The And Hotel Istanbul Review: Hagia Sophia Views

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A Hotel Right in the Heart of Istanbul's Historic Old Town

The And Hotel

(The And Hotel)

Today, another exciting travel log begins from your favorite global explorer, Haeri! 🌏

We booked a 5-night, 6-day semi-packaged tour of Turkey,

and since the meeting point was at Sirkeci Station,

we needed to find a hotel in the Old Town (Sultanahmet) near the station.

It had to have a great Hagia Sophia/Blue Mosque view,

be within easy walking distance of all the main Old Town sights,

and offer easy access to public transit for getting to the New Town.

That's how we ended up booking

“The And Hotel”

📌 Why We Chose This Hotel 📌

• Major Old Town attractions are right outside the door

• Super convenient location for public transportation

• Rooms with stunning Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque views

• Reasonable rates in the ~$64/night range

Location & Basic Info

📍 Location

Located right in the heart of Istanbul's historic Old Town tourism district

🕝 Check-in 3:00 PM / Check-out 12:00 PM

🏨 Room Type & Price

Deluxe City View / 3 Nights (2 People) / ~$254

📌 Quick Tip

The breakfast buffet includes kaymak (Turkish clotted cream), so we highly recommend it!

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Booking the Hotel

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I usually book through Agoda or Trip.com

to find the best deals,

so I'd recommend comparing both before you book!

🔻 Agoda Discount Booking Link 🔻

🔻 Trip.com Discount Booking Link 🔻

Hotel Exterior & Interior

Arriving at the hotel after our airport pickup!

The driver must have called ahead, because as soon as we got out of the shuttle,

the bellhop came straight over to help with our bags.

Since he carried everything all the way to our room,

I tipped him $1 (since I had US dollars on hand)!

Generally, a tip of about 20 to 50 Lira

is considered customary.

Located right in front of the major Old Town landmark, Hagia Sophia,

tucked away in a charming side alley, was our home for the next few days.

“The And Hotel”

The interior of the hotel definitely showed its age,

but you could tell it was very well-maintained and clean!

Most of the places we stayed in Turkey

had insanely tiny elevators. 🥹

(And the older hotels have even smaller ones..!)

It was one of those old-school elevators where you have to close the door yourself after getting in!

A vintage elevator system.

It was such a unique and nostalgic experience that it actually made riding it quite fun! 🤣

Room Condition

It wasn't particularly spacious,

but it had everything we needed, so it was quite comfortable!

Though, once we unpacked our two large suitcases,

the room did feel a bit tight! 😅

There was also a wardrobe, slippers, and a safe.

Equipped with water, coffee, tea bags, and an electric kettle,

you can start your morning with a warm cup of Turkey's beloved black tea.

The bathroom and shower were a decent size, so no complaints there!

You can definitely feel the age of the building,

but it was very well-maintained and clean.

Shampoo, body wash, and soap

were provided as amenities!

And now, what I was most excited for...

⭐️ The Grand Reveal: The Room View! ⭐️

The view of the Hagia Sophia right in front of us was absolutely breathtaking!!

When night falls, right above the Hagia Sophia,

“Lailahe illallah”

meaning “There is no god but Allah,”

lights up beautifully. It was so mesmerizing that I couldn't stop taking pictures!

The only downside? The daily

dawn call to prayer (which starts before sunrise)

forces you into an involuntary "Miracle Morning"! 🤣

The Hagia Sophia view is just as gorgeous during the day 💗

I can't believe we got to enjoy this view just lying in bed!!!

Seriously the absolute best 🥹

And looking to the right, a bit further away,

you can also catch a glimpse of the Blue Mosque!

Hagia Sophia on the left,

and the Blue Mosque on the right—truly the ultimate view 💗

Just staring out the window was pure, healing bliss!

🔗 The And Hotel Discount Booking Link

Breakfast

I thought breakfast was served on the rooftop,

but sadly, it looks like they've moved breakfast

to the 1st-floor lobby 😭

When I asked, "Aren't we having breakfast on the rooftop?"

they told me that the rooftop is currently being operated

as a restaurant for lunch and dinner only.

But even so, the breakfast quality was amazing!!!

📌 Highly recommend adding breakfast!

First Breakfast

Instead of a buffet, once you take a seat,

the staff serves breakfast directly to your table.

The moment it arrived, I was absolutely amazed

by how beautifully it was presented!

It was a classic Turkish breakfast featuring various breads and an assortment of cheeses,

along with a colorful spread of

delicious sauces, fresh fruits, and vegetables!

Best of all, this was the only hotel we stayed at in Turkey

that served authentic kaymak (clotted cream) 💛

For eggs, you can choose between scrambled eggs or an omelet,

and they will cook it fresh for you on the spot.

It also comes with a side of french fries,

making it an incredibly hearty and filling meal.

For drinks, you can choose between black tea or coffee.

Since I'm not a big coffee drinker,

I was happy to enjoy a warm cup of Turkish tea!

Our Second Breakfast

On our second day, the spread was quite similar,

but we were treated to slightly different sauces and fruits,

along with some added ham!

These breakfasts kept us fully energized for both days of our trip 💛

With no major downsides, from the stunning views to the delicious food,

this hotel was highly satisfying!

It might not have the vibe of a brand-new, ultra-luxury hotel, but

✔ For those who prioritize a location right in the "heart of Old Town sightseeing"

✔ For those looking for the perfect balance of budget-friendliness, prime location, and essential amenities

I highly recommend

“The And Hotel”

And that wraps up my review!

📌Discount Booking Link for The And Hotel📌

✅ Pros

• Major Old Town attractions are literally right at your doorstep

• Extremely convenient location for using public transportation

• Rooms with stunning views of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque

• Reasonable price range at around ~$64 per night

✅ Cons

• The building is somewhat dated and shows some signs of age

• The early morning call to prayer can be quite loud

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