Experience in Istanbul, Turkey by Samed

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

Istanbul has been a popular city since the ancient times. Therefore you can find a piece of history in every corner. People are generally nice and the crime rate is not very high comparing to other multicultural cities. One big problem is the traffic. sometimes you can spend hours to pass a pretty short distance. And the subway and the buses (except some) closes at midnight.

What is the student lifestyle like in Istanbul?

Culturally Istanbul is a place that provides you everything with museums, galleries etc. There are numbers of universities and collages - so a lot of students. Language classes and social groups are really active and you can do every kind of sport in Istanbul.

How much does it cost to live in Istanbul?

1500 TL (~550 €) is more than enough to have a standard life here.

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

Not that difficult. There are websites that you can find accomodations to rent. Also the real estate offices are everywhere.

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

Turkey is a very big country, so that it's hard to define the food exactly. And Istanbul is the city that you can find all those different kinds.

My favourite is always fish.

What places would you recommend visiting in Istanbul?

The Bosphorus, Prince Islands, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Galata Tower and the other millions of places.

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

Yes, it's cheap (comparing to Europe) and most of the time clean. I don't have a favourite place.

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

Not that good, but still. Beyoğlu is the center of the bars and clubs in the European side with tons of cafes, bars and clubs.

What advice would you give future students heading to Istanbul?

Be ready for a little bit of caos but you'll find a magnificent atmosphere in Istanbul. For further help, don't hesitate to contact me anytime.