Location. The contemporary Istanbul Hilton hotel overlooks the waters of the Bosphorus strait in the Harbiye district of Istanbul, Turkey. The opulent Dolmabahce Palace, built by the Ottomans in the 19th century, is within one kilometre. The Military Museum is one kilometre, and the Grand Bazaar is five kilometres away. Hagia Sofia is six kilometres from the hotel. Hotel Features. The large, 12-storey Istanbul Hilton hotel is surrounded by 15 acres of gardens and has complimentary parking for guests.

The hotel has four restaurants. Bosphorus Terrace is a casual buffet restaurant with Bosphorus views. It serves Turkish and international dishes, and features a la carte choices and themed evenings. Cantonese and Sichuan specialities are on offer for dinner in Dragon Restaurant, with Chinese decor including red wooden screens. The hotel's Roof Bar and Restaurant welcomes families for Turkish and Mediterranean fare with 12th-floor Bosphorus views. Extending from the lobby, Veranda Bar and Grill has a waterfront terrace with drinks and meals on the menu, including special kebab and seafood nights. There is a pool bar.

The hotel has a business centre, meeting rooms and Internet access in public areas (surcharge).

The grounds feature a large outdoor pool with cabanas and children's pool. There is a gym, kilometre-long jogging path, squash and tennis courts. The hairdresser offers beauty treatments (surcharge) and there is a Turkish bath.

Guestrooms. The 498 air-conditioned guestrooms all have balconies overlooking the Bosphorus or the city. All contemporary rooms have dial-up Internet connections, minibars, safes and satellite television.

Expert Tip. The Dolmabahce Palace is home to the world's largest Bohemian crystal chandelier, weighing four-and-a-half tons.

Room Types:

Twin Hilton Guestroom Plus:   Two twin beds. 40 square metres. Contemporary decor in cool tones. Balcony with views of the garden or Bosphorus. Separate work area with Internet connection. Air conditioning, satellite television, safe and minibar. Marble bathroom with telephone, hair dryer, and complimentary toiletries.

King Hilton Executive Deluxe:   One king bed. 40 square metres. Contemporary decor in cool tones. Balcony with views of the garden or Bosphorus. Separate work area with Internet connection. Air conditioning, satellite television, safe, coffee and tea facilities, and minibar. Marble bathroom with telephone, hair dryer, and complimentary toiletries. Access to the Club Room, including private check-in/check-out and complimentary snacks and drinks all day.

King Hilton Deluxe:   One king bed. 59 square metres. Balcony with views of the garden or Bosphorus. Contemporary decor in cool tones. Separate working and sitting areas. Air conditioning, satellite television, Internet connection and minibar. Marble bathroom with telephone, hair dryer and complimentary toiletries.

King Hilton Executive Room:   One king bed. 40 square metres. Contemporary decor in cool tones. Balcony with views of the garden or Bosphorus. Separate work area with Internet connection. Air conditioning, satellite television, safe, coffee and tea facilities, and minibar. Marble bathroom with telephone, hair dryer, and complimentary toiletries. Access to the Club Room, including private check-in/check-out and complimentary snacks and drinks all day.

King Hilton Guestroom:   One king bed. Balcony with views of the Bosphorus or the city. Separate work area with Internet connection. Air conditioning, satellite television, safe and minibar. Marble bathroom with telephone, hair dryer, and complimentary toiletries.

Twin Hilton Executive:   Two twin beds. 40 square metres. Contemporary decor in cool tones. Balcony with views of the garden or Bosphorus. Separate work area with Internet connection. Air conditioning, satellite television, safe, coffee and tea facilities, and minibar. Marble bathroom with telephone, hair dryer, and complimentary toiletries. Access to the Club Room, including private check-in/check-out and complimentary snacks and drinks all day.

King Hilton Guestroom Plus:   One king bed. 40 square metres. Contemporary decor in cool tones. Balcony with views of the garden or Bosphorus. Separate work area with Internet connection. Air conditioning, satellite television, safe and minibar. Marble bathroom with telephone, hair dryer, and complimentary toiletries.

Twin Hilton Guestroom:   Two twin beds. 40 square metres. Contemporary decor in cool tones. Balcony with views of the garden or Bosphorus. Separate work area with Internet connection. Air conditioning, satellite television, safe and minibar. Marble bathroom with telephone, hair dryer, and complimentary toiletries.

Driving Directions: From Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): Distance to the Istanbul Hilton hotel is 24 kilometres, approximately 24 minutes' drive.

Getting there. Both airport terminals are connected to the metro system, which runs to the city centre. Single tickets cost about 1 TRY. The Havas Airport bus departs every 30 minutes for the main bus terminal and Taksim Square, in central Istanbul. Journey time is about 30 minutes. Bus number 96 runs between the airport and the city centre, and a shuttle bus runs to the port. Taxis wait outside Arrivals; fixed prices are in place and the fare to the city centre should be about 20 TRY-30 TRY. At night, there is a 50 percent surcharge. Prices are all subject to change.

Getting around. The Istanbul Hilton is on Cumhuriyet Caddesi in the Harbiye district. Istanbul's extensive public transport system includes buses, metros (underground trains), trains, trams, sea buses, and ferries. Tickets can be purchased from main stops, stations, or kiosks prior to boarding. Istanbul's yellow taxis are reasonably priced, but travellers should ensure the meter is used. A cheaper alternative is to use a 'dolmus' (minibus or shared taxi). Driving is not advised for visitors, though there is free parking at the hotel.