Erasmus Experience in Istanbul, Turkey by Stefano

Why did you choose to go to Istanbul, Turkey?

I decided to go to Istanbul because I thought (and still think) that the Erasmus experience must push every student beyond his/her own limits: in order to achive this goal, it's fundamental to choose a place that is radically different from the comfort zone in which we are accustomized to. In Turkey it's possible to find the perfect environment: different cultures, an amazing city full of history and art, amazing parties....everything you need to make an awesome experience such as the Erasmus program, even more epic.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I received not that much, but it depends by the university. Mine was private, so it's a little bit different. Normally the scholarship is quite good, especially taking into consideration the fact of the exchange rate with the EURO is a great advantage.

What is the student lifestyle like in Istanbul?

One word: U N B E L I E V A B L E.
I've been in many place around the world, and I came from Rome. Trust me when I tell u that, compared with Istanbul, even Rome is boring.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Istanbul to other students?

Yes, totally.

What is the food like?

The cuisine is great, full of vegetables, meet and fish.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Istanbul?

250€

How much does it cost to live in Istanbul?

it's very cheap

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

yes

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Istanbul from your city?

from Rome with Pegasus it's really cheap.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Istanbul?

from Taksim square, wherever you want.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Istanbul?

more than one. My advice is to avoid the restaurant on the top of the Galata Tower. It's just for turist: you can eat shit, spending a lot of money, and it's totally useless.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Sultanhamet first, but there is much more to visit.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Istanbul in the future?

have fun and get wasted everyytime you have the opportunity.