Bottom line
It depends. But maybe not, if you care about your hotel’s quality and location.
What is it and how does it work?
Turkish Airlines offers a stopover program that provides a complimentary hotel stay if you have a long layover in Istanbul, Turkey, and you are flying with them. To avail of this program, you can plan your journey as a multi-city trip that includes a stop in Turkey, but remember this option is only applicable to one leg of your journey. This program is different from the Touristanbul program, where you can go on a free tour of Istanbul, courtesy of Turkish Airlines, if you have a long layover of 6 - 24 hours.
Istanbul is worth a visit regardless of the stopover program.
Economy class passengers are eligible for one free night’s stay, or two if they are flying from the USA, in a 4-star hotel. Business class passengers, on the other hand, receive two free nights, or three if they are departing from the USA, in a 5-star hotel. After you’ve secured your flight booking, you need to send a reservation request via an email address provided on the Turkish Airlines website.
It’s important to note, however, that the quality and location of the provided hotels may not always meet expectations. For instance, I was offered a hotel that was approximately 1.5 hours away from the Sultanahmet area, where most of the main attractions in Istanbul are located, when using public transportation. In the end, I decided to book my own hotel. Luckily, hotels in Istanbul are generally affordable, which adds to the convenience of this option.
The gozleme lady at Hotel Amira, Istanbul
For my recent visit to Istanbul, I stayed at the conveniently located Hotel Amira in the vibrant neighborhood of Sultanahmet. This boutique hotel was not only beautiful and well-appointed, but also welcomed me with a warm, homely embrace that seemed to echo the rich, embracing vibes of the city itself. The staff were very efficient and hospitable, making the stay even more pleasant. The hotel has a rooftop terrace with delicious, albeit overpriced, drinks and an incredible view of the Istanbul skyline, especially at night. The daily breakfast gave a taste of traditional Turkish breakfast, the highlight of which was the made-to-order gozleme (savory Turkish turnover) made by the nice old lady in a separate room. All in all, I’m glad I skipped the Turkish Airlines stopover program for this charming hotel, as it offered a slice of authentic Turkish hospitality, setting a high note in my Istanbul visit.