Istanbul Basics & Guides

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...

To which public places can we go to, if we do not want to spend any money at all? At first, it seems like...

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

“Metrobüs” is a word whispered in dark corners of the yabangee community in İstanbul. So what is this so called Metrobüs? How does it...

Renting a flat in Istanbul can be a stressful, intimidating experience - especially for first-timers. There's a lot to take into account and if...

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

In the first part of this series, I spent the day browsing through Beyoğlu’s record shops. A few days later, once the gloomy weather had...

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...

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

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...

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

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

Is living on a budget a choice or an obligation? In my case, unfortunately, it had to be an obligation. I’ve moved to Istanbul...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

One day, after having heard our neighbor's son practicing his guitar almost daily, I went to her door and asked in piecemeal Turkish if...

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...

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...

Whether it leads to a lasting romance or a cool new friendship, we all get excited about the synergy we might feel on a...

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

The work permit process in Turkey is unclear or confusing for many people because of the bureaucracy and inconsistent manner in which information and...