Istanbul
A standout city for work, holiday or any other imaginable reason.
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Divided by the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
This unique location has fostered a vibrant cultural hub, attracting visitors from across the globe who are captivated by its rich and impressive history.
Just book a ticket. Nothing more needs to be said.
Just book a ticket. Nothing more needs to be said.
Just book a ticket. Nothing more needs to be said.
Just book a ticket. Nothing more needs to be said.
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Summary
Istanbul is a city I've been back to 3 times during this stint of remote working and I have no doubts that I will be back again.
This particular trip to Turkey coincided with the 2022 Football World Cup, with the international demographic of the city being a great place to pick up on the buzz of the games.
Accommodation
Airbnbs tend to be hit and miss throughout Turkey and Istanbul is no exception. Supply doesn't quite reach the high demand in the city so finding a good deal is harder than other in many other cities.
Book well in advance and pay close attention to the area you choose. If planning on working from home, I wouldn't assume the Wifi would be at the speed you require.
Places to work
The city has a great range of coworking options, cafes and public spaces to work from but perhaps not quite as many as the size of it warrants.
Value
Much to the the local population's dismay, the Turkish lira has been on a continuous slide the last few years which makes it a great value destination if travelling from the West.
Working hours
Turkey adheres to GMT+2 in summer, reverting to GMT+3 in winter due to the absence of daylight saving time practices.
🇪🇺 Consider working European hours from Asia?
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Where to stay
Due to the sheer size of the city, the location you choose to stay in will heavily dictate the nature of your visit more so than in other cities.
The city is well connected through a combination of the metro, Marmaray and ferry boats, but staying close to one of destinations below will minimise your need to be using public transport.
Beşiktaş
Cihangir
Kadıköy
Bomonti
Fatih
Where to work
CoBAC WorkSpace
A strong contender for my favourite place to work from. Ever.
The office is split over 4 floors, with an abundance of natural light in every area. Each floor has a range of coworking desks alongside private offices, giving a perfect t mix between vibrancy and peacefulness.
The roof top provides panoramic views over the Golden Horn with a cafe/restaurant serving tasty, fresh meals and coffee all day at very competitive prices.
Even though I'd strongly recommend not staying in the local area, (you are more likelly to find a Mosque than a Flat White in Fatih) Halıç metro and a ferry teminal are within a 5 minute walk making it easily reachable across the city.
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Remote work visa
If staying for a prolonged period, you may want to consider a dedicated visa for this destination.
This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.
Check your government website for details of how to obtain a tourist visa.
Citizen Remote is a great source of up to date knowledge for everything to do with remote work visas.
Safety
Off-work
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Take a day trip to Büyükada
The largest of the 'Princes Islands' situated just off the coast of the Asian side of the city, this archipelago is easily reached from boat from the main land. Grab an early ferry to beat the crowds and venture out of the town centre to enjoy a moment of rare serenity.
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Watch the sunset at Moda Park
The whole area from Çocuk Parkı to Kadıköy Moda Sahil Parkı is blessed with incredible sunset views and 100% worth an evening drinking a cold Efes on the rocks. Moda İskelesi has a small library/coworking space to enjoy views of the water from.
Eat at a Meyhane
These style of restaurants can be found all across Turkey and you should definitely dedicate an evening to one. Numerous meze plates are served alongside plentiful Rakı, creating a unique piece of Turkish culture. There are countless in Istanbul, Asmalı Cavit, not far from Galata is worth a visit.
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Take a Bosphorus tour
The best way to the city is to take one of the many boat tours that leave from the ferry piers near near Beşiktaş or Fatih. There's plenty to be seen on the journey up to Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and plenty of tea to be drank during the journey.
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Visit the Grand Bazaar
The sort of place you are likely to go once and never return, it's well worth visiting this enormous indoor market where conceivably anything under the sun can be purchased. Would recommend visiting earlier in the day to beat the inevitable crowds.
Take a tour at Topkapi Palace
The former royal residence and administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire for over four centuries. A sprawling complex showcasing distinctive architecture and an array of chambers that previously hosted the sultans.
Duration & season
From experience, the winter and spring weather in Istanbul can be surprisingly grim and I haven't been unlucky in those experiences. Visiting after May and before November should give you the best chance of seeing the city at it's best. If visiting in the peak of summer, you'll definitely benefit from a room with A/C.
If you like the buzz of big cities, then there is more than enough for a couple of months stay. You could even split the stay in two to experience different parts of the citys diverse landscape.
Food & drink
People
With roughly 15,000,000 inhabitants, Istanbul is a true melting pot of identities with an equal mix of people from across Europe to the west, the arab world to the east and the rest of the world sprinkled in between.
Unsurprisingly for a city of this size, there are no shortage of opportunities for meeting likeminded people and dating. Bear in mind the sheer enormity of the city brings with it it's own challenges.
Exercise
İBB Maçka Democracy Park
Kadiköy Loop
Verdict
Positives
- A unique city layout.The Bosphorus runs through the heart of the city and unlike the Thames, the river boats are a viable form of getting around the city.
- Great variety of food.Both local and International cuisines are well catered for in the city, better than anywhere else in the country.
- Great value.Whilst the weakness of the Lira is of much enduring frustration to the local population, it does make it a great time to visit the city from abroad.
- The activity goes on late into the night.It's not uncommon for İstiklal to be swarming with people well after midnight on the weekends.
- English spoken well.Not necessarily universally but in the main areas you will be frequenting, it is spoken widely and fluently.
- A perfect city to walk around.Istanbul is one of my favourite places to simply walk around. There is so much going on, pick any two points on the map and between them and there will be entertainment along the way.
Negatives
- Istanbul is enormous.Plan where you are going to stay and where are intending to to minimise the amount of travelling you'll need to do.
- It's super busy.If you don't like the hustle and bustle of big cities, it's probably not going to be for you.
- Proper winter weather.Whilst it may not get as cold as in some parts of Western and Central Europe, the weather winter can be grim and not what you would associate with Turkey.
Tips
- Really think about where you want to stay.Depending on where you choose, you can have radically different experiences.
- Don't try and risk a slim flight connection between Istanbul & Sabiha Gökçen Airports. The airports are 85km between one another. Allow plentiful time if for whatever reason you need to get between the two.
- Sample plenty of 'Simits'.These bagel shaped, circular breaded snacks are available across the city with vendors selling them out of small carts. Particularly good with Nutella.
- If staying anywhere immediately south of Taksim, bring earplugs.Having stayed in a few places nearby, the techno clubs can start at 3AM and not finish until the sunrise.
- You cannot cross any of the bridges over the Bosphorus by foot.Take my word for it, I have tried.
- Consider getting a Dolmuş for some routes.These small minibuses can be effective between getting certain destinations, like between Kadıköy and Taksim/Beşiktaş at night.
- Read up on Atatürk.The father of modern day Turkey, after a few days you'll probably wonder who this man who keeps popping up everywhere is.
- Be sure to sample a Turkish breakfast.This is usually made up of a variety of salads, cheese, olives and Turkish sausage. Ideal on a weekend morning.
- Eid al-Adha is a major holiday usually around June.Expect many offices to be closed during this time in a similar manner to Christmas in the UK.
Planning a trip?
More destinations in Japan
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