Few hotels in the world can match the Pera Palace in Istanbul for its history and grandeur. Opened for the first time in 1895 to accommodate passengers on the Orient Express, the hotel received guests such as Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey; Greta Garbo (who reportedly stayed for 21 days); and Agatha Christie, who is said to have written parts of “Murder on the Orient Express” in Room 411. With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the decline of the Orient Express, the hotel began to deteriorate and it was not until 2006 that it was closed for a 23 million Euro renovation. It has reopened this year to much excitement among people who love visiting Istanbul, which has become a very popular weekend/short break destination among Europeans.
To emphasize its historic connection to famous writers, movie stars, and heads of state, the Pera Palace offers guests the Agatha Christie room (No. 411), the Greta Garbo corner rooms, the Ernest Hemingway corner suites, and even the King Edward VIII and Franz Joseph Presidential Suites for those who have imperial ambitions. Room rates start at 250€ per night. A few rooms and suites have good views over the Golden Horn.
The hotel is located in the bustling Beyoglu district which is famous for its lively night life as well as its fantastic restaurants and cafes. I recently posted my favorite restaurants in Istanbul, some of which (Leb-i-Derya and Refik Meyhane) are very close to the Pera Palace:
Mapplr’s favorite restaurants in Istanbul
More favorite restaurants in Istanbul
I have also posted a list of favorite hotels in Istanbul and an Istanbul travel guide.
Pera Palace Hotel
Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:52
Tepebaşı Beyoğlu
34430 Istanbul, Turkey
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