Bw Empire Palace, IstanbulBw Empire Palace in Istanbul, Turkey has a corrected score of 3.5 ± 0.3 (fair evidence, 3 of 4 platforms), ranked 109 of 245 hotels we score in Istanbul. Its platform ratings, normalised to 0-5, average 3.6 before correction: Booking.com 3.9, Tripadvisor 4.1, Google 2.8. Rooms from about $176 a night (cached, not a live quote).Bw Empire Palace is a four-star hotel situated on the edge of the Sultanahmet district in Istanbul's Old City Center. It sits within walking distance of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar. The property contains 35 non-smoking guest rooms featuring air conditioning and in-room Wi-Fi. Facilities include a gym, a business centre, and a spa offering massage services and a Turkish hammam. On-site dining is available via the restaurant and room service. While the hotel underwent renovation in 2015, the rooms are not brand new. It suits travellers who want to explore historic landmarks on foot.What stands out

Close to major historic sites

On-site spa and hammam

Includes fitness facilities

Available parking

Watch out for

Rooms are not brand new

Better-scored in Istanbul

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Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet Lvx, Istanbul: 4.3 ± 0.2 (fair evidence, 3 of 4 platforms), from $416 a night. Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet Lvx is a five-star property situated in the historic Sultanahmet district.

Royan Hagia Sophia Radisson Ind, Istanbul: 4.3 ± 0.2 (solid evidence, 4 of 4 platforms), from $241 a night. Royan Hagia Sophia Radisson Ind is a four-star boutique hotel situated in the Sultanahmet district.