Experience in Istanbul, Turkey by HAJER

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

Living in istanbul is like living in a very small country with many cities. Every city has a background and has its own culture . There are many elements that make you enjoy your time in this city.

Istanbul to me is Simit (turkish snack with sesame) and cay (turkish tea). It is enjoying the fresh smell of sea with your loved ones on a weekend.

Istanbul is living together with different ethnic backgrounds: expats , refugees, americans , syrians , iranians , russians , and finally turks.

There are people from all the places in turkey in istanbul.

It is a thrill to live here, everyday is a new adventure , you 'll never get bored. the nightlife is amazing. in the summer all you want to is go outside and have fun.



The city is full of activities, events 24/7. Life is not ending at 5 p.m like in most of western cities. Even in outer suburbs,shops,stores, are open until late . you can provide your basic needs at any time of the day.
Concerts,conventions,sports organizations are held in Istanbul much more than other cities in Turkey.

What is the student lifestyle like in Estambul?

As a student, living in Istanbul is amazing. Lots of place to see around, hang around and to party. Affordable if you share an apartement with 2/3 roommates. You may find ao many places to eat which fit to each pocket. Very rich in terms of cultural events compared to other Turkish cities but the good ones may be really expensive, anyway you have many choices.

How much does it cost to live in Estambul?

depends on where you live, where you eat & drink and where you shop. Very much so. If you are earning an western European level salary, Istanbul is very affordable, But if you work for a local company or university, for example, you might have hard time surviving, if you receive a “local level salary” and yet want to live in a nice neighbourhood.

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

its not difficult at all .but, i don't have alot of info. about it.:(

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

Incredibly varied, historically interesting, and very delicious, the best food in Istanbul pulls influences from all over the world and melds it into a food scene that is truly unique.

# simit (round bread is covered in sesame seeds and is one of the most popular street food snacks in Istanbul–you’ll find simit carts on nearly every corner in the city!)

#Kofte (Turkish meatballs are incredibly popular–you’ll find a plate of them on nearly every menu)

#doner (Meat for döner is cooked on large, vertical rotisseries, and shaved off as it cooks to make a delicious meal.)

#lahmacun (ahmacun is made up of a thin piece of dough, topped with minced meat, spices, and vegetables.)

And finally we come to my favorite and its

#Mussels

Mussels are a popular food in Istanbul and are popularly sold as a street food or in small, casual restaurants.

Two varieties are the clear favorites: stuffed mussels, and deep fried mussels.

And yeah don't forget to try the cay (turkish tea) and turkish coffee for sure .and our desserts too.

What places would you recommend visiting in Estambul?

Istanbul is a big city so it's up to you

If you like beach and silence and want a quite place you should go to beylikduzu ,gurpinar and live in vella has a view on sea.

And the beach is about 5 minutes away.

And if you love traffic area I will recommend some places

Taksim

ATakoy

Sultan Ahmet

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

yes. Personally, we found Istanbul to be incredibly clean, especially around the main tourist sites. You can also easily see into the street food kitchens and they all appeared to be in tip-top shape. Of course, you never know how food is stored, but even after eating 18 different foods in less than 40 hours, we didn’t have any stomach issues.

#Valonia cafe

#Bigchefs

#Biber Burger

#Nusr-Et steakhouse

#Mendel's

#Duble meze bar

#Midyeci Ahmet - MY FAVOURITE SPOT

# Cafe J. burger

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

If you are looking for nightlife, It is the right place my friend. There is expensive and amazing night clubs in Istanbul with the view of Bosphorus. And we can say that this city never sleeps too. You can always find some events, concerts. We love living our lives in every way.

What advice would you give future students heading to Estambul?

first of all u need to install these apps on ur phone.

1.Yemeksepiti: ordering food

2.Trafi: Gives you the best transportation methods

3.Bitaksi: Turish Uber

-Learn the language and install a dictionary on your phone.
-Always count your money and try not to look like a foreigner.
_Don’t express your political views too openly in public, but be as honest as you like in private.

-Also be prepared to answer the following question: Do you like Istanbul and Turkey? You can be honest, and say that there are things you don’t like - such as the traffic. But make sure you say something positive, which is not too hard.

-I hope you find this great city as stimulating as I have.