Highly recommended!

I sadly returned to the UK yesterday after a 6 day trip to Istanbul with two girlfriends.

We had an amazing holiday and would definitely return to stay at Firat's apartment if we went back to the city. Firat was very friendly and helpful - he came to meet us at a nearby tram stop to direct us to the apartment and even left fresh fruits and vegetables for us in the fridge!

The area was perfect - a short tram ride into the centre of town (for the major sights), not too touristy and surrounded by quirky shops, cafes, bars and restaurants open all hours. The flat is tucked away from the hustle and bustle down a quiet street and we felt safe, even when walking home at 3am.

We enjoyed sunbathing and picnicking on the roof terrace, the free wifi was useful for streaming digital radio and the shower was hot with good water pressure. The kitchen wasn't equipped for gourmet cooking but perfectly functional for our requirements.

We would definitely recommend purchasing and topping up a travel card ('Istanbulkart') upon arrival - this is the same as the Oyster card system in London, allowing you to access to all of the city's many transport systems even more cheaply than buying single fares.

We were totally charmed by the apartment, the Galata area and the Turkish people.

Enjoy your stay!