Experience in Istanbul, Turkey by Çağla

What is it like to live in Istanbul? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Istanbul is a big, multi-cultural city. Even though sometimes the city can be chaotic for those who do not like living in noisy, crowded places like me; there are also many places to visit, and many other activities you can do so that you will never be bored during your staying in Istanbul.

What is the student lifestyle like in Istanbul?

Istanbul's population is quite high with young people so there are many students in the city. Since it is the heart of the Turkey, there are many opportunities you can use for your future career, and to do networking. It is also a fun city for students where has been hold a lot of concerts, exhibitions, etc.

How much does it cost to live in Istanbul?

It depends on the person, but for each month we could say about 400£.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Istanbul? Is there any advice you can give?

There are many school dorms both private and public. Public dorms are cheaper but i'd warn people about service and hygiene. You can also rent a home,it is not difficult to find but you should check very carefully on where it is located for safety , and transportation reasons.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

You can find every taste here for your own taste. So i'd say do not worry about the food in Istanbul :)

What places would you recommend visiting in Istanbul?

I'd recommend taking the train from Kabataş and visit all touristic places in every stations especially if they want to visit museums, mosques etc. A Bosphorus trip is definitely a thing you should do too :)

Is it good to eat out in Istanbul? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

I enjoy the cafes in Sariyer area in Istanbul where you can also enjoy the Bosphorus view too.

Is the nightlife good in Istanbul? Where is good to go?

You can find many good places especially in Taksim, Beyoglu, Etiler, Bebek area for nightlife.

What advice would you give future students heading to Istanbul?

First, you should get prepared for transportation difficulty if you want it cheap, it can get exhausted. I recommend visiting all museums, and historical places then discovering modern places because Istanbul is also rich with malls. Since the city is full of with all people with different cultural backgrounds, i feel like i should warn them its not really safe walking around alone in a late time. Besides that, im sure they will have a lot of fun! People are friendly, and warm towards other people in general, there are great spots to visit, great food to taste, and a great, rich culture to know about! :)