Time zone

GMT + 2 hours

Eastern Europe Time

Language spoken

Turkish. English is widely spoken as well.

Electrical system

Local voltage is 220 to 240 volts AC.

Shopping hours

Daily 9:00 am. to 6:00 pm.

Working hours

Monday to Saturday 9:00 am. To 6:00 pm.

Time and distance to city centre

The hotel locates at the centre of the old city. The centre of the modern city in Taksim is 10 minutes /5km / 3miles from the hotel.

Time and distance to shopping

. Grand Bazaar : 15 minutes walk

. Spice Bazaar : 20 minutes walk/2km/1mile

Time and distance to financial district

15 km / 9 miles / 20 minutes

THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF THE MAJOR MUSEUMS :

Hagia Sophia: 5 minutes walking distance from the hotel; open from 9:00 am to 17:00 CLOSED Monday

Topkapi Palace: 10 minutes walking distance from the hotel; open from 9:30 to 17:00 (Harem is open between 10:00 – 16:00) CLOSED Tuesday

Archaeological Museum: 10 minutes walking distance from the hotel; open from 9:30 to 16:30 CLOSED Monday

(The Museums of Ancient Orient and Çinili Kiosk in the courtyard of the Archaeological Museum operate according to the same schedule with the former one)

Basilica Cistern: 5 minutes walking distance from the hotel; open everyday from 9:00 to 17:00

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art : 10 minutes walking distance from the hotel; open from 10:00 am to 17:00 CLOSED Monday

Mosaic Museum : 5 minutes walking distance from the hotel; open from 9:00 am to 17:00 CLOSED Tuesday

Chora Church : 12km/ 7 miles from the hotel; open from 9:30 to 16:30 CLOSED Tuesday

Dolmabahçe Palace : 10km/6.5 miles from the hotel; open from 9:00 am to 16:00 CLOSED Monday and Thursday

MOSQUES are open everyday from 9:00 to 17:30

ATRACTIONS:

Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar: Open from 9:00 to 18:30 ; CLOSED Sunday

Boat to Bosphorus (Round trip on the way to the Black Sea): Everyday from the Station no:3 on the Harbour, 20 minutes walk from the hotel or 5 minutes by tram. Summer time 3 boats (10:35 am, 12:00 and 13:35) everyday. Winter time no boat at 12:00.

Boat to Prince Islands: Everyday and almost every 1.5 hours until midnight. The boat station on the right of the car ferry station. 15 minutes walk from the hotel.

Boat to Golden Horn: (Round trip boat) Everyday and almost every half hour. The boat station is on the left side of the Galata Bridge. It is 20 minutes walking distance (5 minutes by tram) from the hotel.

HOLIDAYS :

Victory Day August 30

Republic Day October 29

Ramadan Festival November 25-27

New Year’s day January 1

Sacrifice Festival January 31-February 4, 2004

Children Day April 23

Youth Day May 19

SEASONAL HIGHLIGHTS :

Istanbul International Film Festival April 10-25

Istanbul International Theatre Festival May

Istanbul International Music Festival June 5-July 3

Istanbul International Jazz Festival July 4-20

Istanbul Biennal September 20- November 16

AVERAGE TEMPRATURES