Where To Stay In Istanbul: Hotel DeCamondo Review

October 17, 2019
where to stay in istanbul

I recently got to spend the last day and night of my epic birthday trip to Turkey in Istanbul, one of my favorite cities of all time.  And since I was only going to be in town one night, I decided that a hotel made more sense than having to get checked into an apartment, paying cleaning fees, and all that.

I knew I wanted to stay in the Beyoğlu neighborhood (the historic European side), and specifically between Galata Bridge and Galata Tower—this is close enough for easy walking over to Sultanahmet and not insane amounts of hills.  And after sorting through the handful of options my travel planner found for me, I ended up choosing Hotel DeCamondo (link here).

And Y’ALL…it’s an absolute delight.

Where to stay in Istanbul - try the delightful Hotel DeCamondo

You might also like:  What to Pack for the Middle East (Including Turkey)

The history of Hotel Decamondo

One thing I had no idea of when I booked was the cool history of this building, and the Camondo family in general.  The woman who took me to my room gave me a brief history while we walked and I was blown away.  The building used to be the home of the Camondo family, I believe in the late 1800s.  It was considered a work of art, built in the neoclassical style and very symmetrical.

The Camondo family were Ashkenazi Jews originally from Spain (but fled in 1492), spent some time in Venice, and then established their new lives in Constantinople in the 1700s.  They became very prominent bankers and philanthropists in Istanbul for a couple centuries, and championed the arts and education as well.

The hotel website does a great and thorough job of outlining the family’s history and the role they played in Istanbul for many years, if you want to learn more…I recommend it, it’s fascinating!

I book through Booking.com when I can, but always recommend comparing reviews and prices on TripAdvisor as well.

historic touches and beautiful decor - where to stay in Istanbul

You might also like:  The Only Carry-On Suitcase You’ll Ever Need

My sweaty self (from dragging my luggage 5 minutes uphill because my taxi driver abandoned me) was greeted with such a warm welcome, and they offered to take me to the rooftop bar for a welcome drink.  I sat and sipped my cold rosé and soaked in the view on a gorgeous early fall day.

I didn’t make it to the rooftop at night (it was my intention, just lost steam), but it would make a great place for afternoon drinks or a late nightcap.

Consider a rooftop bar when looking for where to stay in Istanbul

where to stay in istanbul

Here are other Turkey posts to help plan your trip!

Turkey Travel Tips: How to Plan the Best Adventure

How to Plan an Awesome 7- or 10-Day Turkey Itinerary

A First-Timer’s Guide to Cappadocia

Zelve, Cappadocia’s Best-Kept Secret

2 Days Sailing Turkey’s Gorgeous Turquoise Coast

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast:  Exploring Fethiye & Oludeniz

Paragliding Over Olüdeniz’s Famous Blue Lagoon

Istanbul for First-Timers:  A Planning Guide & 3-Day Itinerary

20+ Turkish Foods You Have to Try

When the lady from the front desk came back to take me to my room, she surprised me with a suite upgrade—I’d mentioned I was in town for my birthday (and it was my actual birthday), and since the suite happened to be open they gave it to me.  It was so unexpected but just a lovely example of the service at Hotel DeCamondo.

Where to stay in Istanbul - Hotel DeCamondo

where to stay in istanbul

where to stay in istanbul

You might also like:  20+ Tips to Survive (& Thrive) on a Long Flight

They’d even taken the time to bring me up some local chocolates and a sweet little birthday note.  It’s little touches like these that make the stay here extra special…even if it’s just a bellboy who goes out of his way to make a restaurant recommendation or get a cab for you.

where to stay in istanbul

You might also like:  What It’s Like Flying Turkish Airlines Business Class

The suite was insanely roomy, to the point I felt kind of bad just being one person in there.  The bed was heavenly, the best I stayed on in Turkey.

I enjoyed the décor overall, a nice combination of cozy and modern, but with nods to the history of the building.  And the rug in the main bedroom was HEAVEN—if I could figure out where it was from, I’d buy one!!!

where to stay in istanbul

You might also like:  The Only Carry-On Suitcase You’ll Ever Need

The hotel itself was really beautiful inside, with some cool round stained glass windows, circular staircases, mod black and white tiles, and more.  I don’t know much about the neoclassical style, but I absolutely loved the décor overall—like someone pulled it out of my head!

Where to stay in Istanbul - Hotel DeCamondo

Entrance to Hotel DeCamondo - where to stay in Istanbul

You might also like:  Travel FAQ: How to Pay for Things Overseas & Other Travel Money Tips

The location was also super convenient for anything I wanted to do.  I could take a staircase and just a short walk down and be at Galata Bridge (and then cross over to Sultanahmet), or it was a short walk up to Galata Tower, or slightly longer on to Istiklal Street and then Taksim Square.

I highly recommend this area, and really enjoyed exploring the great coffee scene here on my last morning.

where to stay in istanbul

where to stay in istanbul

You might also like:  10 Things You Must Do Before Every Trip

So in case it’s not clear, I loved my brief stay at this hotel would highly recommend it as my top choice for where to stay in Istanbul.  I booked it through Booking.com, and for the night I stayed it was 71 euros…which honestly seemed like a steal for the quality of service and caliber of hotel.

You should also check out my detailed packing list for Turkey.

Other Istanbul adventures you’ll love:

Pin for later!

Where to Stay in Istanbul - Hotel DeCamondo - Pinterest overlay

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Prev Post

where to stay in istanbul

Sampling The Coffee Scene In Istanbul's Beyoğlu District

October 9, 2019

Next Post

where to stay in istanbul

The Best Atlanta Trails For Running, Hiking, & More

October 20, 2019