A former capital city of two empires, Istanbul is also the final stage of the famous Silk Route. Today it’s a many-accented, colourful and vibrant city definitely worth a visit – for business or pleasure.
Whether you are looking to stay in the heart of Istanbul, in an upmarket place near the business district near Bogazici University, here at Situ, we have you covered.
Our beautiful, stylish, modern luxury apartments in Istanbul are in high-demand and are dotted across perfect locations in the capital. Due to our diverse range, we can offer one-bedroom short stay apartments in Istanbul for a lone traveller or somewhere to sleep a family or crowd of friends/colleagues numbering up to seven individuals. We will always find an impressive selection of serviced apartments and rooms to choose from, which are all available to book online today.
In addition to contemporary décor, including smart TV and fast broadband, the serviced apartments in Istanbul are equipped with kitchen appliances, have a concierge service available and often impressive restaurants nearby. Certainly, all of our upmarket properties are very conveniently located in the heart of the city too, within walking distance of the metro or buses.
A meeting place of East and West, Istanbul straddles two continents – Europe and Asia, with the Bosphorus Strait in between. Formerly known as Constantinople, Istanbul today is home to 15 million people, surrounded by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.
Turkey’s economy has been strong for the past decade. Its strength and obliging aspects for many different industries and sectors naturally create a vast number of business opportunities in Istanbul. Even the global pandemic hasn’t put too much of a dent into it, with the next decade expecting a ‘bounce back’. For instance, the Turkish lira is doing better than any other global currency right now – having gained more than 6% against the dollar.
Tourism is a huge sector in Istanbul, but the city also has a strong manufacturing base. The majority of its major companies are in Petroleum, Steel, the motor trade and in the Domestic Appliances field. Textiles and exports are also doing well in Istanbul, especially in the Basın Ekspres area. On the whole, registering a business in Istanbul – and Turkey in general – is relatively quick and easy. It involves form filling but can be completed within a lunch hour, officials say. Whatever your intentions for business in the Turkish capital, either extended or short stay apartments in Istanbul can ensure your business stay is fulfilling.
A vibrant, colourful and fascinating city with a melting pot of many different cultures, Istanbul is around 2500 years old. Its age and history are very much in evidence in its array of stunning mosques and palaces. There is the iconic Hagia Sofia with its gold mosaics and many towers, the Topkapi Palace, enchanting Blue Mosque, and the cavernous Basilica Cistern to name but a few. Visitors are impressed to find these ancient and beautiful buildings as much part of everyday life in this bustling walled city as the upmarket restaurants and designer stores.
Shopping in Istanbul is centred around the Grand Bazaar and the Tahtakale Shopping precinct. The former is the world’s largest bazaar, measuring 30,000 square metres and in the latter, you’ll find the wonderful Spice Bazaar. Most neighbourhoods in the city also have their own open-air weekend food markets.
A special delight of Istanbul is a relaxing spa and beauty treatment in the Mosque Hamam – or many of the other Hamams dotted around the city. Three particular neighbourhoods in Istanbul are well worth a visit. These are Balat, Karakoy and Kadıkoy. Balat is the old Jewish Quarter with plenty of colourful houses, cafes and restaurants.
Karaköy is a seaside area full of pop up stores and good bars at night. Kadıkoy is on the Asian side and is famous for its food market. The Kadıkoy-Moda waterside park provides excellent views of Istanbul and is perfect for a picnic. All in all, whether you are living in Istanbul as an expat or a tourist, Situ has serviced apartments in Istanbul near many of the wide-ranging attractions and sightseeing spots, meaning guests can see much of the city whenever they wish.
There are two international airports – the new Istanbul International Airport (all flights from Ataturk Airport have now transferred here) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. Istanbul Airport is just over 25 miles north of the city centre. Havaİst airport buses will take you to Otogar. These run every 15 minutes and take up to one hour.
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is around 28 miles from the city centre. Shuttle HavaBus also run every 5-30 minutes here. They arrive at Istanbul Ulasim M2 train station in Taksim and central turkey, taking around one hour 40 minutes.
Istanbul (Sirkeci) Garı on the Golden Horn, and Haydarpaşa Garı on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus are the two historic train stations of Istanbul. Trains for Turkish State Railways (TCDD, DDY) alight and depart here. High-speed trains run to most Turkish cities and locations across Europe.
There is also a Metro system in Istanbul with three lines, one of which goes directly to Istanbul Airport. Anyone can book stays in luxury apartments in Istanbul near the metro, railway and public transportation facilities to ensure simple everyday transport to and from work.
There are three Intercity bus terminals in Istanbul. Büyük Otogar is the main one and sits six miles northwest of Sultanahmet Square at Esenler on the western side of the Bosphorus.
Marmaray Commuter Rail is the famous tunnel that runs underneath the Bosphorous, connecting one side of Istanbul with the other. There are also two tram lines in Istanbul. The Kabatas Bagcılar tram takes you from the tourist district at Sultanahmet Square and Otogar bus terminal.