A second-floor apartment in Sami Bey Apartmanı, built in the 1950s by my grandfather, Dr. Zülfü Sami Özgen, and the family's home for thirty years. It has since been fully refurbished — new kitchen and bathroom, heating and air conditioning throughout — in calm blues and greys, with a set of framed vintage Fiat prints in the dining area.

The entrance is typical of post-war İstanbul: a heavy iron-framed glass door and white marble steps up to a landing. Once that door shuts behind you the noise of the city drops away.

The flat is 75 m², and its living room has the most direct view of any of our apartments — the water fills the window, with Dolmabahçe Mosque to one side and ferries crossing all day. French doors open onto it; they open but don't lead outside, and the room fills with light and air off the sea. The dining table seats six.

Two bedrooms sleep four — both queens, with fresh linen, extra pillows and blankets and proper wardrobe space. A sofa bed and a couch in the living room take two more, and we can add folding or inflatable mattresses beyond that. A travel cot and high chair are available on request. The view is from the living room; both bedrooms look inward, which makes them the quiet part of the flat.

A shower room and a separate WC — two loos rather than two full bathrooms, which with six of you is often the more useful arrangement. There's central heating for the winter and split units in every room including the living room, which double as heaters on a cold night. The TV has Netflix and cable.

The kitchen has an electric hob, a countertop oven, a microwave, a fridge and a dishwasher, along with Turkish and filter coffee, a kettle, a toaster, pots and pans, plates, cutlery and basic cooking ingredients to start you off. The washing machine and iron are in the kitchen area, with spare towels.

On the ground floor, a large garden shared with the other residents — grass to lie on and mature trees for shade.

Getting up to us: we're on the second floor and there's no lift — 48 steps from the street. Tuna or her husband Nesi will meet you at the street door.

A note on noise: we're on a lively stretch of waterfront and the road below carries traffic through the day, so the living room isn't silent. Both bedrooms sit at the back and are noticeably quieter.

Parking: none private, but several options within a few minutes — paid street parking directly outside, a valet service 200 m along the road during working hours, the Dolmabahçe Palace car park almost opposite which usually has well over a hundred spaces free, and the new Kabataş Transfer Centre, which has its own car park.

Turkish law requires every guest's identity details to be registered at check-in. Sending them by message before you arrive makes check-in quicker — or there's a short form to fill in at check-in, with your ID or passport to hand. Cleaning during your stay can be arranged on request for a fee.

Tourism rental permit 34-1163.