Istanbul Basics & Guides

About a year ago, Yabangee featured a review of some mobile apps that can help you get around and navigate Istanbul’s often confusing public...

If you have lived in Turkey for a while, you’ve probably got an account with a local bank. It is easy enough to open...

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)...

So, you’ve been in Turkey for a while and decided that it might make sense to buy a home or maybe you have your...

With its own attraction and magic this game seems to appear everywhere, may it be in the çay evi or at home, tavla is...

So you’re thinking about getting married in Turkey. If you’re a foreigner, you probably have quite a few questions about the process. I’m a...

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...

When I first came to Istanbul in October of 2014, I was completely bewildered by the recycling system. I found almost nothing on the...

It was 2014, when I realized that the last time that I had filed taxes was the year that George W Bush decided he...

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...

Expat life can get dull, eating the same kind of food every single day. The lack of foreign food in a cosmopolite city like...

If 'enjoy Istanbul more' is among your list of resolutions in 2019, you are not alone! Each year, we decide to be more active,...

One of the simplest and easiest ways to help others is to donate blood. Back in Barcelona I was a regular blood donor, donating...

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

On Friday 11 January, three new movies come to Cinemaximum! Bring along your loved ones, get yourself some popcorn and snacks, and enjoy a...

Istanbul is huge and, a bit intimidating. Finding your "in" can take time. As a foreigner, you'll quickly see that breaking into Turkish friend...

If you have a nine to five job and a lot of responsibilities to handle, you might prefer to stay in after work or...

Long ago, great explorers traversed huge bodies of water with little more than the stars to guide them. And now? Well, you just need...

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

Although Istanbul is not really a bike-friendly city, nor it does have a vibrant biking culture, it is still a good idea to buy...

Summer just won't seem to quit, and we all know how the heat tends to stifle any imagination when it comes to finding ways to...

For many commentators, the digital music revolution catalysed by iTunes over a decade ago signaled the end of all physical formats of music. With...

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...

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...