Adora Hotel

The Adora Was Great

I really enjoyed staying at the Adora Hotel with my parents who are in their 60's - they liked it too. I have stayed at several other hotels around the Sultanahmet area (I live in Turkey) and found that this one has an ideal location - a short few min. walk to all the Sultanahmet attractions and near the ferry docks/train station/Spice Market. Right next to the beautiful Gulhane Park too. Also, it is about a 30 sec. walk to a tram station that can take you right up to the Grand Bazaar (3 stops away) or down to the docks/Spice Market (2 stops away). But if you would like to walk, it is just a short walk to these places. The Suleymaniye Mosque is not too far away either. The nearby Hoca Pasa Mosque is said to have some good, inexpensive restaurants around it that locals like, though I did not have time to check them out.

The rooms are a bit small, but who visits to Istanbul to stay in their room? And most comparable hotel rooms in this part of Istanbul are small anyhow. They were nicely decorated and clean, spacious bathroom with hair dryer and good shower with cabin, fridge/minibar, closet, safe, quiet air-conditioning, vanity, good mattresses and pillows. The television had international news in English - I didn't check out the other channels. There were also slippers and nice fluffy robes. There is an elevator.

Breakfast was much better than I expected (I think it has been improved since earlier reviews) with more variety than the usual Turkish breakfast, delicious too - 8 am breakfast was enough to tide us over until 2 pm.

There is also a computer with internet off the lobby for free use.

Highly recommended, excellent value.

Unique Quality: Despite the nearby tram, it is very quiet with double glazed windows and there is no noisy call to prayer at 5 AM like I have been awakened with at other hotels in Sultanahmet.

The staff was excellent and caring - friendly, helpful and they spoke good English. Tea and coffee are free any time you want, a nice touch - when we arrived tea and delicious cake were brought up to our room.

For a shortcut to Topkapi Palace from the hotel, rather than walking all the way around to the far side of Hagia Sophia, you can go through Gulhane Park. To do this, as you walk up Alemdar Street (the main street which goes up to Hagia Sophia, also the street where the tram runs), you will see an entrance to Gulhane Park. Enter the park and take the road on the right that goes up a hill. This will take you past the archeological museum right into the first court of Topkapi Palace where you buy your tickets. However, you may want to see the fountain outside of the first court's gate right next to Hagia Sophia, it is the grandest fountain in Istanbul.