When people arrive in Istanbul, they have one most important question on their mind, where should they stay if they come to Istanbul. Through general knowledge and prominence of areas, two of the most popular areas in Istanbul are Sultanahmet and Beyoglu.
Sultanahmet and Beyoglu are the neighboring areas in Istanbul, which is divided into three parts. These two areas are connected by the Golden Horn (Halic) which is a river valley connecting the Bosphorus and Marmara sea area. This area, which forms a historical harbor, is one of the most prominent places in Istanbul as it serves up as a main departure point for the ferries either heading to Bosphorus or heading to the Asian side.
The Golden Horn (Halic) actually separates the old cities of Istanbul which includes Sultanahmet, Fatih and Eminönü from the modern cities of Istanbul which includes Taksim, Besiktas, Sisli etc. And there are 2 bridges which cross Golden Horn (Halic) – Ataturk bridge or the Unkapani bridge and Galata bridge. In fact Galata bridge offers the shortest path to the two different regions of Sultanahmet and Beyoglu and hence it is of commercial importance. On the lower deck will one will find ringside seats with cheap cafes alongside which offer views to the boats which come and go and on the upper one, will one find an eternal line of the fisher folks along with the sight of bustling activity of Golden Horn.
Sultanahmet
When it comes to Sultanahmet, it offers proximity to major sightseeing spots which includes Hagia Sophia, blue mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, grand bazaar etc. They are all within walking distances and really classy hotels and accommodations are present at this place. Whereas on the flipside this area turns dark and dead after night and the streets turn absolutely empty which becomes a little scary if you come from work late at night
Beyoglu
Beyoglu also has some prominent places, but not in numbers like Sultanahmet. This place has Dolmabahce Palace, Galata area, Istiklal Caddesi, etc. This area is full of cozy neighbourhoods and wide array of restaurants and does contain many young working class people. This place not only has nightlife, infact it lives it. In fact Beyoglu is open for 24 hours a day & 7 days a week. In this area, the hotels are scare and the accommodations are available in plenty. If one prefers quietness, this area kind of lacks it.
Thus these are the two areas where good property in Istanbul is available and one can think of staying at, if one goes there for work purposes. Also, there is no dearth of local help available if one needs to scout for properties in Istanbul.