World house hostel, Istanbul: A boutique experience in the heart of this wonderful city!

Published on: 02/10/201619/12/2018 by Nic Hilditch-Short Category:Accommodation Advice, Asia, Backpacking Advice, Europe, Travel Guide, Turkey 6 Comments

Whilst we spent an amazing 5 days in the bustling and energetic city of Istanbul we needed a place to kick back and relax at the end of a tiring day exploring this huge city. But at the same time we wanted to be at the heart of the action, in a place where we could meet new people, get great local advice on what to see and do and also within walking distance of the city’s main sights. In World House Hostel we found all this and more, a comfortable and cool place in the trendy Galata district!

The perfect location

From our private room window we could see the glowing and beautiful Galata tower, waking up and peering out onto the busy streets below and glancing up at the ancient tower was such an inspiring sight each morning. Then dropping off after closing the curtains on what could just be the best view of Istanbul made sure that we had dreams of this wonderful city as we slept in comfort and peace.

Being situated in the heart of the Galata district wasn’t just a wonderful greeting for us, but it was also such a trendy and energetic location too. The area is full of amazing street art, small shops, restaurants, bars and local places to eat. We had some amazing falafel burgers just around the corner from the hostel and some wonderful freshly ground coffee in the cafe next door.

We could also walk in 5 minutes from the hostel over to the Galata Bridge and down to the Bosphorus where ferries can be taken over to the Asian side of the city. A further 10 minutes and you are over in the old city to gaze at the wonder of the Blue Mosque. If we didn’t fancy the walk there was a metro station just up the road, but to be honest, on a nice day we enjoyed taking local life in along the lovely stroll!

Priceless Advice

When we arrived in Istanbul we were a little overwhelmed with all the sights to see, the experiences to be had and also the off the beaten track gems we love to search out. With such a vast place with the variety of things to do and see it can be easy for a relaxing break to feel stressful. But that is where the knowledge of the staff at World House Hostel saved the day.

As soon as we arrived and got settled in one of the guys on the desk took out several maps and spoke to us for almost an hour about what there is to do, where we should go, what food we should try and of course, the local places only those in the know are privy to. This meant that we could better plan out our days in this huge city to make sure we didn’t miss out on anything, we were able to see all the main sights as well as spending time exploring more off the beaten track locations too. The perfect balance in this amazing city!

Amazing comfort and facilities

Hostels are often misunderstood places, people think they are only for backpacking 18-25 year olds who want to stay in dorms. Now, I have nothing against dorms, in fact we stayed in them for most of our trip. But what people don’t often realise is that most hostels have private rooms and some, like in World House, even come with an ensuite!

Now this was a treat! With a keycode entry on the outer and inner doors and our own space for once we never felt some comfortable. The deluxe double bed allowed us to get some well needed rest after several nightbuses and hours on our feet exploring the city. World House Hostel has to be one of the safest and most comfortable places we’ve stayed.

The hostel also provided free breakfast prepared by the cooks who work at the annexed cafe. The filling feast makes sure you are set for you day of adventure around the streets of Istanbul. Then there is the washing machines and dryers so you can clean all those clothes you’ve been hauling around with you!

A place to relax and meet people

What we enjoy the most about staying in hostels in meeting new people and interacting with fellow guests and travellers. This way you get new ideas, new perspectives and get to know about experiences you might never have had any idea about. It was talking to an American girl in the lounge area of the hostel that convinced us to make the trip over to Cappadocia whilst in Turkey. Here at World House they created a really social atmosphere.

Going to the Princes islands was a suggestion of an Australian guy we got talking to whilst watching the football. Not only did the social areas of the hostel allow us to make friends even when staying in a dorm, but it gave us another space in which to relax in and of course, watch England fail in the Euros! World House Hostel really did make us feel at home!