Turkey

Where to Find Short Term Rentals in Istanbul

by Mark Rebindaine  |  Published June 20, 2022

Divided between Europe and Asia by the Bosphorus strait, Istanbul is one of the most culturally significant cities in the world – and has its fair share of properties available for short lets.

(Photo: fsse8info via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)

As is the case in most capitals cites around the globe, Airbnb had a huge jump start in Istanbul on the short-term rental market. But little by little, other accommodation platforms have caught up. With this in mind, we’ve done some research and picked out our three of our favourite alternatives for helping you find weekly and monthly rentals in the historic Turkish city.

Booking.com

For stays of anything from one week up to a fortnight, Booking.com is our recommended pick for fully furnished rentals in Istanbul. With consistently stong customer feedback and all the repute of one of the world’s biggest accommodation platforms, you can book an apartment with maximum peace of mind. When we looked at options in Istanbul, we found hundreds of apartments available, from simple studios close to the lively district of Galata to luxury properties in the historic neighbourhood of Sultanahmet. During our searches, prices ranged from €40 per night to over €1,000. On the whole, Istanbul is cheaper than most other European capitals, so if you fancy pushing the boat out for your accommodation, this is the place to do it.

Booking.com

Blueground

After experiencing some lengthy hotel stays during his previous career, Greek owner, Alex Chatzieleftheriou set up Blueground to provide apartments for short-term monthly and weekly rentals. Since its first apartments appeared on its platform, it has grown steadily and now services cities across Europe and beyond. Their service is tailored towards people looking for fully furnished rentals under flexible lease arrangements for stays of 30 days and upwards. A major difference with other platforms is that stays of over a month can result in large savings. During our search in Istanbul, we found rates starting from €450 per month for a studio in the city centre. Overall, there were in excess of 500 apartments in and around Istanbul, with many options in the buzzing district of Akaretler and around Maçka Park. The booking process is quick and simple, and there’s also a 24-hour support service accessed through a dedicated guest app.

Theblueground.com

Spotahome

Spotahome offers an extensive choice of apartments, rooms, studios, and student residences. Aimed at anyone and everyone, regardless of age or professional status, it allows tenants to book properties instantly and securely. The photography and videos of the properties are of high-quality and neighbourhood guides allow you to make more informed decisions on your rental. In Istanbul, they had 60 apartments for rent, mostly located in and around the bustling neighbourhood of Osmanbey and the waterfront. When looking at prices, we found a shared apartment at €160 per month, and a full studio for a little over €200 per month. Spotahome’s agency fee is equivalent to about 25% of the first monthly rental charge.

Spotahome.com