Designed by the French architect Alexander Vallaury, also the architect of Union Française And the Ottoman Bank was begun in May 1881; the hotel was opened October 1891. It is said that Sultan Abdülhamit attended the opening ceremony. The " Compagnie Internationale dés Wagons et des Grands Express Européens " had built the hotel for the use of passengers coming from Paris to Istanbul. This is why the symbols of the Pera palas and the orient express are the same

From the time of its opening until today, Pera palas had been frequented by well-known and highly-placed figures in the political world; such as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Ismet Inönü, Celal Bayar, Adnan Menderes, Fahri Korutürk, Refik Koraltan, King Zogo of Albania, Shah Rıza Pehlevi of Iran, King Edward V111 of England , King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, King Carol of Romania, president Tito of Yugoslavia and Jacqueline Kennedy. The long list of political guests includes Giscard d’Estaing, Von Papen, Mata Hari Cicero .The list also includes innumerable names from the world of culture and art such as Agatha Christie, Yehudi Menuhin, Marie Bell .

Those who know the story of Agatha Christie will remember that she was missing for eleven days in 1926, and that she wrote she had hidden a key in connection with the mystery. On the seventh of march in 1979 a rusty iron key was found in room 411 at the Pera Palas, but still the mystery has not been solved. In 1897, Şeker Ahmet Paşa, a prominent painter had a major exhibition at the hotel.

After the First War, occupying forces used the Pera Palas as their head quarters. After the occupation, the British gave "the key to Istanbul" back to Celal Bayar in this hotel, where Ismet Inönü stayed during the armistice talks.

The dancing and beauty competition of the Fashion Revue was first arranged in the Pera Palas salons. The most select balls were held there. For feasts special menus were prepared and wine and champagne flowed like water.

İt should be mentioned that Pera Palas had been awarded with several medals and a Diploma of Honor. Since then, it holds the title of "the oldest European Hotel of Turkey

There can be no doubt that Pera Palas, which lived through the Ottoman decline, the founding of the Republic, two world wars and changing political, social and economic conditions will become the scene of new romances and scenarios in the future......