Travel + Leisure readers once again showed their loyalty to trusted hotel brands—from Raffles to The Ritz-Carlton. The top five city hotels were ranked in this year’s World Best Awards survey. Istanbul All of the hotels were from luxury chains. This was a trend that we also saw last year. It may have been the reason for booking, but after staying, T+L’s readers remembered the luxurious facilities, great service and water views.
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How voting works
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. The 2025 survey was completed by nearly 180,000 T+L subscribers. Over 657,000 votes were cast for over 8,700 different properties (hotels cities cruise lines etc.).).
The criteria used to rate hotels included: their location, amenities and rating.
- Rooms/facilities
- Location
- Service
- Food
- Value
The respondents were asked to rate each characteristic. They could select excellent, superior, above average (average), below average (below average) or poor. The final scores are the averages of all these responses.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts
What Readers Loved
All of the winning hotels this year in Istanbul have stunning views of Bosphorus. One T+L reader praised the views at the Shangri-La Bosphorus Istanbul (No. One T+L reader described the views from the Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul (No. 5) were “perfect.” Beyond scenery, guests commented on service and comfort—one highlighting The Peninsula Istanbul’s spa and hammam, indoor pool, and even their “heated Toto toilet seats.”
The Winner
Raffles Istanbul
Raffles Hotels & Resorts
Raffles Hotel in Istanbul was voted the best city hotel by a T+L reader. On the European side of the Bosphorus, the hotel has panoramic views of Istanbul, the water, and both the Black Sea and Marmara Sea—and this expansive outlook was one hotel aspect noted by T+L readers. The Zorlu Center is home to restaurants, luxury shops, and the Zorlu Performing Arts Center. The property also has one of the largest spas in the city—with three hammams—and two restaurants, lounges, and bars, including the Japanese-fusion restaurant İsokyo.
The Complete List
1. Raffles Istanbul
Reader Score: 98.91
2. Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul
Reader Score: 98.04
3. The St. Regis Istanbul
Reader Score: 98.5
4. The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul
Reader Score 95.37
5. The Peninsula Istanbul
Reader Score : 94.35
