Just a short visit mainly to photograph Bosphorus shipping not normally seen in NE Europe.
After checking various reports/maps, I chose the Karakoy Port Hotel just north of the Golden Horn but on the Bosphorus. It has a good view from the 6th floor breakfast room but into the sun in the morning. There is a terrace above but most of the view is blocked by a red tiled roof. Despite this, it was a great hotel with excellent staff and only 2 tram stops to Eminonu at the S. end of Galata Bridge for the Bosphorus ferry. Still only TL 23 (Euro 7) for an all day trip if you stop for lunch. I did the trip with a colleague and we stopped at Sirayer for a 4 hour lunch! Good restaurant on the waterfront ideal for photography. You could also stop at Anadolu Kavagi where there are also loads of waterfront restaurants
My colleague was staying at the Best Western Citadel (where I had stayed in 2013) so we decided to stay on his hotel terrace all the next day If staying here, would recommend the 3rd floor to be above the trees. Constant procession of shipping in alternate directions. Weather was mixed and visibility was generally good. Hope to return next year