Some info about İstanbul, Turkey by Ebru

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

For the native people, Istanbul means chaos. Millions commute everyday from Anatolian side to European or vice versa. Due to heavy traffic you have to be ready spend most of your time on the ways. As a daily routine it might make people crazy. However, despite all the troubles, nobody wants to leave there. Every year tens of thousands students living in different provinces of Turkey come to Istanbul to further their education and many of them continue to live in Istanbul after their graduation. Istanbul is a sui generis city where it is possible to find East and West cultures at the same time. Saying "Istanbul is a bridge between East and West" is so widely used maybe, but absolutely true. It is so visible! You wonder about changes of people's clothing, architecture, even prices when you move from one district to another.

What is the student lifestyle like in Istanbul?

Istanbul offers really different opportunities. If your university is a campus university and a bit far from city center, you can spend most of your time within campus borders. Most of the campuses include everything that students could be needed. E.g. accommodation, restaurants, cafes, social centers, libraries, sport center and so on. If your university is in middle of the main districts of Istanbul, probably you don't want to spend your time in campus.  Kadıköy and Beyoğlu are main destinations of students.

How much does it cost to live in Istanbul?

To say that Turkish Lira (TL) is currency unit of Turkey might be useful before answering this question. I am unsure about that erasmus students take their grants as EUR or TL. If they take it as EUR it means they become rich day by day because EUR/TRY parity is prone to increase :) Anyway, average 1500-2000 TL is enough. Rent everage starts in  800s TL and up to 1000-1250 TL. I am talking about entrance floors and ups. For basement floors prices of rent decrease. I assume you will share entire rent with your housemates :) Istanbul is the most expensive city in prices of electricity, water and gas. Be ready for paying high priced bills. For transportation buying Istanbul card is the most advantageous, you can upload money in different times or upload 155TL for a monthly usage. (Adult ticket price) 70 TL for students but you should take student card by showing your student certificate. This card valid for every kinds of public transportation bus, metro, metrobus, ferry, tram, finicular. Food prices are really cheap relative to Europe. But alcohol is expensive probably you will spend most of your budget for alcohol :)

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

Student dorms' capacity is not enough to meet demand of students so it is really hard to find a place in dorms. They are really competitive. In that case most of the students share a flat. But homeowners tend to hire their flats at a premium for students. Be careful!
You can search via http://www.sahibinden.com/en/. It is reliable.

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

Foreigners think Turkish cuisine mainly consists of Kebabs. It is wrong. Change your mind ASAP :)

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_cuisine 

Just look through to have an idea about variety of Turkish cuisine. Did you see? Be sure all of them are luscious.

Ezogelin soup, mantı, hünkar beğendi, yaprak sarma my favourites :)

What places would you recommend visiting in Istanbul?

Probably as a foreigner you will have a city guide showing everywhere that must be seen in Istanbul like Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Dolmabahçe Palace, Yıldız Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Castles (Anatolia and Rumelia)... Visiting each of them takes long time so don't be hurry up.

But exactly go other proviences of Turkey. From Çanakkale through İzmir to Antalya. It will be a perfect trip, trust me:) You will see different colors of blue and green giving peace. Of course Ancient cities are living there. Spring is the perfect time I think... not too hot not cold and not so crowded... ideal for trip. East of Black Sea region in itself is like heaven. In South Eastern Anatolia Mardin and Diyarbakır are worth seeing.

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

For homemade food definitely go Pehlivan Restaurants. They are located in several district of Istanbul like Kadıköy, Şişli, Ümraniye. Foods are really delicious and they have wide variety of food from soup to salad, dessert. Midpoint restaurants are also good at cooking and serving. It is generally located in malls but my favourite is Midpoint in Beyoğlu. In Kadıköy MY CHEF is my number one. Their service dishes are so original especially for soup :) Karaköy Güllüoğlu is the top place for baklava. Never eat baklava somewhere else.

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

Istanbul nights never end. You can always find a place for party or just have fun or drink something. In Kadıköy Barlar Sokağı, Meyhaneler Sokağı and in Beyoğlu Asmalımescit have great number of bars at affordable prices. If you want to spend more money and see night life of elites, you should go Bebek.

What advice would you give future students headed to Istanbul?

1. When you ask something people, they will start to speak loudly. Don't be scared !!! because of their English they will think that you understand easily when they speak like that. :) But they are warm blooded and helpful. 
2. Never think that the weather of Istanbul is warm in winter. It is cold and most of time rainy. Bring your coat and clothes that keep you warm. Bring your swimming suits also. Istanbul has also spectacular beaches; of course, if you come in spring term.
3. In most of the universities attendance of the course is mandatory. It makes up 10 or 15 % of your final grade. Keep it in your mind when you travel!!! :)
4. Say your Turkish friends Let's go "FASIL" or Let's go eat fish and drink rakı. 
5. Smoke narghile in Tophane. 
6. In order to communicate with local people try to learn Turkish :) but body language always works in advance don't worry :)
7. http://www.numbeo.com/common/ Visit this site. It has full of information about cities all over the world. You can easily calculate and compare your cost of living before starting your journey.