The Best Airbnbs in Istanbul Are Historic Gems Places that are just as steeped in color and character as the city itself Courtesy of Airbnb Istanbul is a city that rewards curiosity. One minute you’re wandering through the labyrinthine halls of the Grand Bazaar, the next, you’re sipping a cold rakı at a rooftop meyhane with the Bosphorus glittering below. Days here are spent ferry-hopping between Europe and Asia, exploring ancient cisterns, modern art museums, and pastel-painted neighborhoods where laundry flaps over cobblestone streets. Whether you’re drawn by the city’s deep history or its cutting-edge design scene, you’ll want a place to stay that feels just as layered and full of character. Thankfully, Istanbul’s short-term stays are just as charismatic as the city itself. We’re talking Ottoman-era apartments with hand-painted ceilings, modernist lofts tucked above family-owned carpet shops, and spots with Bosphorus-view balconies made for sipping tea while the ferries drift past.…