The Sultanahmet Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul is a must-see, with unbeatable views from the Presidential Suite

Our tour of Turkey's various historical sites has come to an end, and we're back in Istanbul for a few days to enjoy the hotel! The second hotel we stayed at was the Sultanahmet Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul's old town, with three balconies offering different stunning views, especially the main balcony of the bedroom where you can see both the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, it's just amazing! Istanbul, straddling the Eurasian continent, has a long history of civilization and wide natural scenery. The Bosphorus Strait, sandwiched between the land, has always been one of the favorite waterways for domestic and foreign tourists! On the surging blue sea, there are three bridges connecting Europe and Asia, and countless romantic legends of civilization intertwining. This has attracted many luxury hotel brands to settle on the edge of the city, facing the spectacular strait scenery and historical style on both sides. The second hotel we stayed at was the Sultanahmet Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul's old town, transformed from a former prison. In the 2023 list of the world's 100 most loved hotels, hotels from 30 countries/regions on five continents each have their own characteristics. Readers rate them based on room facilities, location, service, food, and value, and finally announce that the Sultanahmet Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul deserves to be the NO.1! The Sultanahmet Four Seasons Hotel, located in the Sultanahmet district, is just a few steps away from the square and close to the local landmark Topkapi Palace. Although it is the old town, it is praised by many people as the 'most beautiful place in the old town', with many historical sites, classical architecture and various characteristic cultural palaces everywhere, domed churches, spire towers and the nearby strait natural scenery add a romantic scenery. This Four Seasons Hotel is located here, quiet in the bustling city center, the gate and the wall are very low-key, but inside is a different world. The three-story goose yellow building forms a closed courtyard with the guard tower, which is very rare in Turkey, but it's not surprising to know its origin. This was the first prison established after the Ottoman Empire - Sultanahmet Prison, designed by the famous architect Mimar Kemaleddin Bey at the time, and was later used as a military prison until the end of the 20th century... After being acquired by the Four Seasons Hotel Group and transformed for several years, in 1999, it finally reappeared. The former prison was transformed into a luxury hotel, its unique 'origin' and experience make it unique, and many of the former 'prison features' are preserved in the hotel. The watchtower used to monitor prisoners still stands there, but it has been transformed into an elevator, and it is said that in certain specific places in the watchtower, you can still see the list of prisoners and confessions carved on the wall. Therefore, staying in it, it seems that you can still feel the wonderful experience of 'living in prison'.