Luxury meets historic charm: Why Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul is my top hotel recommendation

I’ve traveled to Istanbul nearly a dozen times over the past decade, so I often get asked about the best hotel in the city. For the past four years, my answer has been unequivocally, the Hagia Sofia Mansions. Not only is the Hagia Sofia Mansions my favorite hotel in Istanbul, but it might be my all-time favorite hotel I’ve ever stayed.

While I stayed here almost four years ago during the pandemic, I’m constantly recommending it, so I think a review is very much in order.

Yes, some things have changed, but key metrics that make the hotel spectacular remain constant: Its unparalleled location, beautiful rooms, and unique pool. The food and service also remain exceptional based on recent feedback.

That is why I feel confident recommending the Hagia Sofia Mansions and publishing a review (despite being a few years late). Hopefully, you’ll find this review of the Hagia Sofia Mansions helpful, and it inspires you to stay there during your next trip to Istanbul.

About the Hagia Sofia Mansions

The Hagia Sofia Mansions is a Hilton Curio Collection property that opened in 2019. It consists of several historical townhouses that have been converted into a hotel. These townhouses contain magnificent rooms featuring eclectic Ottoman decor. Each building features 3-6 rooms or suites, with a beautifully appointed common area on the first floor.

The Hagia Sofia Mansions has an unrivaled location right next to Topkapi Palace and behind its namesake, the Hagia Sophia. 

The only comparable property is the Four Seasons Sultanahmet, located nearby. Both hotels are housed in historic buildings and offer a boutique experience. For years, the Four Seasons Sultanahmet was the go-to upscale hotel in the Sultanahmet area. But at over $1,000 per wasn’t wasn’t very accessible.

The Hagia Sofia Mansions hotel is a better value for the price. It’s a much more affordable option, regardless of whether you use points or pay cash

Highlights

• It’s perfectly located in the touristy Sultanahmet neighborhood, close to tourist attractions
• The rooms are tastefully decorated, and the bathrooms feature private hamams
• The hotel pool is stunning and built inside a 2,000-year-old Byzantine cistern

Hilton Honors elite benefits at Hagia Sofia Mansions

Elite benefits at Hagia Sofia Mansions vary depending on status. If you have Hilton Gold or Diamond status, you can expect a space-available room upgrade and complimentary breakfast for two. As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, I received breakfast daily for my nine-person group. This isn’t typical and was likely a pandemic-era accommodation.

While this benefit is limited to continental breakfast, we ordered hot items and they never charged us for them. Continental breakfast consists of a traditional Turkish spread, which is quite elaborate and a far cry from the usual pastries and jam (more on that later).

While they didn’t inform me of an upgrade, I learned they upgraded my Junior Suite to a Hagia Sofia Suite and our standard rooms to Superior rooms.

Accessibility at Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul

While the townhouses at Hagia Sofia don’t have elevators, the hotel offers accessible rooms on the ground level, equipped with wide doors and bathrooms with roll-in showers.

You can find a complete list of accessibility features on the hotel website.

How I booked the Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul

When I booked the Hagia Sofia Mansions in October 2020, rates were about $129 or 29,000 Hilton points per night for a Superior room. I booked two Superior rooms at this rate, along with a King Junior Suite suite that cost $179 per night using my Citi Prestige Card’s 4th-night free benefit. Nowadays, the cost can be upwards of $500 per night or 70,000 Hilton points for award stays.

Due to a technical issue, I couldn’t book it online, so the Citi Concierge had to step in. She went to the Hilton website to make the reservation, and I was initially charged the total amount, with a 25% credit added to my account afterward.

Because it was a direct booking, I earned Hilton points and received Hilton Honors Diamond benefits during my stay. This included complimentary breakfast, which the hotel extended to our whole group. 

Hagia Sofia Mansions location: How to get there

The Hagia Sofia Mansions hotel is located in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet neighborhood, perfect for sightseeing. It is right behind the Hagia Sophia and next to Topkapi Palace. You can walk to the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Gülhane Park, and more.

The hotel inhabits two different areas: The first building is the former Yeşil Ev Hotel, which is located behind the Haseki Sultan Complex and houses a restaurant. Meanwhile, the townhouses where guests stay are located on nearby Soğuk Çeşme Sokak.

This narrow street runs behind the Hagia Sophia mosque and is closed to vehicle traffic. The best way to get to the hotel is to have your driver drop you off in front of Topkapi Palace. From there, you can call the hotel for a golf cart pickup. 

If you get dropped off in front of Gülhane Park, the golf carts cannot access the steep cobblestone streets. The intensive uphill climb is not ideal when you have luggage, so I recommend avoiding this option.

Once you arrive at Topkapi Palace, you need to call the Hagia Sofia Mansions front desk to request pickup. The hotel is nearby and will send someone promptly.

The drive from the Topkapi Palace drop-off point to the hotel lobby is less than a minute long. The drivers like to whiz by pretty fast, so you’re in for a fun ride! Two golf carts picked up our group of nine and a third was summoned to handle our luggage.

We arrived just before Golden Hour, which could not have been more beautiful. Istanbul is my favorite city in the world and the novelty of seeing monuments like the Hagia Sophia never wears off.

Checking into the Hagia Sofia Mansions

Check-in at the Hagia Sofia Mansions is 3 p.m. but we arrived around six. The staff drove the golf carts right inside the hotel’s courtyard. The building housing the lobby was just steps away. Despite being touristy, the neighborhood is relatively peaceful. 

Stepping into this courtyard was a whole other level of zen. Birds chirped as the trees swayed gently against the evening breeze. Golden sunlight filtered through, casting an orange glow around us. It was magical.

The hotel lobby was warm and welcoming, featuring an art deco-meets-old-country-inn vibe. It had a comfortable sofa with a table, where everyone waited while I checked us in.

Off to the side was a large lounge area with even more seating and gorgeous light fixtures. It was the perfect mix of glamour and coziness. This place is perfect if you’re looking for a place to read and work during the day. 

At check-in, I was handed a stack of papers—declarations confirming that none of us had COVID symptoms, tested positive, or knowingly came into contact with people who had. I was told housekeeping would be provided on-demand, which was typical during the pandemic. Overall, the staff was very welcoming.

After explaining my Hilton Diamond elite benefits and informing us our luggage would be brought to our rooms, they sent us off.

We had three rooms booked and they assigned two of them in the same townhouse: Two rooms in one townhouse and the suite in another. It would have been more convenient for us all to be in the same building, but we were still happy to be close. The walk from the lobby to the townhouses was very brief.

The townhouses at Hagia Sofia Mansions

The layout of the townhouses at Hagia Sofia Mansions was interesting. Each townhouse has 3-4 floors, with 1-2 rooms occupying each level. Each townhouse has 1-3 shared lounge areas on the first floor, designed for socializing and entertaining.

The guest rooms were located on the higher floors. Each guest room has its own hammam, further contributing to the hotel’s authentic charm.

The common areas

Our group was split into two townhouses, each with a different layout. The first townhouse had three floors with just two guest rooms occupying two floors. Since we had booked them both, we had the entire building to ourselves.

The shared lounge was located to the left of the entrance and featured four plush seats and a coffee table. It was a comfortable place to gather every morning before breakfast or rest in the afternoons.

During the day, we saw tourists taking photos in front of the townhouses and gazing inside. Luckily, there were blinds to provide some privacy. The decor felt like a modern twist on old-school Ottoman design. I especially liked the vibrant art piece in the entryway and the plush seating areas.

The larger townhouse housing the Hagia Sofia Suite had three lounges on the first floor. Since this building had more guest rooms, the extra shared spaces were necessary to accommodate a large number of guests.

My nieces would do their Zoom classes in these lounges every evening. It gave us some extra space to gather as a group while having room to spread out.

Hagia Sofia Mansions Superior room (# 2311)

To get from the lounge to the guest rooms, you have to take the stairs – there are no elevators in these building. If you’re a wheelchair user, the hotel offers wheelchair-accessible rooms in other buildings near the courtyard.

On the landing between the second and third floors was a cozy little sofa, with a vibrant painting hung above it. A small window let in natural light. On the first day I was so jetlagged that I crashed there because I couldn’t couldn’t make it to the third floor. So the space was both pretty and functional.

I was impressed with the cleanliness of the Superior rooms. The door was sealed, a Hilton pandemic-era practice aimed at demonstrating cleanliness and avoiding contamination before guests arrived. That’s pretty significant, considering the following year, I walked into a messy New York City hotel room occupied by another guest.

None of the photos I’d seen of this hotel did it justice. Expecting the rooms to feel gaudy and claustrophobic, I found them to be chic and spacious. The decor was eclectic, yet traditional. The mattress was hands down the most comfortable I’ve ever slept on – the rolling bed offered the same level of comfort. 

The warm herringbone floors contrasted nicely against the cool blue tone of the bed and curtains. A cozy workstation featured a desk with an upholstered chair that was comfortable for long work sessions. Next to that was another chair, perfect for lounging. The room also had a sizable closet, offering plenty of storage space.

While the room was overall comfortable, I heard the occasional street noise from tourists, cleaners and golf carts speeding by. If you want a quieter room, ask for a high floor or one inside the hotel courtyard.

The bathroom and hammam

Beyond the doorway was the large bathroom, featuring beautiful tile work on the floor and walls. The hotel took great care to assure guests that the bathrooms were well-maintained. Even the towels were sealed in plastic bags and there were extras in the storage space under the sink.

The large vanity was well-stocked with bath amenities. The vanity space was large enough to accommodate a second sink, which would have been nice to have.

A large clawfoot tub stood by the window, and on the opposite end were two doors. One led to a toilet, and the other to an enclosed shower/hammam. As far as I could tell, the hammam didn’t have a steam function but included a marble bowl and hammam kit with olive soap.

The hammam was a fun novelty that played up the hotel’s old-world vibe. If you want an actual hammam experience in Istanbul, I recommend the Ali Pasa Hamam near It’skoy. It’s affordable, super clean, and easy to get to. Plus, they serve the most delicious apple tea in their cafe.

The Hagia Sofia Mansions Suite (# 2222)

The Hagia Sofia Mansions Suite was located on the third floor of the townhouse. It was adjacent to our other townhouse. The suite was meant for my sister and her three kids, since it was large and featured a separate living room. We realized it was on the top floor, with no elevator, and a winding staircase with low railings. The steps were short and a bit slippery. The railing was low and offered no protection against a fall.

It didn’t look safe for the kids to navigate. One wrong step on those marble stairs and you could end up on the first floor sooner than anticipated. My cousin and I took the suite and let my sister move into the Superior room. If you’re traveling with kids, you should ask for a room on a lower floor, especially in this building.

Each floor in this townhouse had two rooms, though we hardly ever saw our neighbors. The room was beautifully decorated, with the same herringbone wood floors, paneled walls, and colorful decor as the Superior room. 

The entrance opened into a spacious living room, where the staff had already converted the pullout couch into a bed, complete with pillows and a blanket. I let my cousin take the bed while I slept on the sofa bed, which was perfectly comfortable. 

The sofa faced a coffee table and the television, which we never used. The console featured an empty fridge and a coffee maker with cute teacups.

The power outlets in this room were inconveniently located. There were two outlets in the wall leading to the bedroom and one in the far corner by the window. The kicker: The column left no room to fit a chair near the outlets. It was inconvenient for me when I needed to join Zoom calls for work and my laptop wasn’t fully charged. The only option for charging your electronics was to leave them on the floor, without a place for you to sit and use them.

The bedroom featured a king-sized bed across from a large TV and a coffered ceiling for added character. I loved all the vibrant artwork in the rooms, which contrasted nicely against the traditional decor. A cozy chair took up the window nook, creating the perfect spot to read and people-watch.

The Hagia Sophia (which is now a mosque) was visible from the bedroom and living room windows. While being close to this stunning historical monument has its advantages, it’s also worth noting that you will clearly hear the adhan (Islamic call to prayer) five times didn’t

I didn’t mind – it’s part of the charm of Sultanahmet. But it might be bothered if you’re a light sleeper or don’t like to wake up before sunrise.

The suite bathroom

The Hagia Sofia Suite bathroom was very similar in size and decor to the one in the Superior rooms. Upon walking in, the toilet was behind a door to the left.

Straight ahead was a vanity with two marble sinks and plenty of bath amenities, extra dental kits and towels. Two robes hung by the door leading into the hammam. The clawfoot tub sat under the window, with the shades drawn.

The bathroom’s marble paneling was beautifully done. It’s been several years since my stay and this bathroom maintains a top spot in my PinteresIt’sard. It’s such a far cry from the usual bland white bathrooms at most chain hotels. This property really made me fall in love with Curior Hotels.

Breakfast at Hagia Sofia Mansions

As a Hilton Diamond member, I received free continental breakfast at the Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul. But don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t some bread basket with stale pastries. It’s a traditional Turkish spread consisting of deli meats, cheese, fruits, honey, jams, bread, and different pastries.

Hilton’s official policy is to extend complimentary breakfast to two people, but the hotel extended it to my entire group – all nine of us. They also didn’t charge us for any hot items we ordered, which was beyond generous.

Breakfast alternated between Sofia Gardens and the Sofia Terrace across the way. The food was the same, but the Sofia Terrace was just a tad more glamorous. It offered outdoor seating overlooking the quaint street and Hagia Sofia.

On my first morning, I was joined by a swarm of bees who seemed to enjoy the fresh honeycomb on the table. The staff quickly helped me gather up the food and move indoors. The space was beautifully appointed, so I didn’t mind moving. The staff were always friendly and despite our large group, the server had memorized several of our breakfast orders by the third day. 

Sofia Terrace also serves lunch, though with so many great places to eat in the area, I never tried it. Sofia Garden was also a nice place to hang out. I sat there to work one afternoon and enjoyed a delicious iced coffee with rice pudding topped with ice cream and hazelnuts. Needless to say, it was perfection.

The hotel used to offer a fine-dining restaurant inside an old Roman cistern, but that appears to have shut down. There’s also Green House Garden, located in the Hotel Yesil Ev building. It looked nice, but we never found time to eat there. It’s definitely on the list for my next visit.

Hagia Sofia Mansions Pool and Spa

One of the coolest amenities at the Hagia Sofia Mansions is the pool, which is housed inside a 2,000-year-old cistern. During the pandemic, guests were allowed to book the pool for private use in 1-hour time slots. We managed to snag two spots during our four-night stay and had an absolute blast.

The whirlpool is only about four feet long, so it’s suitable for adults and kids to swim in. Because of its odd shape, you can’t swim big laps, but it’s fun to splash around and play in—for kids and adults alike.

Steps from tyou’lll, you’ll find the spa which is also undergdidn’t I didn’t get any spa treatments during my stay, but I checked out the treatment rooms. The cave-like atmosphere is great for relaxing and very quiet. We used the nearby locker room to change and everything was impeccably maintained.

Security at Hagia Sofia Mansions

Hagia Sofia Mansions is located in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet neighborhood, which is pretty safe. You’ll sometimes come across a band of professional beggars who will hound you if you give one of them money. But (knock on wood), I haven’t had a reason to feel unsafe in the city so far.

If you’re extra-vigilant about security, you’ll be glad to know the Hagia Sofia Mansions takes several measures to ensure the safety of its guests. Not only does a security guard patrol the alley at regular intervals, but there is also a police kiosk at the end of the street as you approach Topkapi Palace. 

The officers occasionally stopped passersby and asked them to open their bags. After a while, they recognized us as hotel guests and simply waved at us.

Service at Hagia Sofia Mansions

The service at the Hagia Sofia Mansions was top-notch. While there are certainly exceptions, Turkish people are some of the kindest I’ve met. The staff were incredibly welcoming and made us feel at home. The security guard chatted with us every morning and was sweet to my nieces and nephew. He and his colleagues really stepped up one night when we had a scary encounter with one of the stray dogs roaming the streets.

Istanbul’s stray dogs are seemingly chill. The city tags and tracks them, giving them routine shots. My niece had bonded with a black Labrador and would track him down daily to play with him. One night, as she reached out to pet him, he barked loudly in her direction and snapped at her.

The security guard quickly ran him off. It was pretty dark and my niece was startled but seemed okay. When my sister inspected her hand, we discovered the skin around her index finger was partially gone – the dog bit her.

We ushered her into the courtyard, where several staff members surrounded us. One person rushed out of the lobby with a first aid kit, disinfecting and dressing the wound. Another staffer called a taxi to take us to a nearby hospital for a rabies shot. Her colleague escorted my niece and sister, acting as s translator.

It was incredibly helpful, considering English is still not commonly spoken in Istanbul – even in hospitals. The staffer took them to a nearby government hospital, where my niece got her rabies shot and was instructed to return for additional shots. It could have been an incredibly stressful event, but the hotel staff jumped into action and took good care of us.

The bill for the hospital visit? $0 because it was a government facility.

On the way to breakfast the following morning, the security guard and a member of the restaurant staff asked about my niece’s well-being. The hotel manager also came by to express her concern and offer assistance if we needed anything else. Liability issues aside, they seemed genuine, and we appreciated their kindness.

Would I stay at the Hagia Sofia Mansions again?

The Hagia Sofia Mansions is one of my all-time favorite hotels, even four years later. Sultanahmet is filled with quirky boutique hotels that embody the area’s rich history and character. The Hagia Sofia Mansions provides that along with the convenience of a chain hotel. I can’t think of any other hotels offering a better location and value. If you’re a history buff who wants to be immersed in Istanbul’s vibrant past, this hotel is perfect in every aspect.

The exceptional service, unique rooms, one-of-a-kind location in a historically rich neighborhood, and status as a Hilton property make it the ideal place to stay. It’s the perfect mix of historic charm and modern amenities. Whether you’re visiting Istanbul for the first time or the tenth, I highly recommend staying at the Hagia Sofia Mansions.