The apartment is a one minute walk down the street from the Galata Tower. Therefore it is very busy in this area but there are therefore many coffee bars, restaurants etc.. We liked Federal Coffee 2 doors up. There is a Migros supermarket on the next street 2 mins away,
The Sishane tube station is a 5 min fairly flat walk away. Also you can walk in 10-15 mins very steeply downhill to Tophane tram stop or directly to Karakoy ferry or Tram stop. If coming back by tram and want to avoid a big uphill walk then get off at Karakoy tramstop then take the Tunnel funicular to about 5 mins above the apartment and walk down.
The apartment is in a block of about 9
- lift - many places don't have this which are really part of the Hotel Des Artes next door and their front desk do check in and are available to help on WhatsApp.
The entrance is not very pretty, a very old dirty door and then a fairly dark old lobby. It could be much improved. There is then a useful modern small lift.
The lift goes to floor 4 which is the lower apartment entrance. On this floor as you enter there is a good bathroom on left, washing machine in cupboard on right. Then into a very small kitchen living room with old knackered sofa bed that does not work and has dangourous broken metal if opened. From here into bedroom. The wardrobes do not fit well and doors do not really open much due to bed. Bed is good. Bedroom had cables for lights hanging out of the wall by bed. Kitchen poor, dishwasher is falling out and badly fitted.
In hall a dark, poorly done internal staircase up to main floor. There is a hole in the wall and a loose cable on the wall. When we arrive no light in dark staircase (was fixed).
You then enter main kitchen which has a larger sofa bed. Then into the sun room you see in photos. Kitchen is poorly equipped - nothing in the cupboards match and not enough plates, cups etc for 4 people when we arrived. Sofa in sun room hard. Sunroom has 3 blinds missing so if you use sofa bed no privacy and very light. There were lights that did not work and a small TV. Poorly lit at night.
From kitchen you go into main bedroom. Again wardrobes badly fitted and door catch. Bed being circular makes it smaller than it would have been. Sink did not drain well, toilet we had to have light bulb changed as could not see. Light in shower did not work when we arrived.
From kitchen main door back out of apartment and then up steps to roof. Also from sun room out to smaller private terrace but that is quite noisy.
The roof is wonderful as in pictures. It is SHARED which is not clear in listing. You can see to Bosphorus, Hagar Sofia and Blue Mosque. You are nearly as high as Galata tower which is in front of you.
Biggest problem for first day no hot water, they gave us an empty apartment to use, Even when worked showers go hot and cold often.
Overall the apartment is of poor quality and badly maintained, no effort is being made it feels. However they were very helpful on anything we raised on WhatsApp.
Pros:
- location including close to transport
- View
- Roof terrace
- lift - many places don't have this
Cons:
- poor quality and nothing fits
- poor maintenance
- price - very expensive based on interior - price is for roof /view and location
- it is 2 apartments
- roof terrace shared - not clear in listing
The listing and photos do not really give you a full understanding of this apartment so hopefully you can make an informed decision. There are probably many better apartments which are better value but not with better roof terrace or view. Do not book for more than 4 people