Pera Palace Hotel

Pera Palace Hotel

Since its opening in 1895, Pera Palace Hotel has drawn many distinguished guests from all over the world with its Belle Epoque glamour. It was originally built to accommodate the passengers of the famous Orient Express, which made its first epic Paris-Istanbul round-trip in 1883. 

The iconic building was later designed by renowned French-Ottoman architect Alexander Vallaury and has played host to an impressive list of guests that includes Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock among others. 

Today the hotel maintains the elegant classical style that made it famous, with authentic 19th-century features serving as a timeless focal point. Pera Palace Hotel is located close to Istiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu district, Istanbul's main artery for shopping, entertainment, art and history lovers.  

Amazing facts about Pera Palace Hotel

• Pera Palace was the first modern hotel in Istanbul to have hot water and electricity in its rooms, as well as an electric lift that amazed the guests.
• Among the Pera Palace Hotel's famous guests was Agatha Christie, the British crime novelist, who happened to be a frequent visitor. It is believed that she wrote part of her famous novel “The Murder on the Orient Express” at her favorite room, No: 411, which is now the Agatha Christie Room.
• Pera Palace Hotel was designated with "museum-hotel" status in 1981 when, as a tribute to the founder of modern Turkey, Room 101 was converted into the Atatürk Museum.
• Trailer of the 1974 adaptation of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express starring Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot has famous scenes in Istanbul as well. 
  

Hint: To be teleported back in time, check the hotel’s ever popular afternoon tea held daily from 15:00 to 18:00 at the oriental decor of Kubbeli Lounge, accompanied by a sumptuous buffet and smooth jazz piano music.