While hotels and most hostels offer laundry services, some travelers may prefer to use a specific set of cleaning options and search for a laundry facility outside of their accommodation. After all, laundry (çamaşır) in Istanbul—washing your well-worn clothes—is an essential service for travelers.
Unfortunately, Istanbul does not have many coin-operated laundries (self-service laundromat, laundrette), so getting a laundry service on your own might come off as difficult. (Turkish entrepreneurs have yet to discover that washing machines (laundromats) are goldmines.)
But Istanbul does have some traditional laundries (çamaşırhane) where a few people (often husband and wife) sit in a small facility and wash (yıkamak) and iron (ütülemek) your clothes personally. In these laundry services, you might have more freedom over what fabric softener and detergent are used or the dryer and washing (for example, hand washing) methods at extra cost for your special care-needed laundry.
Here is a guide to some of the laundry service locations in Istanbul, Turkey.
Hotel Laundry Services
You can have your hotel do your laundry, but it will probably cost a lot of money. Actually, even though most hotels charge high prices for laundry, they do not really like to do it. Most of the time, your clothes are taken to a laundry facility nearby and then brought back. It’s a hassle for everyone.
One alternative to hotel and local laundry services is to do your laundry at the hotel. We have listed some efficient methods for cleaning your clothes. Here are our tips for doing your own laundry in Turkey.
Old Istanbul District
The Old Istanbul district is a popular destination for tourists and hotels because of its central location near many tourist spots in Istanbul, Turkey, which also means high demand for laundry services. Here are the laundry services we've personally listed for TTP readers in the Old Istanbul district.
Hasgül Laundry & Gift Shop
(Phone number: +90 0507 871 39 34), Taya Hatun Sokak No:7، 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, beneath the Hotel Erenler and just down the street from the Sirkeci Konak Hotel in Sirkeci. Washed and dried laundry service. Ironing is extra.
Express Laundry
(Phone number: +90 0535 566 87 69), Terbıyık Sokak No:15, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul. The laundromat is located on İshakpaşa Caddesi, down the hill from the Fountain of Ahmet III and the entrance to the walls of Topkapı Palace. They have placed little signs around the Cankurtaran hotel area pointing the way to their services.
Beyoğlu District
Beyoğlu District is another popular tourist destination, and there are several laundries located off İstiklal Caddesi near the Changir neighborhood, not far from Taksim Square. Here is our list of laundry services in the area.
Beyoğlu Çamaşırhanesi
(Phone number: +90 0212 293 89 20) Billurcu Sokak. 11/A, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, near the City Center Hotel off Sıraselviler Caddesi, will wash and dry your laundry or dry cleaning for you. For a set price, you can have the entire washing machine load for your own clothes (i.e., not mixed with those of other customers—which helps prevent mix-ups).
Penguen Kuru Temizleme
(Phone number: +90 0212 25 14 204) Cihangir, Sıraselviler Cd. no:83/5, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul. Laundry and dry-cleaner on Sıraselviler Caddesi No. 56B, opposite the Türkiye İş Bankası and Cihangir Açık Otopark, to the right of the Türkiye Ekonomi Bankası.
Şahane Çamaşırhane
(Phone number: +90 0212 243 88 43) Katip Mustafa Çelebi, Tel Sk. No:8, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul. The “Splendid Laundry” is at Tel Sokak No. 8, across from Taksim Ticaret Meslek Lisesi (Taksim Business High School) on a back street between İstiklal Caddesi and Çukurcuma.
Siderakis Kuru Temizleme & Laundry
Kocatepe, Lamartin Cd. No:43, 34437 Beyoğlu/İstanbul. In the Talimhane hotel district just off Taksim Square, at Lamartine Caddesi No. 43A, next to the Titanic City Hotel.
Kadıköy District
Kadıköy district is another popular destination for travelers who want to experience the authentic Istanbul experience. So, Kadıköy district has its own laundry facilities available for use.
Oya Çamaşırhane
(Phone number: +90 0532 76 63 521) Rasimpaşa, Başakçı Sk. N0 3, 34716 Kadıköy/İstanbul. Just three blocks inland from the Kadıköy Ferry Docks is Oya Çamaşırhane, an efficient, professional laundry with good service and prices. Thanks to Suzanne White for the tip on this.
—Tom Brosnahan, updated by Can Turan