The Turkoman is a small, friendly guesthouse in a very, very grand location in the heart of historic Sultanahmet district, overlooking the Hippodrome. Across the square is the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii). Next door is the İbrahim Pasha Sarayı, home of the newly reopened Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art.

The building was restored in 1989 to a 20–room hotel. The rooms are on the small side and furnished simply and unpretentiously with hand-made carpets and antique-style furniture. Its advantages include affordability and a fabulous rooftop terrace view (with breakfast), but it is really ideal for those who want to see the Old City’s major sights early in the morning. Ayasofya, the Topkapı, the Archaeological Museum and the Grand Bazaar are all in easy walking distance.

The Turkoman will also arrange the usual things: sight-seeing tours, hamam and restaurant reservations, Turkish dance nights, sufi music concerts, Bosphorus dinner cruises, Turkish cookery classes… Good people to know.

A member of the Cornucopia Hotels Collection, hotels hand-picked by Cornucopia in partnership with the Blue Guides and booking.com. Book now through booking-com