Experience in Istanbul, Turkey by Zahra

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

It is an amazing city. It has all what it takes to have a great tour and vacation. If you are looking for historical attractions, or if you are looking for fun and party, or if you wanna just chill and meet great friends, then Istanbul the place I would recommend it. The city is a total pack of diversity and colors. You will never be bored here. There is always an option you can do.

What is the student lifestyle like in Istanbul?

It is amazing. I am living in iTU dormitory with students who came to Istanbul for summer school. I found it pretty fun and educational. You can meet students from different countries and backgrounds. You can hang out with them. About the prices, if you have a student card, you can have discount for your transportation which otherwise is really expensive. In addition, 90% of student in Turkey know English. So if you do not know Turkish, never worry, they know English.

How much does it cost to live in Istanbul?

It really depends on the currency of your income. If you have money in dollars or euro, then it is not gonna be that expensive for you. However, for me, it is personally expensive. The exchange rate to my currency is not that good. That is why everything here look expensive for me. If I wanna say generally, I would say it is a bit expensive. Transportation costs a lot of money. But fortunately the food is cheap here, and you have a lot of options when it comes to food. You can find cheap, stomach-fulling, and tasty food everywhere in Istanbul.

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

I think accommodation is really good in Istanbul. You can find a lot of hostels, hotels, dorms, rooms, host families, and apartments all around the city in on-line pages. My advice would be to find a place, whatever the option you want, prior to coming to Istanbul. If you really want to experience life in real Turkish culture, or if you want to save money, here are many people interested to host travelers for free. I believe it is a good option for those who plan to stay for a few days in Istanbul. If you are a student (Summer school, internship, or work), you can find dormitories. There are a lot of dorms which are pretty cheap. They are clean and have a lot of facilities.

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

Food is the BEST thing here in Istanbul. There are many different international brands like KFC, McDonald, and more. In addition to these, there are many countless Turkish food brands with extremely delicious menu. It is the best place for those who are following a special diet. Since here you can find any food. If you do not want to eat fast foods, you have the option to go to home-made food place and enjoy a healthy Turkish food. The prices are different. You can find either very cheap or very expensive food.
My favorite food here is Lakmancun. It is like a Turkish pizza but without cheese. I recommend all to try it.

What places would you recommend visiting in Istanbul?

Camlica Teppesi
Uskudar
Kadikoy
Besiktas
Galata Tower
Kuzguncuk
Emirgan