Digital Nomad Essentials

📱 eSim: Airalo
💳 International Card: Wise
🌍 Visa for any country: Joinsherpa
👥 Neighborhood Vibes: Hoodmaps
🏥 Insurance: Credit-Card Built in Insurance
🏠 Housing: Airbnb Book 28 days for discounts
🎦 See the Experience: Youtube

PS: Not an affiliate of any of the providers mentioned above, we just use them on our travels.

Turkiye Istanbul

Average Expenses

💵 Cost of living for nomad: ~$1,813 / month
🏨 Accommodation: ~ $1,265 / month (Airbnb in Beyoglu)
🏨 Hotel (median price): $98 / night
🏠 Airbnb (median price): $40 / night
🏢 Coworking hot desk: $98 / month
🍛 Dinner: $4.35
🍺 Beer in cafe (0.5L): $2.17
☕️ Coffee in cafe: $1.49
🚕 Taxi price (avg trip ~3km/2mi): $0.93 / trip

Favourite Experiences 🎖️

Exploring the historic Galata Port Area
Visiting iconic landmarks such as the Blue Mosque and Galata Tower
Walking through the bustling Istiklal Street and Taksim Square
Enjoying traditional Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı)
Affordable and delicious local food at Balkan Lokantasi

Not So Good 😢

Accommodation in some areas can be noisy with thin walls and frequent disturbances
Scams targeting tourists, especially in restaurants near tourist spots
Smoky environments in certain areas, which can be unpleasant for non-smokers
Persistent street vendors and beggars in certain neighborhoods

Recommendations

Attractions

Top 10 Recommendations for Visiting Istanbul

1. Hagia Sophia

One of the most iconic landmarks in Istanbul, Hagia Sophia has served as a cathedral, mosque, and now a museum. Its stunning architecture and historical significance make it a must-visit.

Main Attractions: Dome, mosaics, Islamic calligraphy
Location: Sultanahmet

2. Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

Famous for its blue tiles adorning the interior walls, the Blue Mosque is a breathtaking example of classical Ottoman architecture.

Main Attractions: Six minarets, courtyard, blue tiles
Location: Sultanahmet

3. Topkapi Palace

Once the residence of Ottoman sultans, Topkapi Palace is now a museum showcasing imperial collections, including the Prophet Muhammad's cloak and sword.

Main Attractions: Harem, Treasury, gardens
Location: Sultanahmet

4. Basilica Cistern

An ancient underground water reservoir, the Basilica Cistern is known for its impressive columns and eerie, atmospheric lighting.

Main Attractions: Medusa heads, columns, underground lake
Location: Sultanahmet

5. Grand Bazaar

One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, the Grand Bazaar is a labyrinth of shops selling everything from spices to jewelry.

Main Attractions: Shopping, Turkish carpets, spices
Location: Beyazit

6. Galata Tower

This medieval stone tower offers panoramic views of Istanbul. It's one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and a great spot for photography.

Main Attractions: Panoramic views, observation deck
Location: Galata

7. Istiklal Street

A bustling pedestrian street in the heart of Istanbul, Istiklal Street is lined with shops, cafes, and historic buildings.

Main Attractions: Shopping, dining, nightlife
Location: Beyoglu

8. Taksim Square

A major tourist and leisure district, Taksim Square is known for its restaurants, shops, and hotels. It is also a hub for public transportation.

Main Attractions: Monument of the Republic, restaurants, nightlife
Location: Beyoglu

9. Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)

A vibrant market known for its array of spices, dried fruits, nuts, and other Turkish delights. It's a sensory overload of colors, scents, and sounds.

Main Attractions: Spices, Turkish delights, teas
Location: Eminonu

10. Dolmabahce Palace

This lavish palace on the Bosphorus shore is a symbol of the opulence of the Ottoman Empire. Its grand halls and beautiful gardens are impressive.

Main Attractions: Ceremonial halls, crystal chandeliers, gardens
Location: Besiktas

Main Tourist Spots Map

To help you navigate your visit, here are the main tourist spots pinned on a map:

Istanbul Main Attractions Map

Enjoy your trip to Istanbul, filled with history, culture, and unforgettable experiences!

Cafes

Van Kahvaltı Evi
- Classic Turkish breakfast spot. Delicious food and great atmosphere.
Asmali Bakery
- Great for Turkish pastries and desserts without breaking the bank.

Restaurants

Balcan Lokantasi
- Affordable and tasty local food. A good spot for budget-friendly dining.
Balkan Lokantasi (Recommended Branch)
- Great for local dishes without the tourist prices.

Travel Tips

Visa

E-VISA: Applied and approved online for a 3-month tourist stay.

Transportation

IstanbulKart: Best option for long stays. Cost: 100 TL (~$3.25 USD) for initial top-up. Usable on all public transport and even for public toilets.
Bus from Istanbul Airport to Taksim: Use Platform 16 for direct service.

Mobile SIM

Airalo E-SIM: $7 for 1 week with 1GB data, ideal for interim internet access.

Accommodation Insights

Beyoglu Area Airbnb: ~$1,265/month. Vibrant but can be noisy and smoky.
Fatih Area Airbnb: ~$1,176/month. Thin walls and noisy, not recommended for light sleepers.
Kepez Antalya Area Airbnb: ~$1,136/month. Best Airbnb experience in Turkey.

Be Careful with Restaurant Pricing Scams

Avoid restaurants near tourist spots if prices aren't clearly displayed.
Compare prices with known local spots to avoid being overcharged.

Enjoy Turkish Cuisine

Classic Dishes to Try:
- Kahvaltı: Traditional Turkish breakfast.
- Manti: Turkish dumplings with yogurt and tomato sauce.
- Simit: Traditional bread perfect for a quick snack.

Enjoy your stay in Istanbul! For more detailed directions and recommendations, follow the provided Google Maps links.

Youtube Videos

Digital Nomad Protips

🌔 Do not arrive in the airport at night.

It adds a layer of complexity trying to figure out how to get to your accomodation at night.

🚕 Taxis are notorious at overcharging at any country.

Arriving at night forces you to sometimes use them. Especially in countries where you can’t easily use Uber

🍇 Always know where the supermarket is

or better yet, live near the local supermarket. This will help you save tons of money and really simulate living like a local.

👩‍🍳 Find Restaurants/Cafes where the owner is constantly there

Frequently visit that place. They will start noticing you and become friendly. It helps you adjust to certain places when you know some of the locals and it’s one of the easiest ways to make friends.

🏦 Always bring cash.

around $100 worth, regardless if the country uses card in most places. There will almost always be an instance where you need cash. Do not bring too much cash as well.

🏂 Do not bring clothes for all seasons.

The worst case is that half of your clothes is for winter and the other half is summer. In most cases, it will either be too hot or too cold to where the other half of your clothes. Bring only a few set and look for local bazaars that sell affordable clothes for that season. You save in luggage expense, help local community, and get new clothes. win-win-win.

🚚 Understand crossing the road culture.

It’s surprising how different cultures treat crossing the road varies greatly, e.g vietnam versus australia, it could very well save your life.

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