Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At Sultanahmet — Hotel in Fatih

My wife and I recently traveled with my elderly mother and college-aged daughter to Istanbul at my mother's request. It had been on her list of places to visit for decades and she finally asked for us to take her. We selected the Four Seasons (well, because its a Four Seasons) and specifically chose the Sultanahmet location for its history, calm, and proximity to the major sites. ||I will do my best to share our extraordinary experience at the property. From the initial booking months ahead to checking out, every interaction and experience was first class. As my mother is mobility impaired, we had to be sure that we could accommodate her needs and at the same time, have the experience she desired. ||STAFF|As a frequent traveler, Ive always believed its the staff and the service that make or break the property. Everyone, and i mean everyone, from the front door personnel, to housekeeping, to reception, to wait staff, to bartenders, to management, were fantastic. They were attentive, knew our names by the second day, and always greeted us with kindness and a smile. ||ROOMS|We asked for and received adjoining rooms. The rooms themselves are spacious, beautiful, and pristine. Housekeeping and turndown service was seamless and impeccable. If i had a gripe, it would simply be that we had a view of a consruction site out our windows, but if you just looked to the left, you could see a view of the Hagia Sophia, which is just literally steps away from the property. In the end, we did book the simplest room class at the property. The bed, pillows and linens were as you would expect. The towels were soft and the bath products, first rate. There was plentiful, complimentary bottled water and always fresh fruit delivered each day. ||GROUNDS|The property itself, is small, considering its located in the historic district of Istanbul but the courtyard itself is a tranquil haven with lush vegetation and pristine landscaping While it is a functioning restaurant, one could while away the hours working or reading, as my mother did, without any worry. ||DINING|Breakfast is a culinary marvel. We always seemed like we were the only ones there. the diverse offerings were always plentiful, clean, and consistent, and delicious. The prepared dishes were also equally delicious. There are both western and Turkish options. We'd like to especially thank our main server, Sude, for her warmth, kindness, attentiveness and superb service the entire week. By the second day, she had memorized our coffee preferences and was simply fantastic. We had one dinner at AVLU as well and it was a welcome respite from the constant chaos of the city! Room service was equally impeccable and the rooftop bar had both wonderful views of the city and a hip, and refined vibe. Lastly, the hosts at the restaurant were always accommodating and helpful, even helping my mother back to her room when she was needing of some assistance.||RECEPTION|Reception staff always met us with a smile. Thank you to all of them, even when they saw me coming - LOL.||DOOR STAFF|We returned each day sweaty and tired, from the hot days in the city but the front door staff always greeted us with a smile and by name. They arranged for all our taxi needs and ensure the drivers always knew where we were headed. They were there at 6am or at midnight. Always with a smile. ||CONCIERGE|Our utmost kudos and appreciation are for the Concierges. While one shouldn't be surprised with the service of Clefs D'Or level concierges, the three we worked with, Sabuhi, Alper, and Çetin, were simply superb. They helped us schedule a full week of activities, from dinner reservations at Michelin star restaurants all the way to mid-field seats to a Besiktas football match, airport transfers, to excursions both in town and in Cappadocia. I can't say enough about all of them but a special shout out to Sabuhi, who even responded to Whats App messages when he was off duty. I apologize to them all for being so "needy" and for changing things regularly but they met each and every challenge professionally and with positivity. Thank you to Daria and her team!||TRAVEL REFINERY|This property works with Travel Refinery to help guests setup guided tours and activities both in Istanbul and beyond. Esra and Zia from the company were incredibly helpful and supportive in helping us plan according to the needs for my mother. We had guides for three days in Istanbul as well as a full day in Cappadocia. Our guide in Istanbul, Mesut, was stellar. He was clearly knowledgeable, experienced, mature, kind, and flexible as we toured the city. I cant thank him enough for his attentiveness to my mother and his encyclopedic knowledge both of the sites as well millenia of history. Secondly, our guide in Cappadocia, Kutluhan, was equally superb. A local from the region, Kutlu was equally knowledgable, kind, attentive, and flexible. Kutlu in particular showed such grace and humanity toward my mother in the hot, hot Cappadocian sun!||FOUR SEASONS ISTANBUL AT BOSPHORUS|Guests at both properties are able to use the services and amenities at both. They also offer both a sea and land shuttle to take you between. We had one afternooon at the Bosphorus property. It is certainly more opulent, vast, and modern and my daughter and I enjoyed every minute of our afternoon at the pool, with its remarkable staff and service. We also had dinner at the terrace lounge and there also enjoyed great views of the Bosphorus. Personally, I much preferred the quiet and refined charm of the Sultanahmet property. If we had small children, however, I could see the value of this property. Returning each day from the hustle and bustle of the city, the quiet tranquility of the Sultanahmet property was invaluable. ||SURPRISES|In the end, its the little things that matter. Nearly every day, someone from the Four Seasons team, offered a little surprise here and there - from the bottle of champagne to help us celebrate our anniversary, to a surprise fruit plate with a candle to help celebrate my mother's birthday, to a spectacular cake for my daughter in celebration of Besiktas' victory over Antalyaspor, to a special gift when we checked out. The surprises were thoughtful and brought moments of joy. ||The Four Seasons Istanbul at Sultanahmet provided us, and my mother, a trip of a lifetime. Run, do not walk, to this property. it is superb....

Fantastic hotel with an excellent location and superb staff.

Here's the setup; my wife and I had a quick overnight layover in Istanbul on our way to Maldives. The question was "is it worth it to spend the night at the Four Seasons?". It's always great to stay at a FS hotel/resort and we're fans of their properties around the world.

But, there are many choices in this city and not to mention that Turkish Airlines even offers free lodging for those with long layovers. The idea was that FS people and service is going to make this trip turnaround worthwhile. Did that idea come to fruition? Absolutely it did and it was worth the expense to only briefly stay at this hotel.

The initial idea got put to the test when our luggage was lost and we arrived in Istanbul with only the clothes on our back after many hours of flying overseas. The staff could not have been any better, even for FS standards. They took charge of the situation, completely swept us off our feet to just relax, get freshened up, and use the few hours we had to venture out and enjoy the sights and later dinner while they took care of following up with the airline on the luggage situation. They also took charge on tracking down my wife's very specific needs for hair care/toiletries and getting them placed in our room.

When an around the world trip started off on the wrong foot with lost luggage and stress, the Four Seasons at Sultanahmet treated us exceptionally and made us feel well taken care of and special. Special thanks to Seyda, an absolutely lovely woman and Guest Experience Agent extraordinaire.

The hotel is stunning, immaculately clean and well decorated, and located in a bustling and historic location. The picture of the mosque was just out from our room's window. The lady at the sweet shop in the lobby was also wonderful and they have some of the best chocolates, truffles, desserts, and Turkish delicacies that we've ever tasted. Dinner was also excellent quality and this whole impression left us with the feeling that this is one of the best service experiences and lovely hotels we've visited anywhere in the world.

Thank you again for a wonderful evening and quick visit and there's no doubt we'll stay here on our next trip to Istanbul. Until next time, çok...

Although I am in the tourism industry and used to the level of 5°/palace hotels, I have to admit The Four Seasons Sultanahmet is one of my 10 best hotels worldwide. It offers much more than just a luxurious stay—it truly feels like a home away from home and delivers an extraordinary experience.

From my very first interaction with the commercial team, I felt confident and taken care of. Then, as soon as I stepped into the Four Seasons Sultanahmet, I knew this was going to be something special. The location alone, nestled between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, feels like stepping right into the heart of Istanbul’s history. Yet, what truly makes this hotel stand out isn’t just its beauty—it’s the people. Ilayda at reception welcomed us with such warmth that I instantly felt at home. Her professionalism and genuine smile set the tone for the rest of our stay. But the real star of my experience was Derya, the Chef concierge. I’ve stayed in many places, but Derya’s level of care, passion and attention is rare. She constantly anticipated our needs, always going above and beyond to ensure our happiness. Her whole team mirrors that same passion and expertise, and it’s clear they all love what they do. Every morning, Muhammet and the breakfast team made sure the day started perfectly. Their attention to detail, whether it was remembering our favorite drink or recommending local dishes, was impeccable—matched only by their kindness. Though I don't typically focus on hotel restaurants, the one at the Four Seasons Sultanahmet truly stands out. It is a real treat, in a relaxed yet welcoming atmosphere. Even though I didn’t catch all their names, the entire restaurant team was fantastic—always ready with a smile and eager to make every meal a pleasure. The rooms are Spacious, comfortable, and so quiet despite being in the heart of the city. I loved knowing that, within minutes, I could wander through Sultanahmet's vibrant streets. It’s that mix of tranquility and immersion in local culture that makes this place so unique. Staying here didn’t just feel like staying at a luxury hotel—it felt like being cared for by people who genuinely want to make your time in Istanbul as special as possible. I can’t recommend it...