Cappadocia, Turkey
Sacred House
An adults-only boutique hotel in an old Greek mansion in Ürgüp: themed rooms and the underground “Inferno” spa.
Historic mansions
Photos: Canerol86, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); Mister No, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0); Cataloged by Masum Yıldız for SALT Research, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); Yusuf Esen, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Istanbul, Turkey
Pera Palace Hotel
An 1895 hotel built for Orient Express passengers in the Pera district — the oldest European-style hotel in Turkey.
Pera Palace opened in 1895 to host passengers of the Orient Express. The building was designed by Alexander Vallaury — architect of the Ottoman Bank and the Imperial Museum — in a mix of neoclassical, Art Nouveau and oriental styles.
It was the first building in the Ottoman Empire apart from the sultans' palaces to have electricity, and the only hotel in the city with hot water. It was restored in 2006–2010.
History
Construction began in 1892 and the grand opening ball took place in 1895. In 1941 the hotel was damaged by a bomb brought in luggage from Sofia.
Views from the rooms
Upper-floor rooms look onto the Golden Horn and the old city.
Who it suits
For fans of Agatha Christie-style stories and early-20th-century interiors.
What to see nearby
- İstiklal Avenue and Taksim Square.
- Galata Tower.
Location
Meşrutiyet Cd. No:52, 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey
Open in Yandex MapsChecked by our editors: 28 October 2026.
Sources:
Wikipedia (EN); Wikipedia (RU); Official website; photos — Wikimedia Commons (free licences, authors credited under the photos)
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