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...
Eating Istanbul: Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly Food
As a vegetarian or vegan, by now you may have realized that Turkish people love their meat! Walking through the city you’ll see families...
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...
Istanbul on a Budget: Free Culture, Art, & History Offerings
To which public places can we go to, if we do not want to spend any money at all? At first, it seems like...
Obtaining a Work Permit in Turkey
The work permit process in Turkey is unclear or confusing for many people because of the bureaucracy and inconsistent manner in which information and...
A Guide to Correctly Queuing in Istanbul
A few days ago I was waiting for the bus in the ridiculously long line at Beşiktaş Square - some mornings the line turns...
6 Must-Have Apps for Living in Istanbul
Long ago, great explorers traversed huge bodies of water with little more than the stars to guide them. And now? Well, you just need...
Eleven Things No Turkish Home Should Be Without
Eleven essentials for the Turkish home:
1. Hamam kit – Regular trips to the hamam are an Istanbul institution. With this in mind it’s no...
Psychological Counseling Options for Internationals in Istanbul
Being a foreigner studying or residing in a different country and a different culture makes one tend to seek for psychological help for various...
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...
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...
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...
The World is a Square: A Briefing on the History and...
With its own attraction and magic this game seems to appear everywhere, may it be in the çay evi or at home, tavla is...
A Guide to Adopting Street Animals in Turkey
As an animal lover, one of my favorite aspects of life in Turkey can also be one of the most challenging: seeing cats and...
Eight Suggestions for a Kid-Friendly New Year’s & Christmas in Istanbul
While we are leaving 2017 behind, all sorts of celebrations for Christmas and New Year's Eve are underway. We are regularly bombarded with countless...
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...
Istanbul Recycling 101
When I first came to Istanbul in October of 2014, I was completely bewildered by the recycling system. I found almost nothing on the...
Seven Organic, Health Food, and Exotic Markets in Istanbul
When I first came to Turkey six years ago for a vacation, one of the first things that enamored me was the food. The...
Istanbul’s Short-Term Bicycle Rental System: İSBIKE
İSBIKE System
Istanbul is one of several international cities offering increasingly diversified alternative transportation options, including its own short-term bike rental program. The İSBIKE system...
Getting to the Airport: More Than One Way to Getaway
Going on weekend getaways is one of the perks of living in Istanbul. The Mediterranean sun is just a hop, skip and a jump...
How to Donate Blood in Istanbul as a Yabangee
One of the simplest and easiest ways to help others is to donate blood. Back in Barcelona I was a regular blood donor, donating...
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...
Istanblues Be Gone! A Rainy Day Guide
Unpredictable Spring showers can put a real dampener (pun intended) on one's social calendar. But even if you have exhausted the city’s museums and...
3, 2, 1, Let’s Run Istanbul!
I am one of those people who never liked running. When I was younger I hated even the thought of it. After I moved to...