The Armada Istanbul Old City Hotel was an excellent choice for our first visit to Istanbul. It is within walking distance of many of the major sites to see--the Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, and many hammams. In addition, there are tons of restaurants and cafes nearby. However, this is a very touristy area, with high-pressure hawks inviting you to come into their shop or restaurant, and we found this to be very tiring. It was a good location for our first visit, but if we were coming back, we would choose a hotel in a different area to get a more authentic experience. The hotel itself was wonderful, with a stunning view of the Hagia Sofia from the patio, and excellent service.