Inns That Smell Like History

Kuveloğlu Inn, located in Eminönü Küçükpazar, was built as a hotel by a French architect in the late 19th century. This 208-year-old structure was built with a plan similar to Ottoman courtyard inns and has neo-classical elements. Built with fire and earthquake resistant materials, it is currently used as a warehouse and workshop.

Tahtakale Bath, located in Eminönü Tahtakale, was built in the 1430s by Murat II for the local tradesmen to wash and rest. The building, which was converted into a bazaar after the 1950s, today serves as a souvenir bazaar as the The Eastern Inn and houses 134 companies.

The Fourth Foundation Inn is a building designed by Mimar Kemaleddin Bey and started to be built in 1912. The building, which was left unfinished due to the Balkan War and World War I, was completed in 1926. The inn, which was rented to private businesses after restoration in 2005, provides service in a historical and lively corner of Istanbul.

One of the first reinforced concrete structures in Istanbul, Germania Han was built in the early 1900s as the Ottoman branch of Deutsche Bank. Designed by Prussian architect August Jasmund, the building was used as a bank at various times and after restorations, it was opened as the Orientbank Hotel Istanbul in 2020.

The Büyük Valide Inn on Mahmutpaşa Çakmakçılar Hill was built in the 17th century by Kösem Sultan, the wife of Sultan Ahmet I. The building, one of the largest inns in Istanbul, stands out with its three courtyards and two sections on an area of ​​98 x 168 meters. The inn, which has undergone little restoration, currently houses many shops.

The Great New Inn, located on the Çakmakçılar Hill in Fatih, was built by the architect Mehmet Tahir Ağa on the order of Sultan Mustafa III in 1764. The rectangular-planned building has three floors and two courtyards, 42 and 25 meters long. The inn was used by money changers and is still open to visitors today.

Balkapanı Inn, located in Fatih – Eminönü, has witnessed two empires with its history dating back to the 16th century. Although it has undergone structural changes as a result of fires and restorations, it has managed to survive to the present day. The 80-room inn was used as a trade center during the Ottoman period and was built on the ruins of the Byzantine cellar underneath.

The Little New Inn in Fatih was built in the 1770s by Mustafa III for the short-term accommodation of travelers coming for trade purposes. The three-story building was built using cut stone and is in a modernized state today. It is located close to Çakmakçı Hill, where trade is intense.