and Ataturk Amongst others. Great location. We had a room with the balcony which was great and we had the lovely view out over the Bosphorus A small but lovely swimming pool and spa centre

Wasn't happy when I was sitting in the lounge and told to leave because they were serving tea to lots of tourists.

this hotel managed to keep splendour and ambient through the years. it still keeps spirit of its great history, I definitely recommend if you want to immerse in the atmosphere of Orient express times and secular Istanbul life. No questions to accommodations. Our room was spacious Pier Loti suite with the Halic view. room was in the good condition. love this parisian balconies. comfort big bed. Dinner in the restaurant was delicious but without special restaurant atmosphere. we had a problem with getting a table in the restaurant and bar, as we haven't doubts to get a dinner in the hotel without previous reservations as guests, but were refused in the bar without even attempt to help us with a table. it was not polite but I hope it was connected only with the pre New Year mess and not in the habit. Eventually administrator on the reception kindly helped us with the table in the restaurant and in the bar after dinner, where we could enjoy with piano playing and voice of charming ms Asli Gural.

everything was good

The hotel is iconic. It’s like the building has a soul. The employees maintain the grand old era this hotel has seen with their gracious warm professional attitude. I booked this hotel and had to leave urgently the day of my arrival. The front office manager assisted me with this and when I was able to return, he remembered me. I felt as if I had been patronising the hotel for years. I used the spa and pool service, room service, the famous afternoon tea. All were excellent. The breakfast on offer is a good quality Turkish one, not the generic 5 star buffet the rest of the world offers.

Don’t use the lift during peak times, after breakfast or at checkout time, or just slow down and be prepared to wait. After a day you start to wind down and it doesn’t really matter.

A true gem in the heart of Istanbul Pera Palace is so much more than just a hotel – it’s a living piece of history, an architectural gem that transports you to another era the moment you step through its doors. The aura of a bygone century fills every corner and detail, creating a truly unique atmosphere that feels like stepping into a different time. The staff are another highlight: genuinely kind, polite, always smiling, and incredibly efficient. Whether it was room service or any other request, they responded quickly and made everything feel seamless. All of this makes Pera Palace a wonderful choice for anyone looking to experience something special. The breakfast is quite good, served in the beautiful Agatha Restaurant, where we also had dinner. While the food at dinner wasn’t anything extraordinary, the space itself – with its ambiance and historical charm – more than made up for it. Overall, Pera Palace offers a magical and memorable stay, full of character and timeless charm.

However, one important drawback to note is the soundproofing – or rather, the lack of it. Due to the age of the building, noise from the street, other rooms, and especially early morning cleaning activities can be heard quite clearly. So if you’re someone who values peace and quiet, it’s something to keep in mind

The building is stunning and full of history, with an impressive effort to preserve its original charm while offering modern luxury. I really appreciated the touches of old-world elegance, like the marble stool and the fact that my shower cabin had three independent showers — a small but unique luxury. Staying here truly feels like experiencing a piece of history without sacrificing comfort.

The breakfast felt a bit average compared to the overall standard of the hotel, and the room cleaning could be improved. I understand the last major refurbishment was in 2008, and while the hotel has aged gracefully, a minor update would make sense. For example, my TV didn’t support Chromecast, which would have been nice for streaming music or watching movies.

It was a wonderful experience to stay in this gorgeous, historic building on my first visit to Istanbul. We really enjoyed the spa and pool area, as well as the sitting area and bathtub in our room. The staff were extremely helpful and responsive, and I was very grateful that they allowed us to move to a different room when we had an issue.

Our room was noisy at times from traffic (there's a major road behind the hotel). The hotel uses heavy air fresheners and strong fragrances on the bedding, which affected my asthma and was just generally unpleasant if you're sensitive to strong smells. However, it was okay because the staff kindly provided us with unscented bedding. The beautiful Oriental Bar downstairs has some colored LED lighting and tacky decorations that detract from the 19th-century ambience (but, for the most part, the public areas of the hotel are absolutely beautiful!).