Lifestyle and Shopping in Istanbul
Istanbul offers its expats a wonderful lifestyle, at once exotic and familiar, full of comforts and surprises and Turkish delights.
The Turkish metropolis is a culturally fascinating and exciting city for expats to relocate to; featuring some wonderfully diverse and unique leisure and lifestyle options for just about everyone. Expats can indulge in exotic Bedouin restaurants, a plethora of bazaars and shopping opportunities as well as a surprisingly vibrant nightlife, world-class sporting facilities and the world-renowned Turkish baths.
There is no shortage of recreational activities in Istanbul from sports, to cinema to cultural events.
To keep abreast of what’s on in Istanbul pick up a copy of “The Guide Istanbul”. The magazine comes out six times a year, and offers the most up-to-date information about places and people of interest, as well as a fairly comprehensive listing of hotels, restaurants, cafés, doctors etc.
Additionally, two online resources to subscribe to are www.mymerhaba.com and www.expatsturkey.com. There is also www.pukkaliving.com which gives a quirky update on what’s new in Istanbul.
Turkey has very few English newspapers – the oldest is the Turkish Daily News.
A hodgepodge of old and new, antiques and kitsch, Istanbul offers a wide variety of shopping; and although a lot of it might not be right up your alley, there are some really good bargains and unique buys to be found if you know where to look.
The Grand Bazaar is a good place to start and the Egyptian market and Beyazit Square flea market can be treasure troves when it comes to bargains. Head to Nuruosmaniye Caddesi for exquisite jewellery and its adjacent side streets for art boutiques and independent stores; though expats should be sure to watch their waistlines as they’ll find the abundance of delicious Turkish delight goes down a treat too easy.
Istanbul has a multitude of bars and nightclubs. The more unique options are the open air locations near the Bosphorous open only in the summer - Reina and Sortie are two of the most famous. With everything from belly dancers to cutting-edge techno beats, expats who love a good party will be thrilled to know that Istanbul’s nightlife is hip and happening with trendy clubs, bars and cocktail lounges abound.
Start off at a meyhane (Turkish tavern) for some raki or mezze platters before heading off to the tourist area of Sultanahmet – a good place to get into the swing of things. The Ortaköy area which overlooks the Bosphorous features the city’s best nightclubs, or if you like a bit of jazz head for the Nardis Jazz Club or Istanbul Jazz Centre for some toe-tapping live music.
Expats can indulge in a wide variety of cultural activities in Istanbul. For western classical music lovers, the Ataturk Cultural Centre (AKM) offers a comprehensive programme of concerts, ballet and opera. There are also concerts held from time to time at the Aya Irene, which is a Byzantine church in semi ruins that has been reopened for cultural events and has a wonderful atmosphere.
There are also rock bands that visit Istanbul from time to time and regular jazz performances at clubs. There is of course no lack of Turkish culture, from belly dancers to Turkish popular music to whirling dervish shows.
The nicest place to see a whirling dervish show is at the Sirkeci Railway Station. This is the original terminus of the Orient Express train, and has a wonderfully atmospheric waiting hall in which the dervishes perform bi –weekly. To get information of programmes and to purchase tickets go to www.biletix.com.
Istanbul has many options for leisure and sporting activities. There are a number of swimming pools and tennis courts around town. Gyms are widely available. Many housing estates have their own pool and gym. Alternatively there are a number of gyms and spas around Istanbul. Try also the big shopping malls – most have a gym attached, which you can join. These will also offer Pilates classes.
For golf, try the Kemer Golf and Country Club, or the Maslak Golf Club, which is less expensive than Kemer. For horse riding – again the Kemer Golf and Country Club is a good option, but you will have to become a member which is expensive. A good alternative is the Maslak Riding Club. There is also horse riding in Zekeriyakoy for those living out there. For paintballing – try the Macka park which is fairly central.
Learn to cook authentic Turkish food from a foreigner who has lived in Turkey for many years. Eveline conducts classes at her charming restaurant in the centre of town. For more information and to reserve go to www.cookingalaturka.com
The Turkish metropolis is a culturally fascinating and exciting city for expats to relocate to; featuring some wonderfully diverse and unique leisure and lifestyle options for just about everyone. Expats can indulge in exotic Bedouin restaurants, a plethora of bazaars and shopping opportunities as well as a surprisingly vibrant nightlife, world-class sporting facilities and the world-renowned Turkish baths.
There is no shortage of recreational activities in Istanbul from sports, to cinema to cultural events.
To keep abreast of what’s on in Istanbul pick up a copy of “The Guide Istanbul”. The magazine comes out six times a year, and offers the most up-to-date information about places and people of interest, as well as a fairly comprehensive listing of hotels, restaurants, cafés, doctors etc.
Additionally, two online resources to subscribe to are www.mymerhaba.com and www.expatsturkey.com. There is also www.pukkaliving.com which gives a quirky update on what’s new in Istanbul.
Turkey has very few English newspapers – the oldest is the Turkish Daily News.
Shopping in Istanbul
A hodgepodge of old and new, antiques and kitsch, Istanbul offers a wide variety of shopping; and although a lot of it might not be right up your alley, there are some really good bargains and unique buys to be found if you know where to look.
The Grand Bazaar is a good place to start and the Egyptian market and Beyazit Square flea market can be treasure troves when it comes to bargains. Head to Nuruosmaniye Caddesi for exquisite jewellery and its adjacent side streets for art boutiques and independent stores; though expats should be sure to watch their waistlines as they’ll find the abundance of delicious Turkish delight goes down a treat too easy.
Nightlife in Istanbul
Istanbul has a multitude of bars and nightclubs. The more unique options are the open air locations near the Bosphorous open only in the summer - Reina and Sortie are two of the most famous. With everything from belly dancers to cutting-edge techno beats, expats who love a good party will be thrilled to know that Istanbul’s nightlife is hip and happening with trendy clubs, bars and cocktail lounges abound.
Start off at a meyhane (Turkish tavern) for some raki or mezze platters before heading off to the tourist area of Sultanahmet – a good place to get into the swing of things. The Ortaköy area which overlooks the Bosphorous features the city’s best nightclubs, or if you like a bit of jazz head for the Nardis Jazz Club or Istanbul Jazz Centre for some toe-tapping live music.
Culture and concerts in Istanbul
Expats can indulge in a wide variety of cultural activities in Istanbul. For western classical music lovers, the Ataturk Cultural Centre (AKM) offers a comprehensive programme of concerts, ballet and opera. There are also concerts held from time to time at the Aya Irene, which is a Byzantine church in semi ruins that has been reopened for cultural events and has a wonderful atmosphere.
There are also rock bands that visit Istanbul from time to time and regular jazz performances at clubs. There is of course no lack of Turkish culture, from belly dancers to Turkish popular music to whirling dervish shows.
The nicest place to see a whirling dervish show is at the Sirkeci Railway Station. This is the original terminus of the Orient Express train, and has a wonderfully atmospheric waiting hall in which the dervishes perform bi –weekly. To get information of programmes and to purchase tickets go to www.biletix.com.
Cinemas in Istanbul
Istanbul has a number of cinemas, mostly in the malls. The latest English films are shown with only a slight delay from their original release dates. All films are shown in the original language with Turkish subtitles.
Leisure in Istanbul
Istanbul has many options for leisure and sporting activities. There are a number of swimming pools and tennis courts around town. Gyms are widely available. Many housing estates have their own pool and gym. Alternatively there are a number of gyms and spas around Istanbul. Try also the big shopping malls – most have a gym attached, which you can join. These will also offer Pilates classes.
For golf, try the Kemer Golf and Country Club, or the Maslak Golf Club, which is less expensive than Kemer. For horse riding – again the Kemer Golf and Country Club is a good option, but you will have to become a member which is expensive. A good alternative is the Maslak Riding Club. There is also horse riding in Zekeriyakoy for those living out there. For paintballing – try the Macka park which is fairly central.
Turkish Cooking Classes
Learn to cook authentic Turkish food from a foreigner who has lived in Turkey for many years. Eveline conducts classes at her charming restaurant in the centre of town. For more information and to reserve go to www.cookingalaturka.com
