“Longing for Istanbul”: An Expat’s Love Letter to the City of...
Longing for Istanbul doubles as a sociological reflection on modernization processes in Turkish culture and a personal memoir that articulates what it means to...
Outstanding Jazz Songs from Turkey in the 2010s
From the Istanbul Jazz Festival comes a playlist of 100 jazz tracks which shined out in Turkey’s jazz scene through the 2010s. The playlist...
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #1: The Shopkeeper
The man who runs the corner shop next to my apartment building has a very strange approach to business, whereby he literally just changes...
Go Anywhere and Belong Everywhere! – Girl Gone International
Moving to a new city, where you don’t really know anyone? There is a lot of excitement when you open a new chapter in...
In Memory of Barış Mumyakmaz
It's with great sadness today that we've learned of the passing of long-time friend and contributor Barış Mumyakmaz.
A graduate of Galatasaray University and the...
King of Istanbul Roads: A Dolmuş Interview
Being a foreigner in any part of the world can be a daunting affair. Anything and everything can be different from what you have...
Top 10 Best Things About Living in Taksim
I lived in Mecidiyeköy for my first few months in Istanbul. That part of town is interesting in its own right, and it was...
Escapist: Real Escape Room Fun for English Speakers in Istanbul
I'd be hard pressed to think of a more wholesome group activity I've taken part in these last few years, than when a group...
The Fasting and The Furious: On Istanbul Taxi Drivers
This past week we read of some journalists from Hurriyet Daily News going undercover, disguised as tourists, to shine a spotlight on Istanbul’s notoriously...
STD & STI Testing In Turkey: Tips and Advice
Turkey is one of the few countries in the world where the rate of HIV/AIDS cases has been increasing in the past decade. Despite...
29 Quirky Things about My New Home, Turkey
Editor's Note: For those of us who have been in Istanbul for some time and have grown accustomed to the Turkish way of life, it's easy...
Discover Colife: Istanbul’s Leading Smart-Rental Startup
Colife is an Istanbul-based international smart-rental startup that operates as a full-cycle property management company. From the start, Colife has been revolutionizing the rental...
The Consequences of Overstaying in Turkey
Turkey is a fantastic country all year round, very popular amongst tourists around the world for its historic mosques, various street vendors and its...
New Year Bibliotherapy: 10 Turkish Books to Read in 2021
Even though decades pass, some stories and books are ageless. Reading is more than just a hobby, as books also help us manage mental...
Tips for Living Eco-Friendly in Istanbul
Moving from Poland to Turkey was definitely a big cultural shock for me – people, living conditions, working etiquette, and even foods were (and...
Life in Lockdown: Married with Kid vs Single with Cat
While regular weekend lockdowns in Istanbul have been a unifying experience in a myriad of ways, so much of our experience is tied to...
Open Call: Nadas’a Bırak Fall Art Residency Programme (Deadline: 21 September)
Editor's Note: The application window has been extended through Saturday 21 September.
NADAS Istanbul is excited to announce its upcoming art residency programme, Nadas’a Bırak,...
Romance of the Roma: Hıdırellez, Spring time and the ‘Gypsy’ culture...
Perhaps there is no word more loaded and simultaneously mythologized yet scorned than the term “gypsy”. From Fleetwood Mac to Cher to Lady Gaga...
Istanbul Productivity: Six Cafes to Head with Your Laptop Near Taksim
Taksim Square is a place that is planned into almost every trip to Istanbul, one way or another. The name “Taksim” means “division”, from...
Searching For Orhan Pamuk’s Hüzün in Istanbul
Before moving to Turkey, I read Orhan Pamuk’s autobiographical work “Istanbul”, in hopes of getting to know the city in advance. Let me tell...
Five Must-Visit Istanbul Streets After Coronavirus
Walk. Breathe. Eat. Drink. Consume. Repeat.
Wasn’t life nice and easy in Istanbul before coronavirus? We didn’t realize how fortunate we were back then. Thankfully,...
Istanbul: What I Remembered, What I Forgot
Memory is a funny thing. As much as it keeps record of reality, it also creates a reality of its own. As expats, we...
Just for Fun: Seven “Worst” Turkish Foods
Wow, I know, that was a controversial title wasn't it? Now that I've got your attention, can I just say that obviously this is...
The Allure of Elsewhere
Wherever you go, there you are. And wherever you are, there is someone who wants to be somewhere else. After living in the United...