Gallery Apartments,
Besiktas, Istanbul

The Gallery Apartments are located in the prestigious Nisantasi district, a vibrant and affluent neighbourhood full of stylish bars, local and international restaurants, and high-end shops.

There are open-plan studios and 1 bed apartments available; all are air-conditioned. Fully equipped kitchens include a range of modern appliances, bathrooms have both baths and showers, and the comfortable living areas include TVs with Satellite TV channels and a DVD player. Each apartment also features a work area with a direct dial telephone, fax machine and complimentary broadband.

Guests will also enjoy several additional amenities and hotel style services such as the free on-site wellness centre with gym, sauna and Jacuzzi, 24 hour reception and concierge services, meeting room with presentation facilities, laundry and dry-cleaning services, and a daily complimentary buffet breakfast.

NB. Some additional services are available on request and charged separately on site.

See all serviced apartments Istanbul has available

Istanbul is Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus (the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea), Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe both literally and figuratively. Istanbul's population is variously estimated between 11 and 17 million people, making it also one of the largest cities in Europe.

Founded by Constantine the Great in 324 (hence its old name of Constantinople) on the site of ancient Byzantium (going back to 650 BC), Istanbul was the capital, successively, of the Eastern Roman Empire (324-476), the Byzantine Empire (476-1453) and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922). This heritage, as well as its dynamic modern existence, makes Istanbul a fantastic destination for many travellers.

Most of Istanbul's sights are concentrated in the old city on the peninsula of Sultanahmet, to the west of the Bosphorus between the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea. Across the Horn to the north are Galata, Beyoglu and Taksim, the heart of modern Istanbul.

The Grand Bazaar has an estimated 4400 shops lined along covered walkways. It is said to be the world's oldest shopping mall, covers several blocks and features a labrynth of side streets to keep you lost for the better part of a day. The shops are organized around their wares, e.g. a jeweller's quarter, the carpets quarter, and the shoe shops of the Grand Bazaar. Parts of the Bazaar are now rather touristy and you're likely to pay a little more for your purchases than elsewhere, but it has a vast selection and is one of Istanbul's character pieces.

Planes arrive at Istanbul Ataturk Airport 20km west of the city centre. Taxis to the city cost about USD 20; note that most foreigners prefer not to drive themselves on the city's manic streets and highways. An express bus service runs half-hourly, and there is a metro to Aksaray and a tram on to Kabatas, which also passes through Sultanahmet.