Çırağan Palace Kempinski

The Çırağan, an Ottoman palace turned hotel, is one of the few places in Istanbul where the Bosphorus is something you swim in rather than admire from a distance. The infinity pool projects directly over the strait — on a clear afternoon, you can see the towers of Asia shimmering across the water.

A six-hour day pass includes pool access, towel service, and the right to order anything from the cabana menu. The lobster sandwich is famous; we suggest it with rosé.