If you are thinking about coming to Turkey’s biggest city, you certainly will be looking for some hot tips for remote workers in Istanbul. Indeed, even though this is a city with an established infrastructure for visitors, it can be anything but intuitive at times. As such, visitors will want to plan their time in Istanbul well and take steps to meet people around the city and keep in touch with family back home, in an effort to lessen the impact of culture shock.
A good idea for all first-time visitors to the city will be to say for a few days in a hotel or Airbnb in Sultanahmet (the city’s foremost tourism district), in order to give yourself time to experience other neighborhoods before committing to an apartment. Below we outline some additional useful tips for remote workers in Istanbul.
This is an extremely useful tip for remote workers in Istanbul and any other city. In Istanbul, it will be particularly useful to join one of the international communities because of the existing language barrier - these groups will use English as the common tongue but also encourage you to give Turkish a try. Meeting other remote workers in Istanbul will certainly give you a sense of belonging here and make you feel less lonely in this huge city. Cultural and social groups in the city are plentiful and regularly provide exciting opportunities for getting to know the city, as well as surrounding areas beyond Istanbul. In general, finding friends and feeling part of a group will definitely improve your experience of the city and give you an important support network in Istanbul.
Turkish is not an easy language to learn, but getting at least some of the basics down is certainly one of our top tips for remote workers in Istanbul. You can certainly expect to hear English and other languages around the city, but levels of English among the local population are very low in comparison to other countries in Europe. As such, learning some Turkish will help you navigate the city, understand its culture, and make friends. Some great ways to learn the language are to use a podcast, take private classes or even sign up at a local language school. Some popular Turkish language schools in Istanbul include Royal Turkish Schools and Magic Talk Academy.
Turkey has a very strong market culture and no visit to Istanbul will be complete without a visit to the city’s fantastic markets and bazaars. You will certainly want to leave behind notions of shopping at Walmart or Tesco-style stores and expect to find some of the best products amidst the colorful hustle of Istanbul’s bazaars. The Egyptian Market in Fatih, also known as the Spice Bazaar, is a beautiful explosion of color and endless products right in the heart of the city. Equally, Wednesdays see a popular market pop up near Fatih Mosque, providing spices and fresh products in the open air. Yeşilköy and the Grand Bazaar are also excellent choices for shopping in style across Istanbul. Don’t forget to bargain for a lower price.
An obvious tip for remote workers in Istanbul will be to set aside some time to take in the city’s incredible culture and history. After all, Istanbul very much a city like no other - located across two continents, the seat of former empires and a point of convergence between a myriad of rich cultures. While you’re here, you certainly will want to check out the unique architectural gems across the city, and witness the importance of spirituality at places such as Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque. SALT offers some of the best contemporary art in the region at its two Istanbul locations in Galata and Beyoğlu. Of course, the city’s markets and the shores on both sides of the Marmara Sea are filled with things to see and experience.
For more information about living in Istanbul as a remote worker, check out our complete Istanbul guide.