1. Apartment:
The apartment itself is spacious and receives plenty of sunshine, as described. The five flights of stairs can be challenging, especially for the elderly, but the view on the balcony looking into the Bosphorus is indeed worth the effort. One can watch the sunrise in the early mornings, which we enjoyed the most.
2. Apartment building:
The apartment building is located steps away from the Galata Tower, a main tourist attraction. One actually has an up-close view of the tower from within the apartment. The historical İstiklal street, now a well-visited pedestrianized shopping street, is also near the building.
The Sultanahmet district with the majority of attractions in İstanbul, e.g. the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Topkapı Palace, however, is not as close. They are several stops away via a tram, and the nearest tram station is about 10 minutes away on foot (on hilly streets). While still convenient to access, one needs to make multiple trips to Sultanahmet as it is hard to see everything in one day.
3. Hosts:
Quentin and Delara are very attentive and considerate hosts. Quentin gave us a warm welcome at the check-in, made us a map to help navigate the neighborhoods, and helped us find events happening on Turkish national day. Delara helped arrange our transportation from and to the airport, introduced us to a local delivery app, and even generously invited us to stay at their place on the Princes' Islands. We were traveling with an 18-month-old, and they were thoughtful enough to prepare baby sheets and pillows for the crib, as well as arranging extra cleaning halfway through our stay. They also remained available via phone for questions throughout our stay.
4. Overall:
We enjoyed our stay in the apartment and appreciated the hospitality and attentiveness of our hosts. If it fits your budget, we highly recommend the place.