Hot Destination: Istanbul by Lucretia Stewart

The view of the historic district of Sultamahment from the water – the Bosphorus divides the European side form the Asian shore and the Golden Horn separates Eminönü, the Eastern half of Old Istanbul, from Beyoglu – never fails to move me.

For the visitor, Istanbul is a magical city, an Aladdin's cave of treasures. Some are almost too well-known to be mentioned: the great stone mass of Haghia Sophia; the serenely beautiful Blue Mosque; the Topkapi Palace with its fabulous collection of jewels and porcelain (immortalised in Eric Ambler's novel, The Light of Day, and later in the film, Topkapi, based on the book and starring Melina Mercouri and Peter Ustinov); the Süleymaniye, the masterpiece of Sinan, the chief architect of Süleyman the Magnificent, which is to Ottoman Istanbul what Haghia Sophia is to Byzantine Constantinople, and the Covered Bazaar are just the beginning. Others like the Basilica Cistern; the exquisite tiles of the Rustem Pasha Mosque; the Çemberlitas Hammam, the Turkish baths built to the designs of Sinan, and the Archaeological Museum, require a little more imaginative exploration.

Istanbul has always been attractively inexpensive (from the UK there are now cheap flights on EasyJet to the city’s Sabiha Gökçen airport on the Asian side). The official currency is the Turkish lira, which is constantly battling inflation (to our benefit). The city boasts a huge variety of hotels to choose from for all prices and tastes.

The charming boutique hotel Ibrahim Pasha is a converted 19th-century townhouse right in the heart of Sultanhamet near the Blue Mosque. In trendy Cihangir on the European side next to Beyoglu, with a reputation as the best boutique hotel in Istanbul, the Witt Istanbul Suites, favoured haunt of artists and photographers; you can eat well at the hotel’s fashionable Roka restaurant.

In Pera, the former diplomatic district, you are spoilt for choice. There is the delightful boutique hotel, the Tomtom Suites, just a stroll from the Blue Mosque. This has 24-hour room service and the delicious Bistro Restaurant.

The luxurious Sofa Hotel has everything you could possibly want including L’Occitane toiletries in the bathrooms, a Detox and Wellness Centre, at 800 square metres the largest in the city centre, and two restaurants, the casual Café Sofa and the smart Longtable favoured by Istanbul ladies-who-lunch.

At the Misafir Suites in Beyoglu, guests are offered a welcome cocktail and snacks in their new bar '8-Istanbul', the new hot spot in town.

In the fashionable Nasantasi district (where Nobel prize-winner Orhan Pamuk grew up), is the super-cool Italian-designed Bentley Hotel which has views of the Bosphorus. This elegant boutique hotel is popular with business people.

And, finally, Sumahan on the Water on the Asian side may not be the most convenient, but its attractions far outweigh any disadvantages. This exquisite boutique hotel has wonderful views of the Istanbul skyline, a fabulous restaurant and offers peace and tranquillity (not always readily accessible in Istanbul). There are regular transfers to the European side in its private launch so there’s no need to feel cut off.