Here is a hidden gem near Sultanahmet Square, where chariot races were once held in an ancient Roman hippodrome. With its 23 rooms and suites spread across several houses surrounding a picturesque garden decorated with archaeological artefacts, it truly offers an oasis in the heart of the city. The hotel's authentic style is highlighted by the use of wood and stone, luxurious Turkish fabrics, marble baths and showers, and captivating murals. The rooftop terraces provide sweeping views of the Marmara Sea, as well as the majestic domes, towers, and minarets of the Old City.
TIME OUT TIP: Empress Zoe was one of the four women in the Byzantine Empire to rule in her own name, and has also been depicted in a famous mosaic made of pieces of gold and glass in the Hagia Sophia nearby —the largest Christian temple of the Byzantine times.