University Guide: Istanbul University

Istanbul University (İstanbul Üniversitesi) is the oldest and one of the most prominent universities in Turkey, having been established in 1453 first as a...

Take 5: Cihangir (A Morning on Başkurt Sokak)

Istanbul arguably doesn’t really have one central district, like a downtown or a city center. It is a city of many centers, each with...

The Art of Nothing in Istanbul

Nothing: nothing to do, nothing to fix. No work to go to, no garden to tend. No meetings to go to, no dance classes…absolutely...

Southern Excursion: Turunç

Waking to the smell of jasmine growing outside my window and having a chorus of birds coax me out of bed, I feel welcomed...

Three Rising Stars of Sourdough in Istanbul

As a foreigner in Istanbul, the search for good bread is an ongoing quest. According to Turkish friends who originate from smaller cities or...

Hiking the Lycian Way: What to Pack

For the past two and a half weeks, I've seen vastly more goats than people, feasted on oranges straight from the tree, slept in...

Insider Trading: Twins Coffee Roasters

It would be disingenuous to say that Turkey doesn't have a coffee culture. But, I will go out on a limb here and say...

Announcement: Free Wi-Fi Spots in Istanbul

Starting in April the metropolitan municipality of Istanbul (İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi) will offer free Wi-Fi hotspots at a number of the city’s squares and...

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...

Insider Trading: Aynalıkavak Palace

Surprising to say, but Ottoman palaces in Istanbul are a dime a dozen. Palaces were a necessary part of imperial life, but after the...

8000 Years of Istanbul: Review of ‘Again, and New: World City...

Artifacts have been found in Istanbul (previously home to some of the world's largest empires, the city has also been known as Byzantion, Nea...

Seven Organic, Health Food, and Exotic Markets in Istanbul

When I first came to Turkey six years ago for a vacation, one of the first things that enamored me was the food. The...

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...

An Ode to Yabangee

Well this isn’t technically an ode seeing as poetry intimidates me. What it is though, is a giant shout-out to all you Yabangee-ers out...

Tails of Istanbul: Despair to Hope for Stray Cats and Dogs

It was a bright, sunny Saturday, during my very first trip to Istanbul, when I went where very few tourists would dare – Yedikule...

The Week in Turkey’s Cinemas

On Friday 11 January, three new movies come to Cinemaximum! Bring along your loved ones, get yourself some popcorn and snacks, and enjoy 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...

Anatolian Travel Archives: Hattusha/Hattuşa

Once there was a time when Hattusha was reached by foot, through a dense forest that flourished near the Red River or Kızılırmak and...

Notting Hill College Turkey: Learn Turkish & English to Find Valuable...

Start the new year by learning and practicing the Turkish language with Notting Hill College Turkey, while easily becoming integrated in the Turkish community...

Learn Turkish in Your Comfort Zone with Turkish Academy

If you are an expat living in Türkiye, a language enthusiast watching every single Turkish drama, or a university student researching about Turkish history,...

The Untold Story of an African in Turkey

By Bairma Kihoro People have always been crossing borders. Not just geographical, but social, cultural and psychological ones as well. Everyone has their own dramas,...

The Peculiar Case of the Cult of the Renault 12

Did you notice that every Renault 12 in the known universe had disappeared? Are you worried that some black hole had appeared and was...

University Guide: Bahçeşehir University (BAU)

Bahçeşehir University (Bahçeşehir Üniversitesi), often shortened to BAU, is a private college founded in 1998 and located on the European side of Istanbul. The...

For the Love of Teaching (and Ice Cream)

If we were to take our students’ grammatical grasp of English as a direct indication of their level of intelligence, and were to recognize...