Castellion Hotels Galata

If you're looking for a place to stay in Istanbul, I can wholeheartedly recommend Castillon Hotels Galata. We were absolutely thrilled with our stay. It's a new hotel with fresh renovations, spotlessly clean, and the staff were incredibly pleasant and attentive. It's located right next to the Galata Tower, so exploring the area was an absolute delight. And a special shout-out to the hotel's scent – I absolutely loved it. The room fragrance was so delightful that it still reminds me of this trip. Sometimes, it's these little details that truly make a place special.

The hotel itself is in a touristy area, literally a stone's throw from Galata Tower. However, this also has its drawbacks, as we had to go up and down a hill every day to get anywhere. There's a good grocery store nearby and plenty of cafes for breakfast. Our room was very nice and spacious, and it was cleaned daily. The downsides were that the air conditioning didn't work properly, you could hear everything happening in the hallway, and the hot water had a mind of its own – it was incredibly difficult to regulate. I also want to commend the staff for their responsiveness; a huge thank you to them for always trying to help and give advice.

I'd like to offer some advice for those booking rooms: always confirm if your room has a view. We were initially given a room with a view directly facing a wall, but the next day they changed us to a slightly smaller room, which at least had a city view. The staff are friendly and always ready to help. The hotel's location is superb, with easy access to public transport, though it's worth noting it's situated on a slope, like many places in Istanbul. We were so happy to see Istanbul, it's a beautiful and interesting city! Thank you.

Cozy, beautiful, and clean new hotel with a very convenient location. There's a grocery store just a 2-minute walk away. The staff are very polite, and there's a Russian-speaking guy at the front desk who can help with any questions you might have during your stay. The rooms are cleaned well, and they provide toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gels, slippers, and bathrobes – all very clean and tidy. We will definitely be back here again.

Overall, I liked the hotel, but only after a full stay. My first impression wasn't great: the window overlooked people working in their windows, you had to wait for hot water, the Wi-Fi was very poor, the room smelled of tobacco because someone was smoking in the stairwell, and the lights had to be turned off at the circuit breaker until the electrician's work week started. Plus, there was a lot of dust in the room. On the positive side, the staff was very friendly, and the location was convenient to the tower.

Cons: Hygiene: The hotel is advertised to open in 2026, but since it's still under renovation, there's dust in all the floor cracks. As soon as you enter, you're hit with the smell of new renovation formaldehyde, and it's even stronger in the room. With no screens on the windows, I could only air it out for a short hour. There was also a blood-like stain on the pillow that hadn't been cleaned (forgot to take a picture). Facilities: The elevator was out of service, so I had to take the stairs. Luckily, my floor wasn't too high. The air conditioning in the room wasn't working, and there was no fresh air ventilation system. The tissue box was empty. The security latch on the door was broken (it was already past midnight so I didn't bother calling the front desk, and just used the sofa to block the door). Pros: The bed was large with a comfortable firmness, and the shower had excellent hot water. Location: Excellent, very convenient for getting around. Decor: Very distinctive style, and the room wasn't too small.