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Istanbul Basics & Guides

Living Abroad Blues: Coping with Loneliness

When I first moved to Istanbul in 2016, I too experienced loneliness. After all, I was a foreigner in a new country, who did...

First-Time Residence Permit in Türkiye Guide: Essentials to Know for your...

Thinking of staying in Türkiye for a while and want to file a first-time residence permit application? That's lovely to hear! Before getting too...

12 Cool Places to Study in Galata Neighborhood

Galata is a beautiful neighborhood in the apex of Beyoğlu district. It used to be a sanctuary for Turkey’s Greek, Armenian, Italian and Jewish...

Earthquake Donations, Volunteering, Needs, and Resources: Help Those Impacted in Turkey...

On Monday 06 February, 2023 two massive earthquakes (7.5 and 7.8 in magnitude) devastated Turkey and Syria, with aftershocks being felt hundreds of miles...

A Guide to Istanbul Earthquake Preparedness

With all the disturbing events in the news recently, it is easy to forget the more mundane, boring threats of life: pickpockets in Taksim,...

Be Earthquake Ready in Istanbul

It’s the kind of story that sweeps down the gossip chain, becoming so popular that it morphs into an urban legend. The tale retold whenever...

20 Skills Every Yabancı in Istanbul Should Have

To be a true yabancı, there are certain skills you have to master... 1. Become a teaholic. Drinking copious amounts of black tea is an...

Guide to Houseplant Hunting in Istanbul

In a heavily built-up city such as Istanbul, green space is at a premium. When I first came here to live, I remember looking...

Survival Guide: Living Gluten-Free in Istanbul

Gluten is made up of two proteins, Gliadin that gives the baked good the ability to rise during baking and Glutenin which makes the...

Expat Life: Having a Baby in Turkey

It’s amazing how things can change in just a few short years. Three years ago, I accepted a job in Turkey. Six months later...

Compulsory Earthquake Insurance in Turkey – Quick, Easy, Affordable Price Quote

If you've dealt with purchasing property at all in Turkey, it's likely you've been informed that having earthquake insurance in Turkey is compulsory. Considering...

Tips for Eating Organic & Healthy in Istanbul

While eating healthy might not normally be a top priority, if you have kids like me, that opinion will likely change as you probably...

Welcome to Istanbul: An Orientation Guide for Moving to & Living...

So you've decided to move to Istanbul. Hoş geldiniz and congrats on a fantastic decision! We're confident you'll love it here just as much...

9 Turkish Red Wines Worth Trying

One of the many seemingly incessant complaints I hear from other yabancılar is a disdain for Turkish wines. Navigating the wine scene in Turkey...

Updated: 1,169 Neighborhood Closures to Foreigners in Turkey

IMPORTANT NOTE: As of Friday 07 October, the Interior Ministry has made the decision to close several districts in Istanbul entirely to any new...

Residence Permit Health Insurance – Our Quick, Easy and Affordable Application...

If you've landed here, you're likely in need of health insurance for your residence permit application. We've partnered up with an insurance provider to...

Guide to Using & Registering a Foreign Phone in Turkey

So you're visiting or moving to Turkey and you want to bring your foreign mobile phone with you to happily use here. Great! Let's...

Renter’s Rights in Turkey: How Much Can a Landlord Raise the...

Rent increases are an unpleasant but inevitable part of adult life. However, as rent prices have spiked by an unprecedented degree over the past...

Get Your Residence Permit in 10 (Somewhat) Easy Steps

Editor's Note: This piece was first published in 2015, and was most recently updated in May of 2022. Important Note: The Covid-19 pandemic had a...

Guide to Registering Utilities in Istanbul

So you’ve found somewhere to live in the urban jungle of Istanbul – congratulations! Opening utility accounts is not that difficult but can be...

Guide to Keto and Low-carb Dieting in Istanbul

What is a keto diet? What is a low-carb diet? A keto (ketogenic) diet is where you are restricted to consuming a maximum of (typically)...

How to Get a HES Code and Link an Istanbulkart

As of 15 January 2021, an Istanbulkart (used predominantly for public transportation within the city) will need to be linked to a HES (Hayat...

Appealing a Residence Permit Rejection in Turkey

The residence permit application process in Turkey is an ever-changing and often complicated process. While we stand by the belief that a thoroughly compiled...

PCR (Covid-19) Testing in Istanbul: Laboratories, Prices, & Experiences

The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely changed the way we travel... if we travel at all. Most yabangees live far away from their families and...