Sleeping near İstiklal street (İstiklal Caddesi) puts you right at the center of the living city. This hip part of town never sleeps. From restaurants, cafes, theatres, and art galleries to bookstores, fashion boutiques, rock bars, and jazz clubs, there's something here for locals and visitors of all ages. In the New District, you can melt right in and become part of the colorful scene.
Recently, the municipal government has undertaken projects to upgrade Taksim's infrastructure and preserve its Art Nouveau buildings. Due to the New District's popularity, prices here are higher than the Old Town. Private apartments may be a good budget alternative.
Tourist Information: The neighborhood TI in Elmadağ, a 10-minute walk from Taksim Square (Mon-Sat 9:00-17:00, closed Sun, at the entrance of Hilton Hotel, tel. 0212/233-0592).
Transportation Connections: Since Taksim Square is one of Istanbul's primary transit hubs, the New District is well-connected to the Old Town (and other parts of the city). Two options are the most convenient for reaching the Old Town sights. From Taksim Square (near the first several hotels listed next), you can take the funicular down to Kabataş, where you can catch the tram that zips into the historic core (get off at Sultanahmet for Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and other Old Town attractions). Or, from the opposite end of İstiklal street (near the Galata Tower listings, below), you can take the old-fashioned subway from Tünel down to Karaköy, where you can transfer to the same tram mentioned above (to reach the Old Town, take this tram to Sultanahmet). A convenient "nostalgic tram" runs down the center of İstiklal street, between Taksim Square and Tünel.

Near Taksim Square, at the Top of İstiklal Street

Germir Palace Hotel, on a busy street near Taksim Square, comes with an old-fashioned but tastefully plush lobby, and 49 heavily perfumed rooms. Comfortable and classy, in a sophisticated Art Nouveau shell and with a smartly uniformed staff, it's a winner (Sb-€100-120, Db-€120-150, air-con, elevator, Cumhuriyet Caddesi 17, tel. 0212/361-1110, fax 0212/361-1070, www .germirpalas.com, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). From Taksim Square, with İstiklal street behind you, walk up the busy street (Cumhuriyet) that runs alongside a big park; the hotel is on the left after two blocks, across from the park.

Taxim Hill Hotel is well-situated overlooking Taksim Square, at the top of istiklal street. It boasts 50 rooms with contemporary decor, and a top-floor breakfast room with great Bosphorus views. Ask for a discount if you get a room with windows opening only into the tight atrium (S-€80-100, Db-€100-130, air-con, elevator, Sıraselviler Caddesi 9, tel. 0212/334-8500, fax 0212/334-8598, www.taximhill.com, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Triada Pansion is just below Taksim Square, facing Aya Triada Church a half-block off İstiklal street. This small, friendly place offers 11 good-size, no-nonsense apartments with slightly shabby living rooms and kitchenettes. Its reasonable rates and excellent location make it popular with embassy workers in town for a long stint—book ahead (Sb/Db-€60-80, €15 more for rooftop balcony room #601, air-con, elevator, İstiklal Caddesi, Meşelik Sokak 10, tel. 0212/251-0101, fax 0212/292-6363, www.triada.com .tr, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Near the Galata Tower, at the Bottom of İstiklal Street

Anemon Galata is next door to the Galata Tower. This historic building has been converted into a classy boutique hotel with 21 small, Old World-plush rooms and six suites, some with impressive Bosphorus or Golden Horn views (Sb-€180, Db-€120-240, air-con, elevator, spectacular view breakfast terrace, Bereketzade
Mahallesi Büyükhendek Sokak, tel. 0212/293-2343, fax 0212/292- 2340, www.anemonhotels.com, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Richmond Hotel, the only hotel actually on İstiklal street, is all business and no personality—it's all about the location (just a few steps up İstiklal from the Tünel subway station). The 104 small, uninspired business-class rooms are classified "deluxe" and "executive"—the latter with a slightly bigger desk (deluxe Sb-€100-120, deluxe Db-€110-135, 5 percent discount with this book, rates can be soft—check Web site for deals, air-con, elevator, İstiklal Caddesi 445, tel. 0212/252-5460, fax 0212/252-9707, www .richmondhotels.com.tr, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Eklektik Guest House, on a dingy little alley near the Galata Tower, is true to its name—the seven rooms are completely different, each one with its own theme, and all of them brimming with Old World-meets-contemporary style (S-€65, Db-€100, €10 extra for 1-night and weekend stays, each room priced differently per season, air-con, no elevator but lots of stairs, gay-friendly, Serdar Ekrem Mahallesi Şahkulu Sokak 4, tel. 0212/243-7646, fax 0212/243-7445, www.eklektikgalata.com, info@eklektikgalata .com).

Galata Residence hides down the hill from Galata Tower, a 10-minute uphill walk to the bottom of İstiklal street. They rent 22 apartments in three historical buildings, managed from the main building—an architectural landmark called the Camando Apartments. The apartments are basic and ramshackle, but a good value (2-person apartment: €75/night, €420/week; 4-person apartment: €120/night, €700/week; tax not included, 10 percent discount with this book, optional breakfast-€6/person, air-con, elevator in main building but lots of stairs in the others, Bankalar Caddesi Felek Sokak 2, tel. 0212/292-4841, fax 0212/244-2323,
www.galataresidence.com, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Plush Apartments

Istanbul Holiday Apartments offers three well-appointed apartment buildings. These generously furnished apartments are at-home comfy, with everything from fully equipped kitchens to famous Turkish bathrobes. Owner Ann will send a handy shuttle to pick you up at the airport (€25 one-way for up to 12 people, free with 7-day stay, required for night-time arrivals since driver has apartment key), or arrange to meet manager Aynur at the apartment during the day to pick up your key. As the specific rates can fluctuate by season, check online for the latest (50 percent deposit required, pay balance upon arrival, show this book for a 10 percent discount with cash or 5 percent discount with credit card, read rental policy on Web before reserving, tel. 0212/251-8530, fax 0212/245-1962, www.istanbulholidayapartments.com, info @istanbulholidayapartments.com).

Glorya Apartments and Bereket Apartments are a short walking distance from Istiklal street, close to the Galata Tower. The Glorya has five apartments ranging from a 375-square-foot garden studio to a 2,500-square-foot duplex big enough for a party (garden studio for 3 people-€75/night, €500/week; penthouse for 4-€125/day or €825/week; deluxe view apartment for 4-€135/day or €900/week; all air-con except the studio, Galata Kulesi Sokak 29, Galata). The Bereket has four huge, two-bedroom apartments that can comfortably sleep four to six people (€100-130/night, €660-880/week, air-con, Camekan Sokak 28, Galata). For locations, see the map on page 267.

Belkis Apartments, a short distance from the top of istiklal street in Taksim's trendy upper end, range in size from 375 to 500 square feet. The five apartments (all one-bedroom) have air-conditioning and sleep two to four people each (€75-€90/night, €500-600/week, air-con, Defterdar Yokuşu 106, Cihangir).