Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul
The palace was built between 1863 and 1867, when the Ottoman sultans had the habit of building their own palaces instead of using the previous generation's palaces. Ciragan Palace is the last attempt of this tradition.
The palace was destroyed by a large fire in 1901, leaving only the outer walls. In 1989, it was purchased and renovated by a Japanese company, and a modern hotel building was newly built in the garden, managed by Kempinski. In 2023, the hotel just completed the renovation of all public areas and rooms in the new building, and the decoration is brand new.
During the trip planning, I was always torn between the Four Seasons on the Strait and Kempinski. Later, considering that Kempinski has the membership treatment of GHA, and I really want to experience the renovated rooms, I chose Ciragan Palace. In the end, I found it was a choice I didn't regret at all.
As soon as I entered the room, the sense of luxury came to my face. The color scheme is the dark red exclusively used by the Ottoman royal family, which is the same model in the new Dolmabahce Palace. All furniture should be specially customized, the octagonal wooden side table with the characteristic Ottoman pattern seems to really take you back to the aristocratic era 200 years ago. The luxurious bed with a canopy faces the open Bosphorus Strait, and it is a different kind of enjoyment to lie on the bed and watch the cruise ships come and go in the strait.
In general, this time in Ciragan Palace is a pretty perfect experience, and I should choose here again next time I come to Istanbul. The previously old rooms dragged down this hotel with a deep historical background, but with the standard of renovation, it truly deserves to be in the first echelon in the city.
The Bosporus Strait, which divides Istanbul in two, is also known as the Strait of Istanbul. It connects the Black Sea in the north to the Marmara and Mediterranean Sea in the south, splitting Turkey into a European side and an Asian side. Both sides are famous historical districts in Istanbul.
We have been to Istanbul last May. Bosphorus cruise is must see. You can enjoy city sightseeing for 1 hour with very affordable price.
The Bosphorus Strait can take a cruise around, there is a car to pick up the hotel, the ship provides free biscuits and tea, the ship will be in English, Russian (there are many Turkish Russian tourists), Turkish broadcast on both sides of the attractions introduction, in the downstairs cabin can be heard clearly, other places can not hear clearly. After the cruise ship docked on the Asian side, all tourists disembarked, gathered around and then boarded the ship back to the European side. The return journey of the ship was very fast, about 15m away, and then the car was returned to the hotel.
The Bosphorus Strait is a narrow natural strait and is an important international waterway in northwest Turkey. It is part of the border between Asia and continental Europe and is the narrowest strait in the world for international navigation. The Bosphorus Strait connects the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea.
土耳其的博斯普鲁斯海峡是用于国际航行的世界上最狭窄的海峡,是欧亚洲之间的边界一部分。 博斯普鲁斯海峡从伊斯坦布尔城市中穿过,所以海峡穿行着各种船只,从大油轮到小渔船,捕鱼的小船非常多。