Things can get pretty busy within Istanbul’s touristy Sultanahmet district but once within the Hotel Empress Zoe, you find yourself in a completely different world. An oasis of calm and relaxation, a spot to call your home away from home.

We arrived at the Hotel Empress Zoe the morning after completing our G Adventures Absolute Turkey tour fairly tired. It had been an amazing yet full on experience and we were looking forward to a couple of slower paced days.