Making Friends in Türkiye: When Friendship Moves Faster Than You Expect
When foreigners move to Türkiye, they usually prepare themselves for the obvious cultural shifts—things like dating customs, family dynamics, or the sheer challenge of...
A Heartfelt Beat: In Conversation with Özgecan Arın of İzmir State...
Whenever I see Özgecan Arın she’s in costume, a long black evening gown complementing her height as she steps elegantly up to the top...
Scorp is Hiring Speakers of Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian, Portuguese, & Spanish
Scorp is hiring! Scorp is a thriving local social media start-up, actively seeking new additions to their marketing department in the role of Digital...
University Guide: Kadir Has University
Founded in 1997 by the Kadir Has Foundation, Kadir Has University is one of Istanbul’s leading private universities, best known for transforming the historic...
The Istanbul Route in Fatih Akın’s “Head-On”
Head-On by Fatih Akın is one of those films that perfectly encapsulates the beauty and energy of Istanbul, with its flaws and all. The...
Hiring: Events Host & Coordinator @ Yabangee
Yabangee is looking for a friendly, reliable, and organised Turkish and English speaker to join our team in a varied role combining event hosting...
Becoming Part of the Family: The Other Side of Turkish Family...
In my previous article, I wrote about the more difficult side of navigating Turkish family dynamics as a foreign partner. The constant phone calls,...
Luggage Delayed? How to Claim Compensation
Has your luggage ever been delayed significantly? This past summer I found myself in Istanbul without any of my bags. They eventually arrived 3...
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...
How to Get a Müzekart in Istanbul
Once you’re officially a resident in Turkey, you can buy a Müzekart (“museum card”) – a handy, money-saving tool for expats keen on visiting...
14 Vegetarian Friendly Cafes in Istanbul
People often ask me how I manage as a vegetarian in Istanbul, and are shocked when I tell them it's not really that difficult....
Investing in Turkey for the Young and Internet-savvy
As you reach into your pocket this week to see if you can afford to hit that pricey New Year’s party, you may have...
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...
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...
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...
When His Family Comes First: Navigating Turkish Family Dynamics as a...
If you are in a relationship with a Turkish partner, one of the first things you may notice is not just how much he...
Reclaiming the Reel: Four Films That Stayed With Me at the...
When I first moved to Istanbul, movies were a familiar comfort in an unfamiliar city. As I got older, like most people, life became...
Pedal Power: How Sema Gür Sparked the Süslü Kadınlar Bisiklet Turu...
How does an offhand comment from a fellow cyclist spark a fire that becomes a worldwide phenomenon? To find out, I talked with Sema...
(July 07) Wiz Khalifa @ ICC Center Open Air
On Tuesday 07 July, Mellon Organization brings Wiz Khalifa to ICC Center Open Air for a large-scale open-air hip-hop show, joined by UZI, Motive,...
Getting Married in Turkey: Frequently Asked Questions
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...
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...
Take 5: Çengelköy
Coming around a bend on the Anatolian side between the two bridges is the aptly named Çengelköy. The neighborhood, whose name means hook village in Turkish, is...
(Aug 22-23) Babylon Soundgarden @ Bonus Parkorman
Babylon Soundgarden returns to Parkorman on Saturday 22 August and Sunday 23 August. For two days, the festival brings together international names and local...
Five Tips for Getting Around Istanbul with a Baby
There's a maxim of which every new parent should be reminded, and it's something about how nobody else is as interested in your baby...






























