Turkish Destinations: Where Words Fail, Music Speaks
The title of my piece belongs to the aphorism of famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875). Andersen said long time ago “where words...
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...
Review: Dismantling the Archive @ SALT Galata
The years between 1900 and 1940 were more than a little eventful for the Turks. The period saw numerous wars fought on many fronts,...
Smoke on the Water: Istanbul’s Vapurs
With its long and colourful history, its unique geographical position, its collection of characters, cultures, and creeds, Istanbul has no shortage of laudable attributes....
The Passages of İstiklal
İstiklal Caddesi is home to many eateries, stores and coffee shops. Although chains such as Shake Shack have been cropping up, the promenade manages...
The Balyan Family: Royal Architects of the Late Ottoman Empire
Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire for centuries. Sultans and their wives, princes, viziers and pashas loved to show their power and...
Anatolian Travel Archives: Mustafapaşa
In the midst of all the fairytale magic of Cappadocia, there lies an overlooked jewel embedded in the valley known as Mustafapaşa. Despite its...
Maintain Your Sanity Living in Istanbul: Ten Tips
Living in Istanbul is not for the faint of heart. We face a pretty hefty amount of stress on a daily basis – the hours...
The Art of Belly Dancing with Hale Çakır in Istanbul
I often think of Istanbul as a woman – charming, sexy, moving to a certain flow or rhythm. Sometimes, I think that rhythm is...
Where to Find Istanbul’s 100% Ecological Markets
One of the great things about living in Istanbul (and Turkey more generally) is the incredible produce. Turkey benefits from more than a million...
Lost in Turkey: Isparta
Located at the western end of the Taurus Mountains, Isparta is a little-visited province of pine, oak, and juniper covered slopes and abundant mountain...
Izmir Chronicles: Izmir is Worth Visiting (Part I)
Having lived in Izmir for over a year, I can say that I truly love the expat life here. Many people ask what the city is...
Giving Birth in Turkey: Choosing the Right Obstetrician
You are pregnant, congratulations! This is most probably the happiest moment of your life, enjoy it for a second! But not too long, because...
Nine Tips for Biking in Istanbul
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...
Introducing Asya Tömer: Comprehensive, Affordable Turkish Courses for All Levels
Undoubtedly one of the most surprising qualities of Turkey's international community is how few foreigners have taken the time to learn Turkish despite choosing...
Summer Activities for Kids in Istanbul
Bad weather may confuse you but summer is here, yet you still have no idea on how to entertain your kids and keep them...
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...
Learning and Growing on a Turkish Organic Farm with TaTuTa
I found myself popping out of a packed dolmuş onto the side of a winding country road. Shortly after, my overstuffed tan hiking bag...
The Istanbul Incident: The Case of the Spinning Dolphins
The day the spinning dolphins appeared in the Bosphorus, Laura understood that Istanbul would never be the same again. Of course, in a city...
Interesting Names, Great Taste: Turkish Dishes to Cook During Ramadan
For over a year, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major factor shaping our lives. This year again, the holy month of Ramadan began...
Rezan Has Museum: A Gem on the Golden Horn
The Golden Horn was of great importance during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. This deep, natural harbor was a strategic point to defend the...
In Conversation with Samer Al-Kadri of Pages, Istanbul’s First Arabic Bookstore...
Located within quick reach of the historical Chora Museum, Pages, the first Arabic bookstore in Istanbul, marks a historic moment for the city and...
Turkey Day in Turkey
Yes, I just did that. Referred to the joke-question we all hear from home: Do they eat turkey in Turkey? Well, yes, yes they...
Top 10 Forgotten Historical sites of Istanbul
When I first lived in Istanbul for 6 months in 2013, some of my most memorable days were spent simply wandering the old city...