Experience in Kocaeli, Turkey, by Chanda

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

Kocaeli is a beautiful place to live, and I would recommend living in a city called İzmit. Izmit is surrounded by places you would like visiting during your stay in Kocaeli. And if you need help, Izmit has an international students office which can help you with everything starting from accommodation.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Kocaeli?

If you have friends with you, Kocaeli is a good place to hangout. It has many things to do and places to visit.

How much does it cost to live in Kocaeli?

Living in Kocaeli is quite cheap compared to living in Istanbul. Depending on your accommodation type, monthly costs start around 800 Turkish Lira if you are living in a dormitory. For some it can be lower if your dormitory is cheaper.

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

Finding accommodation in Kocaeli is quite easy. If you want an apartment just check the local listings in area that you would like to live in. Most common student accommodation in Kocaeli being dormitories. Usually private dormitories always have an empty bed or two. I would advise you from getting a religious organisation owned accommodation.

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

The food is quite different from town to town. Myself I usually enjoy this food called "çiğköfte". I also enjoy fried eggplants with meat called "patlıcan".

What places would you recommend visiting in Kocaeli?

If you ever happened to be in Kocaeli, during summer visiting Kandira is must. Kandira has three different beaches, visiting all three is a good option. And if it's winter, visiting Kartepe is a must. In Kartepe you find snow related activities like skiing, etc.

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

Eating out is great, you get so many options. You get the usual places like Burger King, McDonalds etc but I like fried chicken from ChickenHouse and KöfteçiYusuf. When eating out, trying out Iskender is a must.

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

Nightlife in Kocaeli in my opinion is boring. If it's just you and some friends yo can find cafes around where you can sit, talk and play board games, card games etc. Parties in night clubs are rare and are usually held on Mondays or Tuesdays, and you still got lessons the next morning.

What advice would you give future students heading to Kocaeli?

I would recommend visiting Kocaeli because for all it's cons you can easily travel to Istanbul for an hour and enjoy normal student nightlife on weekends. The great thing about Kocaeli is that you enjoy Istanbul without the difficulties of experiencing big city hassles.

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