Life in Turkey Blog Posts


6 strange festivals in Turkey

6 strange festivals in Turkey

In Turkey, you will always find a celebration, whether that is a birthday, a family occasion, or a whole town coming together in a festival - Turks pull out all the stops to celebrate events successfully. Yearly there are several festivals that raise an eyebrow, and in this blog we present to top 6 weird and wonderful festivals that you simply have to see when you go Turkey. 


8 Books about Turkey that you should read

8 Books about Turkey that you should read

A country of the magnitude of Turkey, the diversity, and history is sure to have many a book written about it throughout time. From travel guides, to romantic fiction, to historical events, there are hundreds of books for you to read about Turkey to get a flavour of what this magical country is all about. In this blog, we have gathered eight books that we have personally read and think expats and tourists would enjoy a read also.


13 unspoken Turkish rules you might not know

13 unspoken Turkish rules you might not know

Is it OK to blow your nose at the dinner table? When you go to a friend’s house, who should you greet first? And why is making an “O” shape with your thumb and forefinger considered so rude? We explain a few customs and social rules that manage to bamboozle and confound visitors and new residents. Memorise these few rules and ensure you never get caught out again.


Everything You Need to Know about Ramadan in Turkey 2015

Everything You Need to Know about Ramadan in Turkey 2015

All around the world, June 18th marks the beginning of Ramadan 2015, and in a country where officially 98% of the population are Muslims, people will naturally wonder how Ramadan in Turkey will affect their day to day live if they are an expat or someone looking to visit Turkey during this period. In this blog we give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about Ramadan in Turkey, including some tips and advice for those who will be on Turkish shores in the next month.


Traffic solutions greenlighted for Istanbul congestion

Traffic solutions greenlighted for Istanbul congestion

At the moment, it seems that all roads (and ferries, bridges and tunnels) lead to Istanbul. The fast-growing population has meant congestion problems: the city’s traffic has reached a crucial point, and officials are scrambling to find solutions. Work is underway on a new bridge, a Bosphorus tunnel and more creative solutions, all expected to roll out in the next couple of years. Public transport is also expanding, with new ferries and hundreds of kilometres of metro lines being added to the commuter arsenal, endeavouring to make travelling around Turkey’s largest city pain free.


Living in Turkey: Will The Language Barrier Be a Problem?

Living in Turkey: Will The Language Barrier Be a Problem?

As Turkey becomes one of the top destinations in the world for expats and foreigners purchasing real estate, more people are asking: ​Do you need to learn Turkish in order to live in Turkey? In this blog we take a look at the language barrier you might experience if you move to Turkey, including some helpful tips for getting around it, and some helpful phrases to get you started on your way to learning some Turkish language skills. 


Cappadocia Living: Life in Central Anatolia

Cappadocia Living: Life in Central Anatolia

For years, Cappadocia has been one of the top destinations in Turkey for travellers and tourists, becoming the third most visited region in Turkey. An important region in Turkish history, Cappadocia has also attracted many an expat and foreigner looking to make it their home. With amazing hot air ballon trips, underground cities, and cave hotels, lets take a look at living in Cappadocia - the fascinating, and not to be missed region of Turkey.


Five tips everyone should know before moving to Turkey

Five tips everyone should know before moving to Turkey

Turkey is a beautiful and fascinating country, a wonderful country that attracts thousands to relocate every year to new landscapes. But how well are you prepared for your move? From the essential art of haggling in the local market to the inevitable homesickness of pining for your home country, in this blog we give you a rundown on the five essential aspects of Turkish life and relocation tips you'll need to prepare for before you leave and start your new life in Turkey. 


Living or Travelling as a Solo Foreign Woman in Turkey

Living or Travelling as a Solo Foreign Woman in Turkey

"I have many female friends who live and travel around Turkey as solo foreign women. Most are from the UK and a few from countries like Germany or Switzerland. Strangely enough, they all have a common bond in that they feel safer in Turkey than they ever did in their home countries." Natalie Sayin provides us with an interview on travelling and living in Turkey as a solo woman, giving lots of tips and advice to anyone thinking of heading to Turkish shores alone in the near future.  


Driving in Turkey: Are You Up For the Challenge?

Driving in Turkey: Are You Up For the Challenge?

Over the last 10 years, the Turkish government have ploughed money into developing some of the finest quality roads to rival Western countries and improve infrastructure and access to main cities in the country. However, depending on who you talk to, it is not the roads that are the problem in Turkey, but the people driving on them! In this blog we give you our best tips to driving in Turkey as a foreigner without giving into road rage or ending the day bruised and battered. 


9 Turkish habits that will drive you crazy, and how to manage them

9 Turkish habits that will drive you crazy, and how to manage them

Moving to a new country isn’t easy. It’s not just sandy beaches and sparkling seas - navigating a new culture can be interesting at best, and utterly infuriating at its worst. From driving to queuing, discover the nine Turkish habits sure to drive a new expat round the ben. But don’t worry - we also give you a few ideas of how to manage them without blowing a gasket.


Europeans flee Spanish coast for Turkish havens

Europeans flee Spanish coast for Turkish havens

Spain, in particular the Costa del Sol, has always been a firm favourite with Brits, who have been moving their in the hundreds of thousands. However, the Eurozone crisis has turned the Spanish dream into a nightmare for many expats. High unemployment and plummeting property prices meant the end of the golden weather for many, who are heading home or looking further afield to more stable countries. We speak with former Spanish property owners who fell out of love with Spain and discovered a new life in Turkey.


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