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Hotel Empress Zoe is an excellent choice for travellers visiting Istanbul, offering a quirky environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay.
Close to some of Istanbul's most popular landmarks, such as Suleymaniye Mosque (1.9 km) and Galata Tower (2.2 km), Empress Zoe is a great destination for tourists.
The rooms offer air conditioning, and getting online is possible, as free wifi is available, allowing you to rest and refresh with ease.
Empress Zoe features 24 hour front desk, a concierge, and a rooftop terrace. In addition, as a valued Empress Zoe guest, you can enjoy free breakfast that is available on-site. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to paid public parking available nearby.
When you’re feeling hungry, be sure to check out Nars Brasserie, Taze Tapas Restaurant, and Rumeli Meyhanesi, which are some Spanish restaurants that are popular with locals and out-of-towners alike.
If you’re looking for something to do, Topkapi Palace (0.6 km), Blue Mosque (0.4 km), and Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya) (0.2 km) are a nice way to spend some time, and they are all within walking distance of Empress Zoe Hotel.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quirky Hotels
Historic Hotel
Languages Spoken
English, Turkish
Location
Akbiyik Caddesi, No:10, Istanbul 34122 Türkiye
Name/address in local language
Hotel Empress Zoe
4.6 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
I had the good fortune of staying three nights in the penthouse suite, which has its own outdoor terrace, a comfortable and large sitting room, with one space for dining table and another for the sofa and TV. In addition to the double bed in a curtained corner of the space, there are two daybeds. The bathroom is like a mini hamam - absolutely wonderful. It takes some climbing - the stairs are steep - but it was for me always worth the effort to land in a space so wonderfully cozy with gorgeous views. Empress Zoe is located a short walk from Topkapi Palace grounds, Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome and Blue Mosque, and superb Hurrem Sultan Hammam. The Main Street outside the basement lobby area is wonderfully alive with restaurants and bars and shops catering to tourists. It is also right next door to an abandoned 16th century Hamam, providing a romantic historical view of antiquity from almost every room. The hotel also has a lovely and private courtyard garden which I imagine is a cooling place to be during hot summer weather. Breakfast is excellent. I was so grateful to the smiling ladies who worked so hard to put such delights together for their guests every morning. (I was also grateful and amazed by the gentleman who carried my suitcase up - and down - all those stairs!). The eating area has a fireplace for cold winter days and several private nooks for enjoying your tea. The entire hotel has a beautiful coziness and sincerity to it. Nothing flashy, except the wisteria when it is in bloom maybe? This is truly a unique place, with a great range of rooms - each with particular charms. I can't imagine a better welcome to Istanbul, particularly for my first time and especially for visiting the many glories of Sultanhamet.
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Date of stay: November 2024
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Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:I loved the penthouse but I can imagine I would be happy in any of the rooms on offer here.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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The Empress is located in such a way that you can quickly walk to the water and the Ayasofya, and the tram is also easy to reach. The street itself is almost exclusively full of hotels and restaurants, and you have to like party noise, especially at the weekend :) The rooms are individually decorated, and having breakfast in the garden is a dream. Recommendation: climb up to the roof terrace at sunset!
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Auf keinen Fall mit dem Auto unterwegs sein. Zu Fuß und mit den Öffentlichen geht Alles schneller.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A beautiful quirky hotel just a 5 minute walk from Sultanahmet Square where 4 of the main tourist attractions are. The hotel is two oldish buildings that have been joined. We had the top floor room with a view of the Bosporus. If the weather is good, breakfast can be taken in a delightful courtyard. Breakfast is a great selection of fresh fruits, cereals, local delicacies & other goodies. However, gluten free products are hard to get in Turkey so it’s worth taking corn cakes or something similar. The staff were very friendly and helpful with restaurant recommendations, public transport advice etc. However, access to the bedrooms and meals area is up a spiral staircase so not good for people with mobility issues. The hotel warns you about this and there are very strong porters to take your luggage to your room!
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From the moment I stepped into Hotel Empress Zoe, I knew I had found something special. This charming boutique hotel is full of character, with beautifully quirky rooms that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a little oasis in the heart of Istanbul.
The warm greeting I received upon arrival set the tone for my entire stay—even the hotel cat came to say hello! It’s these little touches that make a place feel like home. My room was cozy and inviting, with a comfortable bed and a well-equipped bathroom that had everything I needed.
Breakfast was a true delight—full of delicious Turkish flavors and the perfect way to start the day. The breakfast staff, like every member of the team, greeted me with a genuine smile and a kind "good morning," making me feel like more than just a guest.
I left with a full heart and no doubt that I will be booking Hotel Empress Zoe again on my next visit to Istanbul. If you're looking for a place with warmth, charm, and a personal touch, this is it.
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boutique hotel in a very touristy area of Istanbul but had a nice homely feel with character. Breakfast is home-style but pretty much the same every day which is fine for a stay of a few days but could be improved if they offered eggs cooked to order. Highlight is eating breakfast in the courtyard next to an old dilapidated hammam - a wonderful peaceful haven. The room was a little expensive but to be expected for such a central location and a bit small but we had a room facing the main street with a small balcony which was lovely. Not too loud considering the location. Rooftop provides a nice view early morning/late evenings. Stairs are tricky but the staff are willing to help with bags. All the staff were very friendly, kind and willing to help. Plenty of restaurants nearby but a fair amount of hassle as you walk by. Not easy to casually peruse menus.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Nightlife is not particularly loud at night although the call to prayer may disturb. Worth taking...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ann Nevans, Owner at Hotel Empress Zoe
Responded Aug 20, 2023
Dear HKCrock, Thank you for your kind review. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay overall. We try to offer a good variety on our buffet breakfast. All of the dishes are homemade including the baked goods and we do offer different dishes every day. Regarding the eggs - we always have 2 types of egg dishes but during high season when we are very full it is not possible to offer eggs cooked to order. I am glad that a you liked breakfast in the garden. A word about the historic hamam which borders the garden. It is called Isak Pasha hamam and it was built in 1483 only 30 years after the occupation of Constantinople by Mehmet the conqueror...so it is quite a piece of history. We hope you will visit our fair city again one day. Wishing you happy travels/Ann
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is situated within walking distance from the main tourist sites in sultanamet & also the tram stop. The room was a standard double room, (perfect for a solo traveler)which was clean and comfortable and cleaned every day, breakfast was very good with delicious homemade pastries. The courtyard garden was a lovely relaxing space to eat breakfast before setting out for a days sightseeing in a very busy & fantastic city. All the staff were very polite and friendly which gave the hotel a home from home feel, and that personal touch you don’t find in a big chain style hotel. If I return to Istanbul, which I hope i will would definitely stay here again
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Buy a Istanbulkart ticket and use the tram & ferry to explore the city.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We loved our stay at Empress Zoe. We had the corner room on the 2nd floor at the front of the building - it is very comfy and has wrap around windows and lots of interesting decorations. The breakfast in the gorgeous shady courtyard is a highlight. They have your standard eggs and toast but also lots of Turkish specialities such as Menemen, lentil koftas, local honey and yoghurt etc. The service is fantastic including quick response to emails and messages about transfers etc. Also a great location just a few hundred metres from Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia etc
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
One of the most memorable hotel stays we’ve experienced! From the moment we arrived the staff bent over backwards to help and accommodate us, despite our 6.30am arrival! Excellent room with perfect little balcony, gorgeous breakfast which could be taken in the lovely garden. All the staff were very helpful and our airport transport and guide which were organised through the hotel were faultless! Great location, around the corner literally from ALL the main historic sites…highly recommend if you are looking for something different and out of the ordinary!
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hotel is very central locatet, near blue moschee and a street with many delishes restaurants and bars. The hotel has a very cool rooftop where you can lay and rest or have a nice drink in the evening. The rooms are small but cosy and in the garden you have the ability to have very good and delishes breakfast. I enjoyed my stay a lot. It is small, but has a cosy style. Loved it there.
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Date of stay: May 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at the Empress Zoe hotel following a recommendation from a friend. We had a fantastic stay here. The hotel was beautiful ( especially the garden area) and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The homemade Walnut and Date cake should definitely be tried! The location of this place is ideal and many landmarks were just a 5 min walk away, such as Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Grand Bazaar was a 15 min walk and trams were easily available nearby. We would recommend this hotel
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, I am Ann, the owner of Hotel Empress Zoe. Three of our standard doubles have balconies. The special top floor double has a terrace. If a balcony is important to you then you need to specify that need when you reserve, and we may not always be able to accommodate that request especially for weekends and short stays. The Sultanahmet tram stop is not a long walk, but I would really recommend booking our pickup service from the airport as it is not much more than a regular taxi and gets you easily from the airport to our door - otherwise you can waste time on crowded public transport and there is a change at Aksaray. If you have luggage it is just not worth it. Happy travels !
Yes, I have always felt very safe walking around Sultanahmet. On Novemger 1st we have elections and it is best to avoid political rallies but it is very easy to do that. Rallies are not held in Sultanahmet anyway. Pls feel free to ask us for updates anytime before your proposed April visit.
Yes, you might need an adaptor. We have plugs that will match your appliance but if you need a transformer we do not have that. If your appliance is compatible with 220 watts (US is 110) then it will be OK with just the adaptor plug that we can provide.
There are more places to choose from in the Istanbul area.
PRICE RANGE
C$104 - C$229 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
empress zoe hotel istanbul
LOCATION
TürkiyeIstanbulSultanahmet
NUMBER OF ROOMS
25
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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