Istanbul Basics & Guides

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...

So you’ve come to Turkey and plan to stay for a while, or you already live here and have decided to save up some...

A few days ago I was waiting for the bus in the ridiculously long line at Beşiktaş Square - some mornings the line turns...

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...

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

Sometimes the grit and grime and non-stop pace of the city just get overwhelming. You need a break from the packed Metrobus and the...

Life is a collection of rhythms, reflecting humanity’s collective love of tradition and routine. Yet for many around the world, the rhythm of the...

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

One of the great things about living in Istanbul (and Turkey more generally) is the incredible produce. Turkey benefits from more than a million...

Being a foreigner studying or residing in a different country and a different culture makes one tend to seek for psychological help for various...

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...

There are several reasons why residents of Istanbul need a Turkish bank account - the most obvious being that it is required for most residence permit...

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

It hit me a few weeks after moving to Istanbul two years ago. I was stressed and confused by so many things like accommodation...

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...

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)...

Who rules Istanbul? If you have been here for longer than a day, you already know the answer is obvious: CATS. They are everywhere...

As an animal lover, one of my favorite aspects of life in Turkey can also be one of the most challenging: seeing cats and...

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...

Getting your residence permit can seem like a massive undertaking, especially if you're unclear of certain steps along the way or have your own...

Istanbul has developed in so many ways over the years, including shops of all kinds which have seen shifts in terms of services, logistics,...

Istanbul sure does have a lot to offer when it comes to the world of books - there are boutique retailers, hidden stores, retail...

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...

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