Historical 3 storey house in Old Istanbul, recently restored, comfortable stay! Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

Q: Is Historical 3 storey house in Old Istanbul, recently restored, comfortable stay! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 22 lbs per pet.

Q: Where is Historical 3 storey house in Old Istanbul, recently restored, comfortable stay! located?

Located in Istanbul City Center, this vacation home is 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Golden Horn and within 3 mi (5 km) of Grand Bazaar and Galata Tower. Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace are also within 3 mi (5 km). Edirnekapi Station is 21 minutes by foot and Topkapi - Ulubatli Station is 25 minutes.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Paul B.

Oct 18, 2017

Lovely place to stay for the discerning traveller

Turquoise House is extremely nice and comfortable; located in a very interesting neighbourhood away from the hubbub of the city centre (which is easily accessible via the excellent public transport system). We enjoyed the variety and friendliness of Balat and Fenner as well as Fatih in general (especially Wednesday market). Istanbul is an immensely interesting city and Ozkan's notes are excellent. The airport transfers that Ozhan organised worked well (including a 5am Sunday pickup). We will return.

10/10 Excellent

Paul B.

Jan 8, 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Second time

We really enjoyed staying here as a family. My favourite part of Istanbul to stay in. First time my wife & I came we missed not being able to share our experience with our daughters so we returned. Highly recommended.

10/10 Excellent

Vera K.

May 30, 2018

Schöner Aufenthalt in Istanbul jenseits der Touristenpfade

Das sehr schön renovierte alte Haus in einem ursprünglichen Stadtteil war uns zur Ramadan-Zeit ein echtes Zuhause auf Zeit für einen wirklich eindrücklichen Aufenthalt in der wunderbaren Stadt Istanbul. Das Haus ist gut ausgestattet, alles funktioniert, im direkten Wohnumfeld fühlt man sich Tag und Nacht sicher. Wenn man nicht ständig Taxi fahren will, sollte man gut zu Fuß sein, da es vom Goldenen Horn her ein ordentlicher Anstieg zum Haus ist. Herzlichen Dank an die Besitzer Ozkan und Peter für ihr Engagement um die Erhaltung einiger der alten Häuser im Viertel, das im Bestand leider bedroht ist. Wir werden gern einmal wiederkommen. Paar aus Deutschland im Mai 2018

Stayed 12 nights in May 2018

8/10 Good

Laura H.

May 8, 2018

An opportunity to live in Old Istanbul (for a short while!)

We enjoyed our stay at the Turquoise House very much. Lovely decorations, a cozy bed, clean bathrooms, and plenty of space for our family (couple and 1 daughter). We liked exploring this section of Istanbul, and found the people to be friendly and helpful. Our daughter arrived earlier than expected, and found the apartment, but could not get her phone to connect with the owners. After a long day of travel, she was stuck on the front stoop in some distress, when a neighborhood woman came by, offered her the use of her phone and a simit (Turkish bagel). The neighborhood is poor but safe, and we loved learning about the culture and history of the area as we explored. Be aware, you will encounter a lot of walking, up and down steep hills on very narrow roads. We did have some problems with taxi drivers finding the place. In fact, on our way from the airport, the service the owners arranged for us took us to the wrong place--a hotel in the middle of the city, rather than the apartment and then had trouble locating the neighborhood.

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2018

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mousa A.

Oct 19, 2017

Close and clean

Loved everything the area the people the shops

Stayed 9 nights in Sep 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Anant G.

Sep 15, 2017

Oasis in Old Istanbul

Firstly, this is a review on Saffron House, which is also under the same management team. The house looks to be very similar from the photos and in the same neighbourhood. A few days before were we due to arrive We were given an upgrade by Ozkan due to issues at Turquoise House. We appreciated this flexibility and enjoyed our stay here immensely. The house itself is in the Fener/Balat area of Istanbul so a little bit off the beaten track. This provided more of a neighbourhood type feel and atmosphere and a contrast to Beyoglu where we had stayed previously. The neighbourhood is a bit raw and rundown in places but it very much has a soul. Personally, I hope this area does not get gentrified but no doubt it will happen. The accommodation itself was first class with all mod-cons. The details and fixtures are second to none and you can tell it has been a real labour of love in transforming the property. After a hard day's sight-seeing and getting lost there was nothing like returning to the comfort of Saffron House. We hope to come and visit again in the future and get to know the area better. Some advice for first timers - you need to get your bearings and make yourself acquainted with the transportation system and the Istanbulkart. We used the one top up card for our family of three and it was very convenient to pre-load and then tap in out on the various integrated transports available bus, tram, ferry etc.

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

4/10 Poor

Anahita A.

Sep 2, 2017

The house was very cosy and nicely decorated but very far from everywhere.

Everything was nice in the house à part from the dining table at the kitchen with for broken chairs we had to repair them before using. The house was far from any attraction in Istanbul and also far from any public transport, so we had to take a taxi to go everywhere, but this wasn't the end of the story as no taxi driver knew the district and we always had to ask several ones to end up finding one that accept to take us, and at the end of the trip the driver was always very angry and asked for more money, due to narrow and step roads getting us to the house. Nonetheless we enjoyed spending time with my family at this house, so many shops around to make buying and preparing home made food convenient.

Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Amal K.

Aug 31, 2017

Very good

Very nice property

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Nadia B.

Jun 8, 2017

Magnifique séjour et des belles découvertes. J'ai hâte d'organiser ma prochaine visite 😃

Un cocon idéalement situé et décoré avec beaucoup de finesse et goût .les lits sont très confortables, et tout était a disposition pour notre confort. Ozkan était très chaleureux et serviable (Un grand merci) Malheureusement nous étions que pour 4 nuits, c'était un court séjour pour découvrir la ville mais nous avons pu visiter les grands monuments. C'était très facile de se déplacer et tout était a porté de main. Je suis tombée sous le charme de cette magnifique ville et je suis excitée à l'idée de marcher de nouveau dans ses belles ruelles et savourer leur café.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey R., Washington State, USA

May 26, 2017

A beautiful, comfortable, and authentic stay in Old Istanbul!

Our only lament is that our stay was so brief (only 2 nights) due to our own scheduling constraints. Peter and Ozkan were helpful in getting us settled and in suggesting good local restaurants and other venues. We highly recommend using the car service they suggest to get to/from the airport. The house was kept immaculately clean, and was very comfortable. The decor was beautiful and charming. There was a great blend of the original 19th century feel of the house with some retro flare as well, and modern fixtures in the kitchen and bathrooms. We hope to return to Istanbul someday and when we do we hope to stay here again.

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Shabbir M.

Jan 6, 2017

Fantastic

What a delightfully restored home in a very authentic part of town. Our host was most hospitable and met us at a slightly later than expected arrival after 11pm. Much thought and detail has gone into making this home cosy, well furnished and retaining the many original features. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. A metro station is a 15 min walk away but we also walked into the centre of Istanbul to savour the sights enroute. I highly recommend this for those wishing to see how the local community live in Istanbul. The locals were most welcoming and walking back at night was safe and secure. Try it for yourself if you want to savour the real Istanbul.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ronny L.

Nov 25, 2016

Ronny

If I could give this fantastic house 10 stars, I would. We are an older couple and it was our first trip to Istanbul. The Turquiose House was just beautiful, so comfortable, and fully equipped with everything necessary and more for a wonderful stay. The location was perfect and the neighborhood both very safe and picturesque. Very easy access to public transportation and walking distance to many local cafes, supermarkets, stores of all kinds, specialty shops and the Golden Horn. The house itself is beautifully decorated. Most importantly, esp. For us as first time visitors to Istanbul, were the owners Peter and Ozkan. They were so kind and helpful to us. Ozkan explained so much about the neighborhood, the transportation system, answered all of our questions, and provided us with excellent recommendations for sight seeing, dining, shopping and you name it. He was always available for questions and consultation. We felt as though he was family. We loved Istanbul so much and Turquoise House so much and Istanbul so much that we are planning a return trip in April. Looking forward to staying in Turquoise House and seeing Ozkan and Peter again. I strongly encourage everyone to visit Istanbul as there is so much to see and do. It is very clean and the food is just great. It is also very safe so have no concern about personal safety. We can't thank Peter and Ozkan enough for their "above and beyond" hoppitality. They also arraigned transportation for us to and from the airport from an excellent driver with a large van. We will never forget this trip😃😃😃. Can't wait to go back!!!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Deborah L.

Nov 1, 2016

A TURQUOISE GEM IN ISTANBUL

We had a lovely time in a very special place in Istanbul. To be among the locals and see the daily way of life was so interesting and enjoyable. The turquoise house has such a homely feel and the decor and furniture fitted beautifully, I think Peter is in the wrong job. Ozkan was great, he arranged transport to and from the airport for us and provided lots for information which was very helpful. Istanbul is wonderful, it was our first visit and we could easily have stayed for a month. The history and architecture is around every corner and is a real feast for the eyes and heart. We never felt unsafe in the neighborhood or in the centre itself. The people are so friendly, one elderly lady who lived opposite the house used to wave and blow me a kiss when we were having our morning coffee or tea on the balcony. The simit man came through the steets every morning calling out with his tray balanced on his head. We cannot wait to visit again. Thank you Ozkan and Peter. Deborah, Angela & Jim

Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Julia B.

Aug 31, 2016

Beautiful character house in heritage area

My family (me, my husband and 2 sons aged 19 & 16) all loved our week in the Turquoise House, which was the second week of our stay in Istanbul. The rooms were as they looked in the photos and we thought the house was so characterful - very tastefully restored and with lovely furniture. Having the 2 shower rooms was particularly useful for us, and we enjoyed the balcony on the top floor, with a lovely view. As Ozkan was going away the day we were arriving at the house, he arranged to meet us there the day before. We found him a charming host, and he gave us lots of very useful information. We really valued the information he provided about good things to see and do in the city and managed to do many of the recommended things - which we wouldn't have known about otherwise. Also we were very grateful for the airport transfer Ozkan arranged for us at the end of our stay. We very much enjoyed experiencing the Balat/Fener neighbourhood - especially wandering through the Wednesday market, which was amazing - and it was so interesting to see an area that was so different to where we had spent the first week of our holiday (near Sultanahmet). One of the most memorable experiences for all of us (recommended in the information provided) was having a cocktail in the rooftop bar of the Marmara Pera Hotel at sunset - an awesome setting! We also loved Princes' Island, the Bosphorus boat trip, and Ortakoy (especially the mosque). A previous reviewer has commented on feeling safe in the city, in spite of all the recent negative publicity about Turkey - and Istanbul especially - and I would like to back up this feeling: we felt entirely safe during our 2 weeks in the city and were very reassured by the security checks at all major tourist attractions and at the airport. The lack of western tourists was extremely noticeable - and although we obviously benefitted from this because of the total lack of any queues at tourist attractions - I do feel sorry for all the businesses that are suffering from the low numbers of tourists at the moment.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Amy H.

Aug 4, 2016

Stunning

Turquoise House was gorgeous, just like the pictures and as described in the advertising. It was clean, tidy and very comfortable with all the amenities that you need. My husband and I based ourselves there for one week while we explored Istanbul and Cappadocia. Ozkan was a wonderful host, arranging airport pick up for us and spending more than half an hour with us upon our arrival taking us through a map of the local sites and recommended eating places in Balat, public transport, suggested site seeing options in Istanbul etc. He gave us a public transport pass to use for the duration of our stay which was fantastic! My husband worked a few days from the apartment and found the internet quality to be exceptional for various business calls over skype etc. Balat is a quite, family oriented and friendly neighbourhood. The cobbled streets and diverse architecture are fascinating to explore. There are a whole host of trendy and traditional cafes, restaurants, vintage shops, local pottery etc within walking distance. Local buses are also nearby to take you to all the main landmarks, and many are a 25min walk away. I would recommend this apartment to any friends or family members and would encourage everyone to visit the amazing country that is Turkey!! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and hope to visit again soon. Thank you! :)

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Joan R.

Jun 9, 2016

Old Istanbul Stay

Staying at Peter and Ozkan's Old Istanbul House was great. The neighborhood was totally non touristic and interesting. Although there were plenty of hills the area felt very safe and was very walkable. The house was very much as pictured and well equipped. The view from the balcony was great. (The table could be a little more stable.) I would definitely suggest staying here to others.

Stayed 5 nights in May 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

SYLVAIN G.

May 25, 2016

Extraordinaire

Merci à Ozkan pour sa gentillesse, sensibilité et disponibilité.... Appartement extraordinaire, propre, décoré avec goût... Idéalement situé. Istambul nous sommes tombés sous le charme. Nous recommandons de visiter cette ville et surtout de loger dans ce logement .

Stayed 7 nights in May 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Eileen S.

May 22, 2016

A great house in a Real Istanbul neighborhood

This is my second stay with one of Peter and Ozkan's properties in the Fener Balat neighborhood. They are great hosts. Their information guide is what I have used both times for getting around and for the activities that I did while in Istanbul. This house was very comfortable for my husband and me but it easily could have housed more people (2 bedroom, 2 bath). It is way up on the hill which is great for working off all the wonderful food that we ate while in Istanbul. The neighborhood is full of little shops and restaurants and great street food (I love the Midye Dolma guy with his cart of mussels for 1 Turkish lira/mussel). It is easy to access all the sights of Istanbul either by walking or the bus. You must remember that you are in a real neighborhood with all the things that go on in neighborhoods but I really like that. I would recommend that you ask Peter and Ozkan to help arrange your transport to and from the airport since it makes your arrival and return much easier.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ria D.

Mar 4, 2016

Beautiful and comfortable house in old Istanbul!

Peter and Özkan responded quickly to our request, very convenient to let them arrange a transfer from the airport to the house. They had maps and information about both the local area and the city that was very useful and were ever so happy to answer our questions. The house is an old building that has been beautifully restored and decorated. The bedrooms were nice and comfortable. Easy to rest after busy days exploring the city. The bathrooms had nice showers. Perfect for longer stays since the house is equipped with both a dishwasher and a washingmachine! The area is an old residential part of Istanbul, we found it safe and quiet. A few minutes walk downhill and you had shops, cafés etc to explore. Going up and down the hills might help compensate for all the lovely food on offer. We enjoyed the beauty and comfort of the house, Peter and Özkans committment to their guests enjoying the stay. The friendly people, the food and of course the city itself. Looking forward to come back soon!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Feb 29, 2016

In a City of Hills, this is a Charming One

If it weren’t for my confreres, I’d have missed this gem – and my trip to Istanbul would not have been as rich. I needed help managing the stairs and hills in addition to the walking sticks I use– and there were some challenges. One without the benefit of friends to help figure out the least number of hills or how to work the transit/taksi dance (brains) or to carry anything other than me (brawn) might struggle here. But oh, I was so glad we’d chosen the Turquoise House for our Home Away From Home in Istanbul. It was fun to be in a real neighbourhood enjoying the rhythms of everyday: the sounds of children off to school, people going to work or to market. Up the hill, it’s an Islamic community. The conservative dress, regular call to prayer from the neighbourhood mosque, shops with dark clothes for sale and no alcohol for sale gives an authentic experience. We were lucky enough to be there for a Wednesday market – and enjoyed the ambiance and the tasty treats we brought home. (pickled vegetables, dried fruit, fresh veggies….) Down the hill is the former Jewish area. Today it’s more relaxed with wine shops, vintage and antique shops, 3rd generation cafes and places to shop and eat. Tuesday is the wonderful local market. Wandering through the shops at either end rendered some wonderful take-out that we enjoyed in the Turquoise House at the end of full days in more central parts of Istanbul. (easily accessed by transit once you go UP or DOWN the hills) Inside the Turquoise House is the best jewel of all – lovingly renovated and absolutely charming! We found a bedroom/bath on separate floors to be great for two couples (the ones with the brawn went to the third!) Oskan arranged transportation to and from the airport - a wonderful plus as the house is hard to find! A wonderful ambassador for Istanbul, Oskan’s lives in the neighbourhood and welcomed us warmly. In addition to his tips (before, upon arrival, anytime by email), the house has book, information and other visitors’ recommendations – as well as being a comfortable place to come home to in the midst of such a large and bustling city. If you’re fit and mobile, you’re in for a treat! It is worth noting that in these times when Turkey features allot in the international news, we felt very safe throughout our stay in Istanbul. In fact, we found the people to be friendly, helpful and grateful that we were there - eager to share their love of city.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Petra N.

Jan 14, 2016

Beautiful place in an authentic part of Istanbul

It all started with our daughter's 18th birthday... and her wish for a family trip to a special place (anywhere in Europe). After giving her various choices she picked this very unique turquoise house in Balat/Istanbul (as she had fallen in love with it's design and colors :-))... and we must say that she made a fantastic choice! The owners did an amazing job in renovating this place, combining old and new - and definitely putting a lot of love into every single room and details. We felt like coming to a friend's house and not your regular vacation rental - a place you feel at home right after you make it through the door. Furthermore we found everything to be very clean and well equipped upon our arrival. The neighborhood is truly unique - a mixture of restored places, houses under construction and places that have fallen apart over the past decades. It is very different from the tourist areas but this is what made it special to us... and we never once felt unsafe when walking the streets (also later at night). Thanks to the hand-drawn map (wow!) it was easy to find our way around. There are many small stores that provide you with everything you need, places to eat and a tiny simit bakery just around the corner... quite the way to start your day! We always walked to the all the tourist attractions, stopping for tea, fresh pomegranate juice and Turkish delight on the way - for us it is the way to experience a new place (and it only takes about 30 minutes from the house). On the return trips we mainly took a taxi which shouldn't cost you any more than TL15-20. Just make sure the cab has a company logo on the door and the taximeter is turned on :-) The owners Özkan & Peter are amazing hosts! Prior and also during our stay they promptly replied to any question we had. They had pre-arranged a pick-up service from and to the airport and provided us with many wonderful recommendations. Özkan was already waiting for us with a bottle of wine and some groceries when we arrived at the house - he also gave us a tour and very patiently answered all of our many questions. Thank you again for your warm welcome!!! Thank you both, Özkan & Peter, for a wonderful time in Istanbul! You truly made this trip and our daughter's 18th birthday celebration very special to us! With kind regards from Germany, Tom, Petra & Sarah

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Enette Berndt K.

Jul 28, 2015

Authentic Istanbul

Our stay at the Turquoise house was really great; we loved the location in Balat, an authentic area with a mixture of crumbling old houses, houses being renovated and stylish renovated houses. The streets are narrow and cobbled and the laundry is hanging from house to house and high in the air. We found it a very charming area to live in. The house had everything we needed for a great stay and Peter and Ozkan were very helpful. They also arranged transport for us from the airport on arrival and to the train station when we headed south. The house is just marvelous – great colour scheme and with attention to every little detail. We definitely recommend staying in the Turquoise House.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

patty l.

Jun 27, 2015

The real Istanbul

Our stay at the Turquoise house was wonderful! We loved the location in old Istanbul. The people, even though they did not speak English, were so friendly and helpful. The house had everything needed for a great stay and Peter and Ozkan were always just an email away. The Turkish Bath in the neighborhood was a true Turkish experience! And the chicken at the restaurant up the hill, just left of the Mosque was more than any of us could even eat. It was great. The only challenge was climbing the hill at night...but since we were not going to the Y for regular workouts, that was probably an advantage in the long run. And the air conditioning in the bedrooms was very welcome after long busy days. All in all, a great stay!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

May 31, 2015

STUNNING - absolutely fabulous

The place is as fantastic as the photos show! At one point I was wondering if this place was a scam as I thought: "It looks too good to be true" BUT reality it is even better than the photos!! We loved staying in the house and enjoyed the feeling of having a home away from home. Ozkan & Peter were GREAT hosts! We liked the neighbourhood and all the many everyday scenes: Laundry dangling high above the street; kids playing; adults meeting on the street corner; the simit-bakery and the friendly owner; the smiles; the steepness of the streets. We highly recommend the house and we'll definitely be back :)

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Nick C.

May 8, 2015

Amazing house in an amazing area.

We had an amazing time at Peter and Ozkan's house and were sorry our stay was so brief. Ozkan arranged for our airport transfer to the house and everything went smoothly. The house was lovely but also practical for us as a family of four. The local area was also a highlight of our trip. It is not touristy at all and everyone was very friendly. In amongst the very local shops we also found some lovely cafes and getting around the city from here was easy. We would love to come back to Istanbul again but only if we could stay here again.

Historical 3 storey house in Old Istanbul, recently restored, comfortable stay!

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