Root Karaköy Bosphorus Hotel & Spa: spa near Galata Tower

Taksim Square sits about 1.3 km from the hotel, Sirkeci railway station about 1.2 km. The major historic sites are slightly further: Topkapı Palace about 1.5 km, Süleymaniye Mosque about 1.7 km, Hagia Sophia about 2 km and Sultan Ahmed Mosque about 2.3 km, all measured in a straight line.

Both of Istanbul's airports are a considerable distance away: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport about 31.1 km and Istanbul Airport about 32.8 km in a straight line. A paid airport shuttle runs between the hotel and the airports.

Fourteen room types span 13 m² to 60 m². The two smallest categories, the Comfort Double Room and the Economic Room, each measure 13 m² and hold one double bed with a city view. The Standard Twin Room at 17 m² offers two twin beds and a courtyard view, a practical choice for two colleagues or friends who prefer separate beds.

At the middle of the range, the 30 m² and 36 m² rooms cluster around one queen or king bed. Three of them face the sea: the Deluxe Double Room with Sea View pairs a super-king bed with a twin, the Deluxe Room with Bosphorus View centres on a king bed, and the Deluxe Double Room with Balcony and Sea View adds an outdoor balcony. The Deluxe Room with Terrace and Partial Sea View at 36 m² gives a terrace and a part-sea outlook for a similar footprint.

The 40 m² Premium Room City View has a queen bed and a sofa bed. At the top, the 60 m² Suite gathers a double bed, a twin bed and two sofa beds, enough for a family or a small group who want to share one room rather than book two.

A restaurant and room service cover meals without leaving the building.

Meeting and banquet rooms make the property workable for conferences and corporate events. Facilities for disabled guests are available, and family rooms are offered alongside the standard room types.

A paid airport shuttle and paid parking are arranged through the hotel.

• Check-in from 14:00; check-out until 12:00.
• Children are allowed.
• Parking is available for a fee.
• A paid airport shuttle connects the hotel to Istanbul's airports.
• Facilities for disabled guests are provided.

The combination of a spa, a hammam, fitness facilities and a restaurant inside the building suits travellers who want to spend evenings on site after a day out, and couples or solo guests who value a hammam and a good bed over a balcony. The meeting and banquet rooms and the paid airport shuttle make it workable for business travellers and short conference groups.

Families will find the Suite and the Premium Room City View useful: children are allowed, family rooms exist, and the larger rooms carry enough beds for a small family in one space. The Standard Twin Room suits two adults travelling together who want separate beds.

The 13 m² rooms are compact, so guests who need space to spread out will want the 30 m² categories or above.