Hotel Empress Zoe

Quirky and characterful Sultanahmet abode
Word to the wise: Take earplugs if you don’t want to be woken by the pre-dawn call to prayer from nearby mosques.

Just a stone’s throw from the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, Empress Zoe’s location couldn’t be better for sightseeing.
Made up of five separate Ottoman-style houses, it’s a warren of charming rooms reached by a narrow spiral staircase, hidden courtyards and terraces. And there’s no mistaking where you are, from the colourful kilims that adorn the walls, to the marble-style Turkish baths in some of the rooms.

Not forgetting that it’s attached to the crumbling remains of a 15th century hamam, which creates a rather special stone-walled garden, perfect for a post-sightseeing drink. Or settle in front of the log fire in the cosy breakfast room on cooler evenings.