Hotel Empress Zoe

Hotels
9.1 (1466 reviews)
Cankurtaran Mahallesi Akbiyik Caddesi No 10 Sultanahmet , Istanbul , tr

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Children allowed

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Terrace
Family rooms
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
Safety deposit box
Fax/photocopying
Tour desk
Ironing service
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great Location
Friendly Staff
Quirky Charm
Cons:
Narrow Staircase
Small Room Size

Categories

Cleanliness
8.43
Some reviews mention small room issues but overall cleanliness is implied as good.
Service
9.9
Staff were consistently noted as friendly and accommodating across reviews.
Location
9.94
Multiple mentions of perfect location near major attractions indicate high satisfaction.
Room Quality
8.39
Rooms described as charming but some comments about size limitations.
Amenities
8.92
Amenities not extensively detailed, but positive mentions of the indoor garden and breakfast.
Value for Money
9.38
Reviews emphasize good value for quality received.
Food and Beverage
8.43
Breakfast is appreciated but specific preferences vary.
Overall Experience
9.4
Overall positive experiences, as indicated by repeat visitors.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-12 16:30

Property Description

Charming Hotel Empress Zoe in Istanbul

Convenient Location: Situated just 400 meters from Hagia Sophia, with other major attractions like the Blue Mosque and Column of Constantine nearby.

Comfortable Amenities: Enjoy a private bathroom with complimentary toiletries and a hair dryer, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Start your day right with a delicious continental breakfast served each morning.

Personalized Service: Benefit from non-stop assistance at the reception, where multilingual staff are ready to help. Don't miss the chance to relax on the hotel's terrace overlooking the city.

Experience the charm of Istanbul at Hotel Empress Zoe. Book now for an unforgettable stay!

Important information:

Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 5 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 15 years old stay for € 10 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.1
Based on 1466 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.43
Service: 9.9
Location: 9.94
Room Quality: 8.39
Amenities: 8.92
Value for Money: 9.38
Food and Beverage: 8.43
Overall Experience: 9.4
M
Madelein • couple • ie
9
Lovely location and amazing breakfast
Pros:

The hotel is so close to all the old city attractions like Hagia Sofia and Topkapi palace. The Turkish breakfast every morning was amazing. Such variety and something new to try everyday along with delicious fruit, breads, olives and cheese. The room was comfortable and drinking water is available in the breakfast area.

Cons:

There are a lot of stairs in the property, but we knew this beforehand.

2026-03-28 • via Nuitee
L
Lam • solo_traveller • gb
9
Fascinating
Pros:

The hotel is in a fantastic location, very close to major tourist attractions. The room is arranged and decorated in a distinctly Turkish style. The bed is clean, and the bathroom is well-equipped with toiletries. In addition, the breakfast here is excellent, offering a wide variety of dishes and fresh fruits for dessert. I will definitely book this hotel again if I return to Istanbul.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-03-27 • via Nuitee
L
Lorna • couple • gb
8
Pros:

Brilliant location, helpful staff, quirky rooms

2026-03-26 • via Nuitee
A
ANINDYA • couple • de
9
Pros:

location,breakfast,the staff.

Cons:

the size of the bed, noise from the nearby pub,

2026-03-25 • via Nuitee
D
Dominika • extended_group • pl
10
Piękny obiekt w centrum
Pros:

lokalizacja, czystość, przemiła obsługa, piękny historyczny obiekt, dobre śniadania :)

Cons:

Jednym minusem tego miejsca jest brak windy, więc jesli ktoś ma problemy z poruszaniem się, nie powinien wybierać tego miejsca.
Osobiscie nie postrzegam tego jako wadę i nie wpływa to na moją ocenę :)

2026-03-24 • via Nuitee
M
Madeleine • couple • gb
10
For ambience and character in a lovely neighborhood, choose the Empress Zoe hotel!
Pros:

Loved the hotel, the atmosphere, the ambience, the superb breakfast, the area! I also liked seeing the three cats around the place!

Cons:

I wasn't warned our room would be on the fourth floor and I'm no spring chicken but I managed just five and the reward was our beautiful little balcony.

2026-03-24 • via Nuitee
G
Gill • couple • gb
10
We would book this hotel again were we to be back in Istanbul
Pros:

The hotel is quirky and charming and very well located with a lovely garden. Excellent and professional service and nice breakfast. We had a late flight and our luggage was stored for us through the day which meant that we could enjoy ourselves without worrying.

2026-03-24 • via Nuitee
A
Aksel • couple • us
10
Breakfast excellent, staff friendly and helpful, room small but quaint and clean, great location
2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
N
Nikolaos • extended_group • gb
9
Many thanks to everyone at the Empress Zoe Hotel for their warm hospitality and kindness!
2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
A
Anca • couple • gb
7
Great location, great service, great breakfast!
Pros:

The staff were helpful and the service was great!
The breakfast amazing! So many options: pastries, fresh veg & fruit, cheeses, olives, eggs and many other tasty food.
Location could not be better.
We were upgraded without asking because a better room became available.
The roof is lovely with beautiful views of the city.

Cons:

There was a stuffy smell in the rooms, probably because the building and pipe system is old.
The heating system had some issues and we didn’t have hot water but we were given another room immediately and moved back to our original room when the heating was fixed. They were apologetic and it wasn’t a huge inconvenience.

There are many cats which sneak into the breakfast room (not appreciated by some customers), but staff tried their best to remove the cats from the eating area but that was not always possible.

2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
W
Willeke Simone • couple • nl
10
2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
R
RFvH • couple • be
9
Pros:

Best hotel in Istanbul for individual travelers.
Friendliest and helpful staff.

Cons:

Most of the time, internet was not working in our room.

2026-03-21 • via Nuitee
K
Kristopher Paul Calwell • solo_traveller • ca
9
2026-03-21 • via Nuitee
M
Mohammad Afdal • couple • id
9
A brilliant boutique hotel, converted from an old hamam near the Topkapi Palace.
Pros:

A brilliant boutique hotel, converted from an old hamam.
Location near the Topkapi Palace

Cons:

The layout was a bit awkward

2026-03-19 • via Nuitee
A
Adrian • couple • ro
10
Welcoming staff, nice rooms and perfect location.
Pros:

The staff was incredible, very welcoming and helpful.

Cons:

Can't think of anything.

2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
O
Oleg • solo_traveller • us
6
2026-03-15 • via Nuitee
G
Gabriella • couple • pt
10
2026-03-15 • via Nuitee
S
Sophie • couple • fr
8
On a adore!!
Pros:

Le personnel,le deco,l'emplacement,le charme

Cons:

Isolation phonique interieure

2026-03-13 • via Nuitee
R
Rebecca • couple • gb
10
Pros:

Breakfast was exceptional

2026-03-13 • via Nuitee
P
Peter • family_with_children • us
10
2026-03-12 • via Nuitee