Istanbul Sirkeci Hotel in Istanbul

Three of us arrived at the hotel. The staff welcomed us kindly; we handed over our documents, and they gave us the room card. However, as soon as we entered the room, we were overcome with disgust. The smell was awful, the room was falling apart, and everything looked like a complete disaster.

We might have been able to overlook that and stay, but the hygiene was absolutely unacceptable. The sheets and pillowcases hadn’t been changed in a long time and had visible stains. The mirror was covered in fingerprints, the floor was visibly dirty, and in the bathroom, used towels ,stains of blood on the floor. When I opened the closet, we found cockroaches inside.

They offered us another room, but it was just as filthy. It looked like someone had just checked out, with a glass of water still sitting next to the bed. In the end, they told us they couldn’t refund our money. It was, without a doubt, the worst experience ever. At 9 p.m., we found ourselves wandering around Istanbul, searching for a new hotel.

These are just a few pictures, I didn't take too many because it was so disgusting.

I don’t even know where to start. This place is tiny, cramped, and reeks of… something I can’t even put a name to. The smell hits you the moment you step inside, and it doesn’t go away. The room is so small you can barely move without bumping into the furniture, and the bed looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in years. The bathroom let’s just say I didn’t want to touch anything. The staff seemed disinterested and unhelpful, like they’d rather be anywhere else. Honestly, I’d rather sleep on the street than stay here again. Avoid at all costs.

1- Location:
The location is fantastic. The hotel is within walking distance of major attractions like the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Egyptian Bazaar, the Bosphorus, Galata, and Galata Port—definitely a plus.

2- Hotel Facility and Room Size:
Do not trust the booking page's description of the "standard room." The listing claims there’s a desk and seating area, which is untrue. There isn’t even enough room for luggage, and the bathroom is so cramped you can't move in the shower or store personal toiletries. My room was tiny, and when I asked about it, the front desk promised a larger room the next morning. While they did offer a bigger room, they charged me an extra 100 euros. As a loyal booking.com customer, why should I pay more just for basic space to move around? The room’s design was also problematic—wardrobe doors couldn’t open fully because the nightstand was in the way. This issue lies with booking.com for allowing false information, though the hotel shouldn't have charged me for the upgrade.

3- Toiletries:
The room did not include proper toiletries. All they provided was a hand soap and a broken shampoo dispenser—no body wash or other basics.

4- Iron Facility:
There was no iron or ironing board, and even if there were, there’s no space to use them in the standard room. See point 2 about room size.

5- WiFi:
WiFi was reliable and fast, no complaints here.

6- Breakfast:
The breakfast was just okay, but the cleanliness was lacking. Often, cups and plates were not cleaned properly, and they frequently ran out of dishes. When I asked about this, they blamed it on the chef being absent. Also, there were no juices available, and if you go around 9:30, the coffee and tea are cold even though breakfast is until 10 am.

7- Minibar:
The booking page claimed there was a minibar, but all they had was an electric kettle with two cups and instant coffee—definitely not a minibar.

8- Flat Screen TV:
Yes, they had a small flat-screen TV, but it never worked.

9- Power Outlets:
There weren't enough power outlets. There was only one near the bed and another either in the bathroom or by the door.

10- Room Cleanliness:
If I could, I'd rate cleanliness below zero. The bathrooms in both rooms I stayed in were filthy. Don’t trust the photos on booking.com—they're clearly staged. Towels were dirty, and common areas were a mess. Cats were frequently walking on the breakfast tables, even stealing food. I don’t mind animals, but I doubt anyone wants to eat where stray cats roam freely.

I’ve tried to give a fair review. Kamal at the front desk was kind, and I appreciate his efforts, but my frustration stems from the extra charges and the misrepresentation of the hotel. If you value space and cleanliness, I’d recommend looking elsewhere.

The employees were nice and helpful towards us although it was very hard to communicate with them since most don't speak English. The location is great but that's about it. It felt like one bad move and the whole room would come down and collapse on me. Very tiny room, ripped wallpaper, fridge and tv not working, barely any space to put and open your luggage. There's a corner in the room with curtain covering it which makes no sense what its purpose is. I once opened my room door and the whole frame came down on me lol what a mess. The room is so tiny that in order to open the door you need to each time move the bed so you can get in or go out. Part of the door is even glued on to stay attached, chipped bathroom sink and they glued the broken piece back to it. You can even hear the people next door showering, talking or playing music in their room. No elevator to the first floor. The elevator is so small that barely 2 people can fit in no more than that and it makes lots of noises. Breakfast was alright. There's a lounge area downstairs by the reception which was nice. Owner is kind and the guys really did their best. Overall for me never again and wouldn't recommend unless you are on a very strict budget and have no other choice.

Hotel is absolutely pathetic!!
Rooms are filthy and tiny, holes in the walls and curtains are dirty, furniture is falling apart., staff dont care. keep referring us to a manger who is never at the hotel

the hotel owner owns 3hotels and just shift their customer from one place to another without agteement. and the room quality is not even the conversation. but wow lmthe water drop from bathroom ceiling is coming down like this. can't believe I paid money for this experience. this hotel owner have to have run the business ethically. the hotel staff is like deal with it or shut up. wow. just amazed