Pera Palace HotelThe passengers of the Orient Express, a very luxurious train that traveled from Paris to Istanbul after an 80-hour journey in 1888, were usually high-class bureaucrats, writers, and rich people. The construction of the Pera Palace Hotel was decided since these people needed luxurious accommodation.Opened in 1895, The hotel was the first building in the Ottoman Empire to be powered by electricity, other than the Ottoman Palaces. It was also the only place in the city to accommodate hot running water for its guests and was home to the first electric lift in Istanbul.The famous writer Agatha Chistie stayed here many times during her travels through 1926-1932. Her often preferred room 411 was converted into a museum after a while and is still being visited by her enthusiasts.