Urban Adventures

Located in prime central positions and hip neighborhoods with their finger on the pulse, cities such as Kyoto, Rome, and Istanbul wrap you in their absorbing, dynamic energy. Beyond each location’s high-energy rhythms, our urban spaces become soothing sanctuaries where intuitive hospitality meets impeccable design, sublime seasonal dining, and a Six Senses Spa to calm mind, body, and soul with locally inspired treatments.

When you’re emotionally and physically cared for, you feel internally serene and in the best position to launch yourself into all a busy city has to offer. Come with us on an urban escapade where local sensitivity meets global sensibility.

Rich folklore and cultural traditions 

Historically the capital and still thought to be the cultural and historical heart of Japan, Kyoto is famed for its Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, palaces, traditional architecture, beautiful cherry blossoms, and rich folklore. Taking the theme indoors, the décor at Six Senses Kyoto is a celebration of authentic traditions and ancient Japanese culture. Design touches inspired by the literary masterpiece Tale of Genji embody the notion of Miyabi, the refined aesthetic and elegant sensibility of the Heian period (794-1185). While as a counterbalance, ancient folklore and local art, including the "Chōjū-giga" (Scrolls of Frolicking Animals), are woven through the hotel, offering a humorous glimpse into the life of the same period, and the symbolization of all things fun and quirky in Japanese culture. 

To truly understand Japanese culture, start by exploring the world of Zen gardens. Guided by Sone Zoen, the custodian of many of Kyoto’s most cherished temple gardens, you’ll learn how Japanese garden philosophy underpins and embodies the essence of Zen culture. Zen gardens are more than just minimalist landscapes of sand and rock, they offer a meditative space for self-reflection. This hands-on experience includes crafting your own dry landscape and concludes with a refreshing matcha tea and wagashi — traditional Japanese confectionary. 

Another important ritual in Japan is the connection between a clear mind and a clean environment. Join the deputy abbot at Ryosokuin Temple for a calming private meditation session in the serene atmosphere of the temple garden. 

Mindfulness restored, Kyoto is buzzing with cultural and creative energy. Step onto (or run with our guided running experience) the streets and soak it all up, visiting vibrant markets as you discover something new (or old) down every charming backstreet. Return from your action-packed sightseeing schedule for some self-care time in Six Senses Spa Kyoto that incorporates smart science, traditional healing, and Japanese Zen culture into one unique wellness experience. From Shiatsu and Ah-Un massage to a Watsu or Omakase (I’ll Leave It Up to You) session, you’re encouraged to surrender to the care of our team of skilled therapists.

Rome free

Dynamic and fast-paced, Rome’s unique open-air museum is packed with major historical attractions and world-class art. Located within a short stroll of many of the city’s unmissable sights, including the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, and Pantheon, Six Senses Rome is housed in the historic Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini. This striking building positively echoes with history, from the monumental marble staircase with its decorative skylight to the restored 600-year-old columns in the main entrance. Not forgetting the large baptismal font dating back to the fourth century, visible beneath the glass floor tiles next to Earth Lab.

Our crafted experiences take you to the heart of the action where you can live like a local. Begin with a tour of the Eternal City that takes you off the well-worn tourist track. Start your day sipping cappuccino in a neighborhood bar, discover a secret archaeological site, catch the views from one of the seven hills, and finish with a traditional Roman meal in a friendly trattoria. We’ll also take you behind the scenes in gilded palazzo, through a maze of aqueduct ruins, and on art tours that follow in Caravaggio’s footsteps. If you’re travelling with tots, our family-friendly experiences include museum visits, castle hunts, and gladiator experiences, with a delicious selection of homemade gelato waiting for you at the hotel.

After a day well spent sending your step count off the chart, return to soothe in Six Senses Spa Rome where our skilled therapists are on hand to guide you on your path to wellness with high-tech and high-touch therapies. Our modern-day take on the ancient ritual of the Roman bathing circuit takes you on a thermae journey around our sociable and immersive experience, balancing mind and body as you plunge into the caldarium, tepidarium, and frigidarium (brrr), warming up and cooling down your body to promote overall healing.

Slink out of the spa and into our sociable BIVIUM Restaurant-Café-Bar for a meal to remember where modern Italian cuisine is lovingly prepared with seasonal ingredients for peak flavor. Enjoy the convivial atmosphere as you watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen, cooking up a storm on the Josper grill. Alternatively, take the elevator to NOTOS rooftop, our garden-in-the-sky restaurant, and soak up panoramic views over the city. Salute the sunset, indulge in delicious sharing platters, and raise a toast to the stars.

If the walls could talk

The mix of East and West, secular and spiritual, makes Istanbul as enticing as a Turkish delight. From its beginnings in 660 BCE as Byzantium to its days as Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire, and its role in the ascent of the 14th-century Ottoman Empire, Istanbul has a storied past. So too our duo of restored Ottoman-era mansions that house Six Senses Kocataş Mansions. They have seen so much; you wish the walls could talk. Located side by side in the prestigious Sarıyer district, or European quarter, of Istanbul, they enjoy remarkable views over the Bosphorus Strait as it begins its last curve towards the Black Sea.

This glittering waterway and iconic Strait have been sailed since the Roman era and today marks one of the world’s most strategic waterways, separating Europe and Asia. For an insight into layers of the city’s history, hop aboard one of our hotel boats for a relaxed cruise into the peerless cultural melting pot of the old city to visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar. On foot, the bustling Sariyer district is worth an explore, and the bike trails of Belgrade Forest are also within easy reach. Istinye Park Mall and Vadistanbul Mall are both close by for a dose of retail therapy.

Restored and revitalized with sensitive respect for 150 years of history, luxurious details in La Belle Époque style fuse with our calming signature minimalism across 43 generously sized guest bedrooms and suites. The three-level Turkish-inspired Six Senses Spa Kocataş Mansions shines like a gemstone from the property’s elevated crown and features authentic hammams, an ode to oriental bathing, with decorative glass walls letting in a sprinkle of daylight and peek of the Bosporus below. The walls of the treatment rooms are designed with blue tiles reminiscent of the Blue Mosque, with red line detailing for an authentic Turkish finish.

Exquisite dining options are brought to life in a series of restaurants including celebrity Chef Richard Sandoval’s Toro Latin Gastro Bar and celebrated Italian Restaurant Scalini Istanbul, taking you on a gastronomic dining journey around the world, from your prime seats on the shores of the Bosphorus. Begin your evening in the intimate 1860 Lounge with a signature serve and finish off in our Kocataş Patisserie with a glass of traditional Turkish coffee and the sweetest morsels of baklava.