Pera Palas Hotel

Pera Palas Hotel, one of the landmarks of Istanbul

Pera Palas Hotel

Pera Palas Hotel, one of the landmarks of Istanbul located at Tepebasi by Istiklal Street. Founded in 1892. Housed many important names such as Agatha Christie, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, King Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth II, Emperor Franz Joseph, Alfred Hitchcock, Greta Garbo, Ernest Hemingway, Ian Flemming, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and many more.

The founder Rebublic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stayed at the Pera Palace Hotel in 1917. His room was 101. On Ataturk`s 100th birthday in 1981, the room was converted into a museum. 

Ernest Hemingway stayed in Pera Palas and Grand Hotel de Londres in 1922. He came to Istanbul as a journalist while he was working for the Toronto based  newspaper: Daily Star. Hemingway wrote twenty articles about the war and its politics.

Agatha Christie was a guest at Pera Palace Hotel between 1926 to 1932. She wrote one of her novels `Murder in Orient Express`. She stayed in room 411.

When the worldwide famous Orient Express chose Istanbul as its last stop in the East, Istanbul started to become a popular destination. Istanbul attracted many elite and noble travellers. Unfortunately, at that time there were no hotels in the Istanbul to meet the high standards of the Orient Express passengers. To fill this gap Pera Palace Hotel, Grand Hotel de Londres, Bristol Hotel (current Pera Museum) and Hotel M. Tokatlıyan were opened in Pera (Tepebasi/Beyoglu) district of Istanbul. Istanbul resident and Levantine architect Alexander Vallaury designed Pera Palas hotel in neo-classical, art nouveau and oriental styles.

Apart from the Ottoman Palaces, Pera Palas Hotel was the first building in Istanbul to have electricity as well as the first electric elevator. Bathrooms that provided the only running hot water in the city were also priviledges exclusive to Pera Palace Hotel guests. Tall and spacious rooms lit by magnificent chandeliers hosted many unforgettable events like tea and dance parties.

Recently Pera Palas Hotel is refurbished and today run by Jumeirah Hotel Group. Has 115 rooms, including 16 suites, having the characteristics of the 19th century elegance through historical furnitures.

For travellers who come to Istanbul we recommend staying at Pera Palas Hotel or at least enjoy a cup of Turkish Coffee or an afternoon tea at the ballroom.

During our walking tours we stop at this Istanbul Land Mark. Join us for an unforgetable tour of Istanbul. For more information please contact us.

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Room 411: Agatha Christie`s Room

Pera Palas Hotel from outside

Pera Palas Hotel Ballroom