X
VIEW ALL RESULTS
VIEW ALL RESULTS
    X
    X
    VIEW ALL RESULTS
    VIEW ALL RESULTS
      • Professional Services

      Forbes Travel Guide Stories

      Hotels, Star Ratings

      12 Top Hotels In Istanbul And Bodrum
      By Forbes Travel Guide Editor Spencer Whaley

      April 13, 2023

      Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul
      Stay along the Bosphorus. Credit: Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul

      Whether you seek a city escape rich in culture and history or a beach haven with sunny skies and turquoise water, you will find both and more in Turkey. Choose your getaway with the help of Forbes Travel Guide’s recently debuted 2023 Star Awards in the central hub of Istanbul and the picturesque paradise of Bodrum. This year marks the first time FTG’s incognito inspectors have rated port city Bodrum’s remarkable properties, all of which conveniently open this month for the 2023 season. 

      Although neither Istanbul nor Bodrum suffered damage from the earthquakes that recently devastated the southern region of Turkey, the country’s valiant collective response to the disaster has demonstrated the generosity, warmth and pride so intrinsic to the culture’s values — the same qualities that distinguish the 12 award winners listed below.

      Istanbul

      Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul

      Enjoy the best of both the city and the sea at this Five-Star escape along the Bosphorus. It combines the intimate feel of a boutique hotel (it only has 100 rooms) with the amenities of a luxury resort (including a 38,000-square-foot spa, indoor and outdoor pools, elegant rooms courtesy of Tihany Design and enticing restaurants like Olea Bosphorus & The Bar and Novikov Istanbul).

      Sink into these palatial accommodations. Credit: Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul

      Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul

      Exuding opulence fit for a sultan, the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star property includes a 19th-century restored former palace and a modern building that houses the majority of guest rooms and facilities. Within these grand surroundings, the hotel offers a waterfront location (and a heated infinity pool from which to enjoy it) and an exceptional spa specializing in traditional services like Turkish hammam rituals.

      Enjoy views of the iconic Hagia Sophia. Credit: Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

      Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

      Set in the middle of Istanbul’s historic quarter, this Five-Star hotel doesn’t retain the vestiges of its life as a former prison. Instead, the striking design (arched windows and gleaming interiors with Murano chandeliers and intricate marble flooring) and the impeccable service create an environment that feels like home.

      Stay at this Five-Star retreat. Credit: Raffles Istanbul

      Raffles Istanbul

      Residing inside the Zorlu Center, home to a luxury shopping mall and the country’s largest performing arts venue, Raffles Istanbul provides a modern and sleek respite. It radiates cosmopolitan luxury with contemporary art commissioned for the Five-Star hotel prominently featured throughout the spaces, high tea in the Lavinia lobby accompanied by live piano and guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. 

      Find paradise along the water. Credit: Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul

      Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul

      Inspired by the vision of paradise depicted in Lost Horizon, James Hilton’s classic novel (a copy of which you will find on every bedside table), the Four-Star hotel offers utopia rendered through elegant interiors. Here, chandeliers hang from lofty ceilings, the scent of fresh lilies fills the spaces, European and Asian art adorns the walls and every marble bathroom comes with heated floors and a separate tub. You will discover another paradise at the spa, which features a heated indoor pool, sauna and steam rooms and hammam services. 

      Wake up to water views. Credit: Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

      Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

      This waterfront 19th-century Ottoman mansion is distinctly Turkish, with displays of work by local artists, an unforgettable hammam experience found at the spa and suites housed in the original historic palace building. Indulge in fresh Turkish seafood at the well-regarded Aqua restaurant while sitting outside along the Bosphorus.

      Revel in stylish accommodations. Credit: Fairmont Quasar Istanbul

      Fairmont Quasar Istanbul

      The Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel’s location — a commercial and residential complex in close proximity to numerous headquarters, luxury shopping centers and the city’s main thoroughfares — makes it an ideal stay for those visiting on business. However, the hotel’s chic design and art-deco-inspired interiors, outdoor infinity pool and spa make it a more than appealing choice for any traveler.

      Stay in a modern skyscraper. Credit: The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul

      The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul

      Housed on the first 12 floors of Suzer Plaza — a modern skyscraper that towers over the city — the Four-Star hotel sparkles, and not only because of the panoramic vistas. The unique seasonal open-air spa, terraced suites, happening lobby lounge and restaurant shine just as brightly as the view.

      Spend the night in the Bentley Suite. Credit: The St. Regis Istanbul

      The St. Regis Istanbul

      A property as fashionable as its Nisantasi neighborhood, this Four-Star hotel sports art-deco design, one of the few European locations of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s Spago, pieces loaned from the Demsa Collection of Art, original artworks commissioned by The St. Regis and the brand’s signature butler service.

      Bodrum

      Make a break for the water. Credit: Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts

      Susona Bodrum, LXR Hotels & Resorts

      Named for a mermaid-like figure in Turkish folklore, this Four-Star hotel enchants with sweeping water views, beautifully landscaped grounds, jetties stretching out into the Aegean Sea with daybeds available for reservation and elegant, Mediterranean-minimalist-style guest rooms.

      Explore these expansive grounds. Credit: Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

      Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

      On the Five-Star hotel’s sprawling 150 acres along the sparkling Aegean Sea, you’ll find fragrant olive and pine trees; two private beaches; 11 impressive restaurants and bars; a two-level, water-facing spa; and more than 130 contemporary rooms, suites, villas and apartments that are the largest in the area.

      Linger at the scenic infinity pool. Credit: The Bodrum EDITION

      The Bodrum EDITION

      Take your pick between the infinity pool that seamlessly blends into the sea or the exclusive beach club at this sleek Four-Star hotel. Afterward, dine alfresco at celebrated Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz’s delicious Brava or order his menu poolside as you soak up the sunshine. End your day in accommodations outfitted with tile floors, warm wood accents and ample light, courtesy of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

      Share
      Tweet
      Pin
      Share
      Bodrum Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul Fairmont Quasar Istanbul Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahme Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus Istanbul Mandarin Oriental Bodrum Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus Istanbul Raffles Istanbul Shangri-La Bosphorus Istanbul Susona Bodrum LXR Hotels & Resorts The Bodrum EDITION The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul The St. Regis Istanbul
      by Forbes Travel Guide Editor Spencer Whaley 

      About Forbes Travel Guide Editor Spencer Whaley

      View all posts by Forbes Travel Guide Editor Spencer Whaley

      Related Posts

      • Istanbul5 Unforgettable Outdoor Adventures In Istanbul
      • Banff National Park7 Spectacular Train Journeys Around The World
      • Las Vegas15 Top Travel Guides Of 2024
      • Shangri-La Bosphorus IstanbulHow To Experience Istanbul Like A Local

      Copyright © 2025 · Prima Donna theme by Georgia Lou Studios

      Dreaming of your next trip?

      Let us inspire you with weekly special offers and stories about what's new and exciting in luxury travel.
      THANK YOU! CONFIRMATION EMAIL SENT.
      You can withdraw your consent at any time. Visit our Privacy Policy and Terms or Contact Us for more information.

      Sign up for our newsletter

      * indicates required