Enchantment in Istanbul: A Stay at Curio Hagia Sofia

Our 5-day visit to Curio Hagia Sofia was a blissful experience. Visiting Istanbul for the first time was absolutely magical， and we hope to return when the weather is sunnier. Location 5* For newcomers to Istanbul， this location is ideal. Situated in the heart of Sultanahmet， just behind the Hagia Sofia， you can hear the call to prayer throughout the day—an experience we loved. Major sites like Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque were just minutes away. We also enjoyed leisurely walks in Gulhane Park. There are countless delightful restaurants nearby， and the concierge's suggestions were outstanding. In Istanbul， the metro is incredibly convenient for getting around. We took the tram and the bus， both of which accept contactless credit card payments. A single trip costs £0.88. The traffic in Istanbul is overwhelming. Being from London， we were surprised. We arrived at SAW airport and took a pre-booked car to the hotel (about £40)， which took around 1 hr 45 mins due to traffic. Had we not had so much luggage， public transportation might have been quicker. Room 5* Despite initial hiccups (no hot water and malfunctioning blinds) that the efficient maintenance team quickly resolved， we loved our room. We booked a King Superior Room in Lavender， which was spacious， with ample storage and very peaceful. The bed was perhaps the comfiest I've experienced at a hotel. We were offered an upgrade for €80 per night at check-in but were content with our beautiful room. The bathrooms feature a Turkish bath-style sink. Water pressure was excellent， and the entire hotel smelled amazing. They provided all amenities: robes， slippers， a safe， tea， coffee， a mini bar， water， iron， and ironing board. Nothing was too much trouble. After a snowfall， a call to reception brought umbrellas promptly. Hotel 4* The hotel comprises 17 mansions with two receptions and garden bars， and it’s beautiful. They transport guests on golf buggies and are always smiling and ready to assist. During a blizzard， we flagged down a buggy at 11 pm that cheerfully returned us to our room. We give it 4 stars because some amenities we booked were closed. The indoor spa was unavailable 4 out of 5 days. There's a gym and sauna/steam room， complimentary， but the spa bath is €25 per person each visit. We were disappointed not to use it but enjoyed the hammam they suggested. Because the hotel spans several streets， the gym is a bit of a walk， which may not suit everyone and isn't ideal during a snowstorm. One downside is the lack of an indoor bar. The Sarnic restaurant bar shown online isn't open to all unless you have a reservation. On many evenings， we wanted to enjoy a cocktail at the hotel， but the weather prevented us from doing so in the garden bars. Visiting during warmer months would make this perfect. A favorite aspect was the hotel cats， especially Osmen， a lovely ginger cat lounging on an orange sofa. Hotel staff 5* The staff is outstanding. Welcoming， professional， helpful， and sincere， every interaction was delightful. Many thanks to the concierge team for organizing wonderful activities， and to the housekeeper for the amazing daily arrangements that made us smile. Thank you. Istanbul is a city of wonders and kind people. I highly recommend this hotel for first-time visitors; it’s simply perfect. We will certainly be back someday soon.

Post by _TI***2h | Aug 21, 2025