InterContinental Istanbul Reviews

The rooms were a little dated (vintage might be a better way to describe them), but everything else was excellent, and the staff were to a large extent attending. The view from Safran, the rooftop restaurant, was stunning, and I was surprised it wasn’t more crowded.

The hotel's location and service were excellent, but the facilities are very old and could use a renovation.

I'm blacklisting this hotel for life. It's hard to believe this is a five-star hotel! Absolutely avoid, avoid, avoid! 1. First off, the location is incredibly inconvenient for getting around, unless you plan to take taxis everywhere. But then the surrounding traffic jams will make you question your life choices. 2. This hotel is so old. Aside from the opulent public areas in the lobby, the room facilities are very dated, especially the bathroom. The faucets are old with insufficient water pressure, and there's serious limescale in the tile grout. The outlets are loose, and there are no outlets by the bedside. 3. The housekeeping at this hotel is beyond terrible. There were bloodstains inside the duvet, hair on an unused sink, and the bathrobe hanger was covered in coffee stains. 4. What's most infuriating is the hotel's arrogant service attitude! Firstly, I had left my earphones during a previous leg of my trip and arranged for them to be sent to this hotel. This hotel doesn't have WhatsApp, and I received no reply to my emails. Later, I called to ask if they could sign for it on my behalf. It's fine if you can't sign for it, but directly hanging up on me before I even finished speaking is incredibly rude. Who would have thought the front desk staff could be so awful? First, during check-in, their English accents were very heavy, and we sometimes needed them to repeat themselves. Plus, when we asked a few questions, it was clear they were already annoyed. So we just gave up and went upstairs to check in. Later, realizing how poor the hygiene and facilities were, we went to the front desk again the next day to request a room change. This time, there was a different front desk person, who initially had a polite smile. I said we wanted to change rooms because the showerhead was broken and it wasn't clean. He interrupted us (they really love interrupting people), saying, 'Okay, I can move you to the room next door.' We said thank you, but we still needed to explain the situation because we felt they should take it seriously. When we showed him photo after photo, he clearly became a bit angry, as if men there aren't allowed to be questioned by women (we were two women). Anyway, he basically implied he would change our room, but there was absolutely no sense that he took their hotel's problems seriously! Since we were going out sightseeing, we told the front desk that we would pack our luggage and asked them to prepare the room next door and move our suitcases over. The front desk said okay. When we finished packing and were leaving, we even went back to remind them again about moving the luggage. He guaranteed he would move it for us!!! And then it got even more bizarre. When we returned to the hotel in the afternoon, we went to the front desk to get a new key card! This time, it was a different front desk staff member. I said we wanted to move to the room next door. He actually questioned us, asking, 'The room next door has the exact same view, why do you want to change rooms?' I really wanted to yell. It just showed that they hadn't communicated at all and had no regard for the hygiene issues. He told us to go up to the old room first, saying someone would come to bring the new room key. When we got to the room, we were speechless – our suitcases were still there, untouched. So, all the guarantees from the front desk earlier had not been followed through. When the staff member who brought the key arrived, we asked him why our luggage hadn't been moved. He said, 'Your room is right next door,' implying 'Do you really need me to move this for you?' We were really angry and told him that their front desk had promised to help us change rooms and move our luggage. This staff member said, 'Okay, okay, if you need help, I can move it for you.' His tone implied he didn't think they had done anything wrong. I'm truly speechless. There's discrimination against Asians and women! The vast majority of staff are male, with fake smiles and an inherently superior, unquestionable attitude. We were treated unfairly. We observed their attitude towards people from other countries, especially men, which was very courteous and patient. Of all the hotels I've stayed at in Turkey, this so-called 'established five-star hotel' is the worst. 👎 Objectively, the sea view and breakfast are good, but I will absolutely never choose this hotel again, and I advise everyone to avoid it.

This is a superb hotel. We were given a room on the 18th floor with a wonderful view, partially overlooking the Bosphorus. The room was well-equipped with everything we needed: bathrobes, an ironing board and iron, a capsule coffee machine, and convenient refillable dispensers for shampoo, shower gel, conditioner, and lotion. Housekeeping cleaned every day, but at random times. We received one liter of water per person, and more was available at breakfast. Water was also provided in the sauna, or you could simply ask for it. The breakfasts were excellent. They offered red fish, blue cheese, a variety of freshly squeezed juices, fruits, and poached eggs. For the first time in Turkey, I found delicious cold cuts and a system for ordering omelets without waiting in line – a waiter would bring it to you, along with drinks. There were also yogurts, muesli, and pastries. The hotel has an excellent pool with comfortable sun loungers featuring thick mattresses and pillows. Staff would lay out towels and bring umbrellas. Nearby, there was a sauna and a hammam. There's a bar, but the prices are quite steep. The location is also excellent. There are plenty of places to eat around, a metro station, and bus stops. The Havaist airport shuttle stops across the street, and Taksim Square is nearby. I loved absolutely everything about this hotel. If I'm ever in Istanbul again, I will definitely return.

I always stay at this hotel whenever I visit. It's convenient and clean. I've stayed here multiple times and will definitely come back again.

The InterContinental Istanbul truly lives up to its name. Its location is unbeatable, right next to Taksim Square. What really blew me away was the room view—you can see both the European and Asian continents, with the Bosphorus Strait sprawling out before you. The staff are incredibly warm and responsible; they'd greet me every time I returned to the hotel, which was a lovely touch. Breakfast was plentiful and delicious, even incorporating local specialties. Although the rooms are a bit older, they're very well-maintained, clean, and comfortable. All in all, with its unparalleled views, convenient location, and excellent service, it's definitely worth recommending despite being slightly dated.

Great location, Room is spacious but bathroom amenities are a bit old especially the hair dryer. It should be changed. Electric sockets are also need to change

This hotel offers great value for money, considering its location, views, and facilities.

Excellent location services , breakfast Stayed 4 nights were smooth Room Decoration is a bit outdated but it seems a theme for intercontinental chain , View from higher flood are amazing

We had a room with a Bosphorus view, and it was beautiful. The location is very convenient. The rooms are spacious. The only downside is that bathrobes and dental kits aren't provided by default; you have to request them. I've long forgotten about needing to do this at five-star hotels of this type. I also wish there was more variety at breakfast. The offered menu is quite limited.

Excellent! The environment is great, and the location is good too. The hotel staff were very polite. It was a really good experience, and I'll definitely choose InterContinental again next time. Everything was excellent, apart from the facilities being a bit old.

The location is fantastic! It's very close to Istiklal Street, the square, and the seaside, all within walking distance – just a left turn for one and a right turn for the other. This is an older five-star hotel, and even abroad, it maintains a consistent, high standard. The lobby decor is grand and spacious. I especially recommend the hotel breakfast 🍳, particularly the breakfast area with its independent open-air courtyard. While the selection isn't vast, the quality and taste are excellent. Compared to eating out in a similar setting, the breakfast here offers incredible value for money! The room amenities are a bit dated, but it's still relatively clean and tidy. You can slightly open the window, and the room itself is quite spacious. Overall, I highly recommend it; I stayed for 5 nights straight. The top-floor restaurant and bar offers great views and is worth trying out – it's a popular spot for Instagram photos too!

Clean, comfortable, cozy, polite staff, and a wonderful view from the window (10th floor).

The hotel has a great environment and service, but the facilities are a bit old.