1. Swissotel The Bosphorus, Istanbul 5* – Muslim Friendly Hotels Istanbul

 

Having Safe Hotels Executive Level Certificate for 2016 – 2017, Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul offers five-star luxury accommodation with its exclusive rooftop pool and award-winning spa. By the outstanding Bosphorus view, this property is within walking distance to Nisantasi where the main luxury shopping area is.

Tastefully decorated by world-renowned designer Khuan Chew with the touch of Swiss design and warmth of Turkish culture, all units in Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul feature state-of-the-art technology and exclusive amenities. Along with free WiFi throughout the property, working desk and seating area are available in all rooms for your comfort. Drinks and refreshments can be found in the minibars. Some rooms feature a walk-in shower while some have a bath tub.

Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul is also a hot spot with its stylish restaurants serving the exclusive tastes of world cuisine. Café Swiss is known especially for its weekend brunches and serves Turkish, Swiss and world cuisines with a healthy touch.

Overlooking the sea, this luxe modern hotel with an annex is a 7-minute walk from Dolmabahçe Palace and 6 km from Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine mosque and church.

The polished, contemporary rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with city, garden or sea views, plus free Wi-Fi and flat-screens. Some offer balconies, sitting/dining areas and kitchenettes. Posh suites add up to 3 bedrooms, along with private steam rooms and saunas. Room service is available 24/7.

Amenities include 5 restaurants, including a breezy rooftop eatery, plus 2 bars. A spa offers steam rooms and saunas, plus indoor & rooftop pools. There’s also a gym and a ballroom.

Swissotel The Bosphorus, Istanbul, having Safe Hotels Executive Level Certificate for 2016 – 2020, is a five-star luxury hotel right in the centre of Istanbul on the European banks of the Bosphorus.

Nestled within 65 acres of historical gardens with world-class shopping and vibrant nightlife nearby, it offers 566 guest rooms, suites and lofts featuring state-of-the-art technology and exclusive amenities.

We will absolutely stay here again next time we are in Istanbul. The photos do not do the hotel justice – the rooms and restaurants are even nicer in real life. The staff were friendly and helpful, and when we forgot a personal item in the room, they were great about sending it to us in the post – it was much appreciated!

The staff in the restaurant were particularly friendly – they obviously take much pride in how nice the hotel is.

Room service was expensive but very good. Housekeeping was fantastic.
One exceptional and very interesting point for this hotel pertains to the toilet. The toilet had a special built-in bidet specific I believe only to Turkey where people are muslims and toilet paper alone is not used, and which works remarkably well! With a simple push of a button, a long rod protrudes forward spraying high pressure water similar to a bidet from the back of the toilet bowl and then simply retracts back in place whenever desired. Excellent innovation👍.

The view from the executive lounge on the 17th floor was lovely, and seagulls would stand adjacent to you on the balcony ledge. Cafe swiss had excellent dinner. At 230 euros a night, I believe the price was acceptable for this hotel with it’s spectacular view.

2. Hotel Tashkonak Istanbul 3* – Halal Hotels Istanbul Fatih

Just a 5-minute walk from the Blue Mosque, this 19th century special class hotel offers rooms with free WiFi and cable TV. It features a roof terrace with stunning views of the Bosphorus.

The air-conditioned rooms at Hotel Tashkonak Istanbul are decorated with hardwood floors and classic Ottoman-style furniture. All rooms have a minibar, a work desk, and an en suite bathroom.

Guests can enjoy a cup of fresh Turkish tea or coffee in Tashkonak charming outdoor garden. A local Turkish breakfast is served daily in the covered garden.

In old-world Sultanahmet near the Marmara Sea, this genteel hotel with stone and wood paneling is a 10-minute walk from the venerable Hagia Sophia museum and a 9-minute walk from the nearest light rail station.

Accommodations range from traditional rooms with free Wi-Fi, flat-screens, cribs and safes, to elegant suites adding minifridges and sitting areas; some have sea views, kitchenettes and private terraces. A 2-bedroom penthouse features panoramic sea views. Room service is available.

Free perks include parking, and a halal breakfast buffet served in a garden dining room. There’s a tranquil prayer room and a rooftop terrace.

The Tashkonak Hotel is located in Sultanahmet – Old City. Our hotel 5/10 minutes walking distance to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace. Tashkonak has tastefully restored 33 guestrooms with contemporary decor in rich colours, hardwood floors and wooden Ottoman-style furniture.

The hotel staff were great and very knowledgeable about Istanbul and public transportation. Our room was one of the best in the hotel and it was very clean and tidy. They had great amenities if you wanted to even cook in our room.

They cleaned the room almost daily which was much appreciated. And we had a great view of the water. For those religiously inclined, there was a mosque right in front of our hotel for daily prayers and they mentioned the entire breakfast fast which was complimentary was halal.

Their service was prompt for whatever questions and needs we had at any time of the day and evening. They even had a great storage/locker area where we could keep our excess bags that we didn’t need. The location of the hotel was also prime location for seeing many of the common attractions in Istanbul. Being only a 4-5 minute walk away from the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.

Not to mention how close restaurants were and food markets. Overall the staff, location, and hotel room were amazing and we would highly recommend anyone interested in going to Istanbul to stay with Hotel Tashkonak.

For the Muslim traveler, there is the incredible blue mosque around the corner as well as another prayer hall across from the doorsteps of the hotel for daily prayers, so very convenient.

For all travelers – being in proximity to the blue mosque, you will hear the amazing call to prayer throughout the day (including sunrise): gives a time perspective and a time to reflect on the day ahead, there are a variety of restaurants and cafes scattered near the hotel to meet any food needs : would recommend Doi Doi restaurant that is a 5 minute walk from the hotel.

3. Celal Sultan Hotel Special Class 4* – Halal Hotels Sultanahmet

Situated in Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district, Celal Sultan Hotel offers luxurious rooms with a flat-screen TV. Its terrace features panoramic views of the city and the Bosphorus.

The air-conditioned rooms of Celal Sultan are tastefully and individually decorated. All rooms have free WiFi and minibar. Room service is available 24/7.

Guests can enjoy Turkish cuisine while sitting on the wide, open-air terrace that looks out to the Bosphorus and the Hagia Sophia. The hotel serves cocktails in its cosy bar.

A 6-minute walk from the iconic Hagia Sophia, this old-world, family-run hotel is 7 minutes from Sultan Ahmed Mosque and 12 minutes from Topkapı Palace.

Ornately decorated rooms with free Wi-Fi have flat-screen TVs and desks; some include balconies. Suites add sitting areas and coffeemakers. Room service is offered 24/7.

A warmly furnished restaurant with a patio serves a breakfast buffet, and a plush lobby offers a bar and lounge seating. Meeting rooms are available.

The Celal Sultan Hotel is surrounded by the most important historical monuments of Istanbul amongst which the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Hippodrome Grand Bazaar, Topkapı Palace And underground cistern are situated within a five minutes walk.

All rooms have IDD phones, minibar self control air-conditioning system, private bathroom, hairdryer, LCD Digital TV, tea & coffee maker, digital safety box, free wireless internet access, double glazing windows and some rooms with balcony.

The Celal Sultan is really close to all the main attractions in the old city in Sultanahmet – Constantine Obelisk, Blue Mosque, German Fountain, Hagia Sofia Museum, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar. There are a number of good local restaurants close by and the tram system is literally 200 metres away. The staff were very friendly and the rooms adequate but relatively thin walls.

Also the wi-fi service was average at best and often cut out. The restaurant has a rooftop balcony and bar with great night time views of the Blue Mosque.

This hotel is more like a warm small cottage that should be there for quite some time. However, the updated bathroom and exterior are in place to ensure the stay was comfortable.

Though the room is a little on the small side, it is definitely the most ideal location if you plan to visit all the Mosques and museums in the old city side. (like 5-10 mins walk to everything).

Love the location of this hotel! The central location made it easy for us to venture Istanbul Old City. Short leisure walk to Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and super near Basilica Cistern. Slight climb to Grand Bazaar, and waking downhill after short climb to Sirkeci/ waterfront area. Our superior room was fabulous, appreciate the extra living space. The breakfast was adequate for us, may be it would be better if they have more choices.

The reasons why I’m giving 5 stars are due to the location and the friendly/helpful staffs that they have. Kudos to Aslan for trying to make our stay great. He was ever helpful and accommodating.

4. AJWA Sultanahmet 5* – Halal Hotels Istanbul Turkey

Newly built and opened its door to guests in 2017, AJWA Sultanahmet is situated in famous Sultanahmet area, 10-minute walk from the Blue Mosque. This hotel is decorated in Ottoman-style and traditional accents. Featuring rooms with hand made carpets and Ottoman-style sofas, this hotel comes with a spa centre and an indoor pool. Free WiFi is available throughout the property.

Guests can admire selective pieces of art made by famous Azerbaijani artists such as Sattar Bahlulzade, Mahmud Mahmudzade, İslam İsrafilzade, Jamila Hashimova, Salam Salamzade, Mikayil Abdullayev, Nadir Akhundov and Maral Rahmanzade. Rauf Tuncer’s paintings representing the old days of Istanbul are also featured in Amber meeting room.

All rooms offer an Loewe Ultra HD TV, electronic curtains, air conditioning and under floor heating system. For indulgence, rooms feature handmade Tabriz-style silk carpets and M Line Slow Motion beds.

You will also find hairdryer, tea and coffee setup in the room. Private bathroom features hand-painted tiles and Dornbracht vitrified items.

On a tree-lined street in the city center, this elegant luxury hotel is a 5-minute walk from a tram stop and 1 km from Hagia Sophia, the former Byzantine church and mosque. It’s 3 km from the opulent Topkapı Palace.

Featuring artwork and handcrafted furnishings, the ornate rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and heated floors, along with tea and coffeemakers. Family rooms have 2nd bedrooms, and suites add plush living areas. Room service is available 24/7.

Amenities include a patisserie, and a sophisticated restaurant with city views. There’s also a spa with an indoor pool. An airport shuttle service is available, and uses high-end cars.

More than a mere five-star hotel, Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet offers serenity and gracious hospitality in settings akin to a private mansion.

Adorned with exquisite mother-of-pearl furniture, silk Tabriz carpets, original artwork, unique marble work, hand-painted ceilings and specially commissioned tiles throughout its 61 rooms, suites and public areas, the hotel embraces all aspects of luxury hospitality with a halal approach.

This beautiful location was one of the most amazing hotels we have ever stayed at. The staff were ever so friendly and helpful, the vicinity itself was breathtaking especially the view from the roof top restaurant, not to mention the delicious variety of food too! I think the attention to detail of this place was what stunned me most. I love that they used Roja fragrance reed diffusers and the fragrance was just the staple to this hotels reception and corridors as well. Their swimming and spa facilities were brilliant, we were able to hire out the entire area as a couple for two hours which was amazing, this is completely private and the hotel is 100% halal.

There’s even women and men only sessions to use the facility during the day. I would certainly come back and definitely recommend this hotel to anyone wanting a little luxury during their stay in Istanbul. Love this place! ❤️

It is a wonderful display of traditional Turkish/ottoman decor in a modern and newly built hotel . The hotel boasts beautiful bathrooms with hand laid mosaics and chain flush toilets ! It definitely adds a wonderful charm to visitors who want to experience traditional
Ottoman influence without compromising on quality and standards of accommodation- 5 star !!

The rooms have all the modern amenities required as well as a fully stocked mini bar .

The hotel is fully halaal and thus no alcohol ( or pork) is served which we preferred.

The breakfast is well appointed and has many elements of local delicacies.

Superb location; within 10 mins walking distance from Blue mosque and Hagia Sophia. 2 mins walk to the nearest metro station. Lots of local shops and stores.

Swimming pool, steam room, sauna and gym are free for hotel residents. Very clean and includes robes, towels, slippers etc for free use.

Suitable for Muslim families; no alcohol sold on site, all the food is Halal; separate times for use of pool, steam room, sauna and gym for men and women.

5. Clarion Hotel Golden Horn 5* – Halal Hotels Istanbul

Situated by the Golden Horn, The Clarion Golden Horn Hotel is only 7 km from Taksim Square. The property features a fitness centre and a restaurant serving selective international and Turkish meals. Free high-speed WiFi is available throughout the property.

Bright and air-conditioned rooms come with a private bathroom featuring a shower. All rooms are equipped with a 42-inch flat-screen TV, safety box and a high-quality extra-long bed.

Certain rooms have panoramic view over the Golden Horn and a private terrace. You will be welcomed with a complimentary fruit basket on the arrival day.

Opposite Miniatürk miniature village in the trendy Beyoğlu district, this casual hotel on the banks of the Golden Horn waterway is 2 minutes on foot from the nearest bus stop, 6 km from bustling İstiklal Street and 10 km from the Grand Bazaar.

The straightforward rooms come with Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, work desks and minibars; some have atrium views. Upgraded rooms and suites offer panoramic views of the Golden Horn and/or balconies.

Breakfast is complimentary. There’s an airy restaurant, and a casual cafe in the atrium.

We had a Deluxe Balcony room with Sea View, which was very spacious and spotless clean.

The hotel is a bit far from the city center, but they have free shuttle one way, four times a day which was practical.

The breakfast was good but,can be improved with more variable hot dishes.

The hotel and all the facilities are new and very good. The view of Golden Horn is amazing, you can see a beautiful sea view in the morning from the hotel. It is really nice hotel and very comfortable. All the staffs are very friendly and helpful. The foods are delicious. I am looking forward to come to this hotel again next time.

The price is very fair and the location of the hotel is excellent and the view is gorgeous and overlooking the Miniaturk specially from the highest floor.