Side HotelvsThe Kybele Hotel
Both properties are recommended by expert writers. On balance, Side Hotel and Pension scores marginally better than Kybele Hotel. Side Hotel and Pension ranks #38 in Istanbul with approval from 4 reviewers including Lonely Planet, DK Eyewitness and Frommer's.
Side Hotel
Utangac Sok. No 20, Istanbul 34400, Turkey
From $108/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Free Internet
- Free Breakfast
- Smoking Rooms
- Air Conditioning
- Breakfast included
Rough Guide
"Owned by three charismatic brothers, this place is bright, spacious and friendly and resists the pressure to go all modern or faux-Ottoman."
Lonely Planet
"A sprawling place that has a long-standing reputation for cheap, clean and comfortable accommodation, the Side has overpriced hotel rooms with TV, air-con and en suite."
DK Eyewitness
"This family run establishment combines a pension for budget-conscious guests and also a ritzier hotel. Pension prices are cheaper and facilities are fewer, with no air conditioning in rooms."
Frommer's
"This place has been offering good-value, spotlessly clean, well-managed accommodation in the heart of the old city since 1989." Full review
The Telegraph
8.0
"Superbly located within a few minutes' walk of the old city's top sights, the Side is understandably the budget travellers' accommodation of choice in central Istanbul." Full review
U.S. News & World Report
94.0
"Travelers looking for somewhere to stay in Istanbul on a budget can't go wrong with the Side Hotel and Pension." Full review
The Kybele Hotel
Alemdar Mah. Yerebatan Cad. No:35 Sultanahmet, Fatih, Istanbul 34410, Turkey
From $33/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Free Internet
- Free Breakfast
- Shuttle Bus
- Laundry Service
- Concierge
Rough Guide
"Atmospheric, unusual... The spacious rooms sport marbled wallpaper and old wood flooring."
Fodor's
"This charming little inn is best known for the incredible profusion of antique lamps—4,000 at last count—that hang from the ceilings in the ornate, parlor-like lobby." Full review
Insight Guides
"Famous for its thousands of hanging glass lamps that even infiltrate the bedrooms, the Kybele, created out of a pair of townhouses, is a splash of colour both inside and out."
Lonely Planet
"The location near Aya Sofya is central, and the rooms, which feature cute marble bathrooms, are smallish but comfortable." Full review
Travel + Leisure
"Sitting partly over Istanbul’s famous Basilica Cistern, the hotel is in easy walking distance from most major landmarks." Full review
DK Eyewitness
"This tiny, multi-storied hotel is located in the heart of the tourist area. The antiques and craft items of every description create a homely and friendly atmosphere."