Welcome to Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus. On the European bank of the Bosphorus – which flows through Istanbul’s history and heart – Four Seasons gives a 19th-century palace a fresh, eclectic spirit. Alluring facilities include a chic urban spa. Fine restaurants and pools by the quayside overlook the Asian shore. And all are awash in the light, space and excitement of this water’s-edge location.

"Four Seasons has supplemented its Sultanahmet property with an outpost right on the Bosphorus – zap open the remote-control blinds to reveal this stunning stretch of water. If you can tear yourself away from the view, there’s a lavish spa with three hammams, and a gleaming marble terrace with a pool and a private dock for guests’ yachts. Don’t have one? Speedboats are on hand to whisk you to the swanky coastal clubs. Financial Times - How to Spend It Magazine, May 2, 2009