Turkish Tongue Twisters: Tekerleme
Learning Turkish can get tough at times. But it does not have to be so! To lighten up your experience, we have compiled a...
An Ideal Sunday Morning: Çakmak Kahvaltı Salonu and Beşiktaş Hamamı
One of the best ways to unwind and relax after a long week of dealing with work (not to mention the Istanbul traffic) is...
Miniatürk – Educational and Fun!
Miniatürk, situated on the North-Eastern shore of the Golden Horn, in a nutshell, is a display of the main monuments of Istanbul and Turkey...
A Long Weekend on the Lycian Way: Kaş to Üçağız
The Lycian Way is heaven for hikers. Its 540 kilometres following the ancient Lycian route between Antalya and Fethiye and provides plenty of chances...
The Turkish Fez, Hats & Atatürk
I’m Australian, so coming from a country with one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, wearing a hat in summer,...
Thanksgiving for Expats in Istanbul: A Taste of Home Away from...
Thanksgiving is a beloved tradition, a time for gathering with family and friends, sharing a festive meal, and reflecting on the things we’re grateful...
Bike Riding from Kadıköy to Pendik Along the Sahil
The 20+ kilometer bike ride from Kadıköy to Pendik is one of the best places to take advantage of the sahil, featuring wide paths,...
Nicole Restaurant: Raising the Haute Cuisine Bar
My wife and I have something called “The List.” It started in Washington, D.C., when my then-fiancée and I had recently finished graduate business...
Tophane-i Amire Culture & Arts Center
Tophane is a very pleasant area to spend an afternoon smoking nargile and playing tavla. Or, if you are more into art than the...
University Guide: Sabancı University
Sabancı University is a private institution founded in 1994 with a focus on education, research and design. The university is known for its...
Five Tips for Learning Turkish as a Native English Speaker
I've found myself having the same conversation with various people over the past few months. It generally goes like this:
"It's just different for native...
Underneath Istanbul
The timeless column feels cold and rough to the touch. I like to visit things that are a lot older than I am. It...
Mostly Free Resources for Teaching Yourself Turkish
It can be easy to get by in Turkey without speaking the language, especially in big cities like Istanbul and Izmir. Learning a few...
The Best Hamams in Istanbul
Now you know about the history of hamams and Turkey's public bathing culture, and you've read the expat's guide to hamams. The next step...
TIYYD: Building a Better Tomorrow for Refugees
What’s left behind becomes a faded memory, one that will be carried long distances no matter how tough it gets. Life becomes what’s packed...
Istanbul’s Short-Term Bicycle Rental System: İSBIKE
İSBIKE System
Istanbul is one of several international cities offering increasingly diversified alternative transportation options, including its own short-term bike rental program. The İSBIKE system...
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...
A South Asian’s Guide to Eating in Istanbul
South Asians love spice in everything – life, movies and of course, food. South Asian food is truly so spectacular; the complexity of flavors,...
Merlin Entertainments: Family Fun in Istanbul’s Magically Mysterious Worlds
Merlin Entertainments - Europe's number one entertainment venue - is a first choice for those who want to have fun with their family in Istanbul....
A Guide to Correctly Queuing in Istanbul
A few days ago I was waiting for the bus in the ridiculously long line at Beşiktaş Square - some mornings the line turns...
Eight Suggestions for a Kid-Friendly New Year’s & Christmas in Istanbul
While we are leaving 2017 behind, all sorts of celebrations for Christmas and New Year's Eve are underway. We are regularly bombarded with countless...
A Guide to Istanbul Earthquake Preparedness
With all the disturbing events in the news recently, it is easy to forget the more mundane, boring threats of life: pickpockets in Taksim,...
10 Reasons Why Living in the Deep West Isn’t So Bad
Why make such a list? Because after each two hour journey home from Taksim in the early hours of the morning, I have to...
Updated: 1,169 Neighborhood Closures to Foreigners in Turkey
IMPORTANT NOTE: As of Friday 07 October, the Interior Ministry has made the decision to close several districts in Istanbul entirely to any new...