Experience in Istanbul, Turkey by Dilara

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

I was born in istanbul this is my city this is my home. It's everything to me. I can't live anywhere else without istanbul. İstanbul is a really strange city :) there is to many turists and the exchange students so when you are walking street you can also feel like you are still at your own country. Becouse in here you can see people comes from all of the countries in the world. So you dont feel like allien in here :). İstanbul never sleeps you can see peoples at streets every hour in day. Of course their is 1-2 places you can't walk at nights :) but which country doesn't have them?

What is the student lifestyle like in Istanbul?

Actually you can't see the local students which is finished her/his school in 4 years :) its min 5 years and I dont know what is the max year but I have a friend which is in 10th year in his universty life :). So I mean if you like to hang out and shooping or someting else which is don't let you to study of your lessons so don't come in this city :) becouse in here their is too much thing to do so if you come here you can forget you are student :)

How much does it cost to live in Istanbul?

It's expensive. I'm really sorry for saying that but this is it. In here taxs are too high in everything so the sallers dont have any choose with out high priceses in everything. İf you think live alone in your own house and if is not the worst house in the world the houses start in 400 euro minimum if it is little bit far away center and the couse changes center of country&luxry its go 1500 euro at max. And the bills if you have internet and tv at your own house in summer around 100 euro and at the winter ita could be 250 euro becouse of heating. If you cant cook and if you want to eat 2 meal in day for a mount you pay the food 450 euro. And if you know the cook and do your own meal to your self in almost 150 euro in mouth. If you like the go outside in day for drink coffe and sit a bit in some cafe you'll spent at least 20 euro in a day minimum. İf you dont have a car and if you hate from buses you will spent 300 euro a taxi for in mouth but id you can use the bus and only one bus for go and come back in the day its 45 euro for mouth. If you also like the night life the clubs minimum price for just go in and include one drinks its 50 euro and all glases you drink to inside start 20 euro and if you think the open a bottle inside its around 300 euro minimum. So yes you must have to much money if you think to live in here :)

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

İf you dont have to much money you must go someone house to live together and if you still dont pay the price try to choose this houses little bit far away center and your school. Becouse if you want the live in taksim just you know its a good place so you must live a lots of money :). But if you choose some place which is you can go your school just with 1 bus your price almost go down at half. İf you want to live alone its hard to find house becouse in istanvul their is too many peoples want to live in here and about that in every year it going to hard to find empty houses.

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

Im from here so I cant taste our food like a stranger :) but I like them all :). For advice do not afraid about the foods we have becouse you can find anything in here. Im pretty sure you can find something which is you like to eat :).

What places would you recommend visiting in Istanbul?

Everywhere :). Dont miss the historical parts of istanbul go everywhere there is too many places for discovery :).

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

Foods and the services at cafes its imazing you can eat every where which is seems nice from outside :). İts all prices same and all foods are tasty so dont worrie about that.

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

Ortaköy & Bebek is the great placesea if you are like the disco kind out night life all place in here too close each other all ouf them near the see and everyone of them is too big. But if you like the live music at the stage and drink with music you must go to taksim of course :) and also Kadıköy can be usefull too. And again in every street you can find too many bars look them from outside you can learn you like or not I cant give any advice for places becouse all of them different from each other if you are in jazz mode you can go to jazz bars or if you are in death metal mode so you can find the true place near the jazz bar :). Trust me when you go taksim or kadıköy your foots can find their own way just open your ears and let them find the music which is you are really like. :)

What advice would you give future students heading to Istanbul?

I know the istanbul really big city and their is to much places for discovery. Dont ho outside without someone local you can lost and you can go somewhere exdidntly which is you really dont want to be. And dont forget the istanbul is really mix city I mean not just the roads or ways I mean peoples.. You can see every people in every cultures so its make some of them to dangerous. Ifa really like a mom advice but I have no chose for it. Please do not trust the strangers this country is really like the hospitality so they all be nice to you but please do not trust everyone of them. And please stay out of the country matters and I mean really out do not get closer even for watch becouse this year 10 or more erasmus students kick out of the country just for walk with the local peoples protesters and the policemans are not nice when they get you dont forget that too. :) Sorry for bad news and my bad english :)