This is a great place to stay if you're visiting Istanbul. The apartment has all the amenities you might like for a longer stay (washer, stove top, iron, etc). Some of these are rare in Istanbul's apartments, so it's a nice bonus. Ayda is wonderful, period.

We would recommend this apartment more for travelers who are willing to spend some time figuring out Istanbul's public transit system. While Besiktas (where this apartment is) has a lot to offer, part of its charm is that it's not in the middle of the most popular areas.

To be clear, this was a *positive* for us. We enjoyed experiencing the city as locals do, learning the buses and subway system. And it's *much* cheaper than taking cabs everywhere.

For reference, there are direct buses from Ayda's bus stop to Taksim Square (and it takes about 15 minutes). That's a very manageable transit option.

It's unlikely anyone would be displeased with this Airbnb. We had our best rests here, in the quiet of Ayda's safe neighborhood. We're glad we saved this part of our trip for the last, because it was rejuvenating to be there before our long flight back home.