The Osman Han Hotel is a three-pearl, seven-room property in the oldest part of Istanbul. Opened in 2007 by a couple who own a rug shop, the affordable property has an intimate, guest-house vibe and traditional decor. Rooms are small with old-fashioned furnishings, kettles, and mini-fridges. A free breakfast is served on the hotel's rooftop, which features spectacular views of the city and the Sea of Marmara, and it feels a bit like staying in a private home. For a more modern property with a sunny atrium, visitors could try Hotel Alilass.

This small mid-range hotel with the intimate feeling of a bed-and-breakfast offers 11 good-sized, charmingly traditional rooms on an unmemorable street that's walking distance to Sultanahmet's popular sights. The amenities and facilities are limited (there's no full restaurant, for example, just a free breakfast), though this is also true at many similar hotels in the area. Guests frequently rave about the friendly, personalized service as something that sets the Muyan Suites apart. It’s a bit cheaper than the comparable Hotel Amira, but lacks that hotel’s roof terrace.

A low-key, mid-range property, the World Heritage Hotel Istanbul is located in Sultanahmet Square, within walking distance of top tourist attractions. Its 20 rooms have pleasant, elegant decor, free minibars, and beds routinely described by guests as "very comfortable" -- but bathrooms are tiny and can feel cramped. The hotel serves a free breakfast, including its highly touted omelets, in a rooftop dining room or terrace with views of the city. This family-run property has an intimate aura that's more like a guesthouse than a hotel. Free tea and coffee is offered upon arrival and an array of free cakes and cookies is available in the afternoons. But it's worth comparison shopping as there are many similar properties in the area, such as The Constantine Hotel, which some travelers may find more stylish.

This no-frills 21-room hotel in an unprepossessing part of Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district attracts families, couples, and other international and domestic travelers on a budget. Some of the rooms are small, some have off-kilter shapes, and most get minimal natural light, but they are clean, not over-decorated, and contain the basic amenities expected by budget travelers. Guests generally give the Basileus high marks for the convenience of its location, and for the friendliness and helpfulness of the brothers and their staff who run the hotel. The only slightly pricier Muyan Suites has a more upmarket feel, while the slightly cheaper Berce Hotel is a touch more basic.

Agora Guesthouse is a budget-friendly hostel/hotel hybrid with sweeping rooftop terrace views of the Bosphorus and the Asiatic side of Istanbul. The property has 19 simple and practical rooms -- both private and dormitory-style -- that have either private en-suite bathrooms or shared ones. Decor is a bit dated, however, and basement rooms have little natural light. A free breakfast includes pastries, six varieties of olives, and pickled vegetables, and is served on the rooftop. Free coffee and tea, Wi-Fi, and use of a laptop computer are also offered here. Guests routinely report that the Agora is a tidy property with a warm atmosphere. Another budget option with a more up-to-date, boutique look is the Yazar Hotel.

The charming Karakoy Port Hotel is a mid-range property located near the cruise port, which makes it a popular choice with pre- and post-cruise guests. There’s a terrace with breathtaking Bosphorus views where guests can enjoy the free Turkish breakfast buffet. Rooms feature lovely, classic decor in soft shades, though it might not suit everyone's tastes, and have sleek, modern bathrooms (but some showers are small). Though the hotel is located outside of the more touristy area of Istanbul, it's still within walking distance of Galata Tower and Istiklal Avenue.Travelers wanting to be nearer to Sultanahmet should compare rates with Best Point Hotel, a mid-range option within a short walk of the Blue Mosque. 

Set in a traditional 19th-century wooden house, the upper-middle-range Esans Hotel has eight comfortable guest rooms, each named after a perfume, and they're equipped with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, and electric kettles. A generous breakfast buffet is served each morning in the rooftop breakfast room, which offers panoramic city views. Wi-Fi is free in all areas of the hotel, and international calls to some countries are free. Notable downsides include the cramped showers in the bathrooms and the lack of an elevator. Travelers may also want to consider nearby Basileus Hotel, which offers rooms with larger bathrooms, though rates can be higher.

True to its name, the value Best Point Hotel has an optimal location in the historic old quarter of Istanbul, within walking and viewing distance of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Classic Ottoman furniture in the 21 rooms, suites, and apartments can sometimes border on kitschy, but all rooms have minibars and free Wi-Fi, and several have private terraces and traditional Turkish baths. Like most boutique properties in the area, there’s no pool or gym on-site, and amenities focus mostly on free food and beverages: afternoon tea and evening appetizers in the courtyard, and an impressive hot breakfast buffet on the rooftop terrace. The property’s location can’t be beat, but for better features and more elegant decor, the Orient Express Hotel is a nearby alternative. 

The cozy Garden House Hotel is a 24-room property with homey decor that makes guests feel as if they're staying at a personal residence. Part boutique hotel, part bed-and-breakfast, the mid-range property features a warm lobby that opens into a spacious courtyard with cafe tables and lounge spots. There's an on-site restaurant with a lunch and dinner menu, and the hotel offers a free daily buffet breakfast and free snacks in the afternoon. Rooms have character -- wood floors and patterned accent rugs -- though entry-level ones can feel a little bland. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles, and free Wi-Fi. The location in historic Sultanahmet is ideal for tourists, and most attractions are in walking distance. As an alternative, the adjoining sister property, Rose Garden Suites, shares common spaces with this property but features larger, more luxurious suites. 

Berce Hotel is a charming budget property in a convenient location near the sea and a short walk to the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar. The boutique hotel’s seven rooms are clean and homey, equipped with free Wi-Fi, minibars, and tea/coffee facilities. A free breakfast with a variety of tasty homemade dishes is served in a top-floor breakfast room with sea views, and there’s a lovely outdoor terrace for eating or enjoying a glass of wine. There are many similar properties in the area, such as the Hotel Sari Konak, and travelers should compare rates.

Nowy Efendi Hotel is an upper-middle-range boutique hotel with charming outdoor spaces and lovely, sophisticated interiors. Its 28 guest rooms are trendy and equipped with plenty of amenities like flat-screen TVs, minibars, and kettles. With a free breakfast, free afternoon tea, and a terrace cafe, guests have a few dining options, however, there’s little else in the way of amenities -- the hotel lacks a pool, gym, or full-service restaurant. Yet its central location makes it easy to reach most of Istanbul’s top attractions, making it a popular choice among tourists wishing to sightsee. Innova Sultanahmet Istanbul is a good alternative with the added benefits of a spa, gym, and full-service restaurant.  

The three-and-a-half-pearl Villa Pera Suite Hotel is a charming boutique property with budget-friendly rates, housed in two early 20th-century buildings. It's located on a quiet side street in Istanbul’s bustling New City (Taksim), close to public transportation. The nine guest rooms feature simple, elegant decor, and all have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and slippers, but they lack kettles. Some suites have kitchenettes and retractable skylights. Guests rave about the free buffet breakfast, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Travelers with limited mobility should note that there are no elevators in the buildings. Those looking for more amenities can consider the luxury Marmara Taksim Hotel on Taksim Square.

The Hayriye Hanim Konagi (HHK) hotel is a charming, affordable, three-and-a-half pearl hotel in an 1850 Ottoman abode that was renovated in 2011, located by the water in Istanbul's historic Sirkeci district. The hotel is in the old Ottoman part of town and is surrounded by ancient buildings and steep roads. The hotel has 21 rooms spread over three floors, each decorated in a romantic, ornate style. On the roof, there's an outdoor pool, and the traditional Turkish hammam is especially popular. The restaurant serves a free Turkish breakfast each morning, and traditional meals throughout the day. Guests return again and again for the affordable rates, romantic decor (even the economy room has an atmospheric chandelier), and panoramic views from the rooftop.

This intimate three-pearl hotel in the historic Sultanahmet district is within walking distance of many top-rated tourist attractions. Tucked away in a tranquil lane, it occupies a converted Ottoman house built in the late 1800's and derives its name from the property's pretty courtyard garden. Inside, the 15 spacious rooms tend to be decorated in a lavish style (some might say too lavish), with dark-wood furniture, rich fabrics and luxe marble bathrooms with modern comforts. A breakfast buffet (spread out in the on-site Turkish restaurant) is included in the rate, as is afternoon tea (served in the lobby area) and free-Wi-Fi (offered hotel-wide). But there's no elevator and few other features. Since many mid-range alternatives exist in this neighborhood -- such as Sari Konak and the Esans Hotel, that are also converted houses -- it pays to comparison shop.

Once a private Ottoman manor home, the Tashkonak Hotel in the Old City of Istanbul is a refurbished, 19th-century property with 33 rooms and a rooftop cafe overlooking the Sea of Marmara. The three-pearl hotel opened in 1999 and offers an Old-World experience, with traditional decor, tea served each afternoon, and a free breakfast buffet on the rooftop terrace. However, there are no elevators, and some may find the decor a bit fussy. Guest rooms are spacious, particularly by Istanbul standards, but units at the sister property -- the Tashkonak Studio Suites -- are markedly larger.