Life in Istanbul

Istanbul has two airports on the two sides of the city. Check your ticket carefully: Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side, the same side as İZÜ's Halkalı campus; Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side, and the journey to campus is much longer.

Your transport options from the airport

Getting to the Halkalı campus

• İZÜ's main campus is in Halkalı (Küçükçekmece) on the European side. A useful tip: Halkalı is the western terminus of the Marmaray line; this line crosses the whole city from Gebze (passing under the Bosphorus) and is very handy if you land at SAW or are staying on the Asian side.

Option 1: İZÜ on-campus dormitories

• The easiest start: on campus, breakfast/dinner (included), furnished, Wi-Fi,…
• Apply online via the İZÜ Dormitory Application Portal https://izu.edu.tr/en/international/international-students/dormitories

Option 2: Partner / nearby dormitories

TÜRGEV female student dormitory: about 20 minutes from campus on a single bus line.
https://www.turgev.org/yurtlar/basaksehir-katibe-atmaca-yuksekogrenim-kiz-ogrenci-yurdu

Option 3: Renting a flat

More freedom, more responsibility. If you choose this route, know these basic rental rules:

• Deposit: usually 1-2 months' rent; paid when the contract is signed.
• Aidat: a monthly building fee paid in addition to rent (cleaning, elevator, sometimes heating); always ask "Aidat ne kadar?" (How much is the aidat?) before signing.
• Contract: a notarized rental contract (or an e-signed contract via e-Devlet) is required for the residence permit; a contract written on plain paper is not accepted by the migration authority.
• Utilities (subscriptions): electricity, water and natural gas contracts are made in your name (passport + tax number + a security deposit for each subscription).
• Finding a flatmate: the university's WhatsApp/Telegram groups and personal recommendations are safer than random listings. Never send a deposit without seeing the flat and meeting the landlord.
   

3 OPERATORS

Turkcell (best nationwide coverage), Vodafone (traveller-friendly packages), Türk Telekom (usually the lowest prices). All three have shops in every district and offer eSIMs. Bring your passport and residence permit; SIM cards are registered to your identity by law.

THE 120-DAY IMEI RULE — BE SURE TO READ THIS BEFORE YOU FLY

Turkey registers phones by their IMEI number. A phone bought abroad works with a Turkish SIM card for 120 days after your entry; after that, the device itself (not just the SIM) is blocked unless it is registered. In 2026, the registration fee is ₺54,258 (≈ $1,260).

As a student, your realistic options are:

• OPTION A - register your phone: via e-Devlet or a PTT branch (passport + fee). Only worth it for an expensive phone you need to keep. A registered phone remains linked to your passport's SIM for 3 years.
• OPTION B - buy a phone in Turkey: registration is never required for phones bought locally. A basic new smartphone can cost less than the registration fee; second-hand markets are also common.
• OPTION C - the two-phone tactic: use your own phone with Wi-Fi + your home country's SIM (roaming/eSIM does not start the 120-day counter in most cases), and put the Turkish SIM in a cheap local phone for calls, bank SMS messages and hotspot.

WI-FI YOU CAN USE

• Connect to the İZÜ campus Wi-Fi network with your student account: 02xxxxxxx@izu.edu.tr
   

Opening a bank account:

Major banks (Ziraat, VakıfBank, İş Bankası and others) open student accounts with a passport + tax number + proof of address; some branches also ask for the residence permit application document. Branch practices vary; if one says no, try another branch.

What does it cost?

Step 1: Get a Student İstanbulkart

*student card and İstanbulkart = 2 in 1

One card for the metro, buses, metrobus, trams, Marmaray, ferries, even Havaist and public toilets. The personalized student card cuts every fare by more than half, so apply in your first week

• How: apply at the İstanbulkart Application Centre

Address: Yenibosna İETT garage, Ataköy 7-8-9-10. Kısım, 34158 Bakırköy/Istanbul

• Bring with you: your student certificate, one biometric photo, your passport (or your residence card / foreign identity number once you have it) and the card fee (about ₺80-140; confirm at istanbulkart.istanbul)

Fares with a student card (valid from 20 July 2026)

Do the maths: the ₺653 monthly pass pays for itself after about 29 rides; if you go to campus every day, it is by far the most sensible option. Single-use tickets bought from machines cost roughly three times the İstanbulkart fare; never use them after your first day.

Get to know the vehicles

• Metro (M lines) and tram (T lines): fast, clean and frequent; the network map is available at every station and on Google Maps.

• Metrobus: a bus with its own motorway lane that crosses the whole city without getting stuck in traffic; legendary at rush hour (personal space warning).

• Marmaray: the rail line under the Bosphorus, Halkalı ↔ Gebze; your direct link between the district where the campus is located and the Asian side.

• Ferries: the most beautiful commute in the world; same card, seagulls included.

• İETT buses and minibus / dolmuş: go everywhere the rails don't. On a dolmuş you pay the driver (cash or card depending on the route) and to get off you say "müsait bir yerde inebilir miyim?" (Can I get off at a convenient spot?).

• Taxis: flag fall ₺71.94, ₺47.92/km, minimum ₺230. Use BiTaksi or Uber (which calls yellow taxis) so the journey is recorded.

• At night: the metro closes around midnight; night buses and the 24/7 metrobus fill the gap.

Navigation and transport apps

Google Maps and Moovit are good for route planning; Mobiett shows live arrival times for İETT buses; İstanbulkart Mobil tops up your card and can even generate QR tickets from your phone.

Four-season climate guide

MUSEUM PASS:

International students enrolled at Turkish universities are entitled to a discounted Museum Pass (Müzekart); just show your student ID at any state museum ticket office. For ₺100 a year, it opens the doors of 350+ museums and archaeological sites across Turkey affiliated with the Ministry of Culture: the Hagia Sophia historical area, Topkapı, the Archaeological Museums, Galata Tower and much more.
NOTE: a few venues (e.g. National Palaces such as Dolmabahçe and some special exhibitions) use separate tickets. Details:

https://muze.gov.tr/ETicket

The only number to memorize: 112 covers everything; ambulance, fire brigade and police in a single call centre, with foreign language support.

Museum Pass: your golden ticket

International students enrolled at Turkish universities are entitled to a discounted Museum Pass (Müzekart); just show your student ID at any state museum ticket office. For ₺100 a year (price valid since February 2026; standard card ₺200), it opens the doors of 350+ museums and archaeological sites across Turkey affiliated with the Ministry of Culture: the Hagia Sophia historical area, Topkapı, the Archaeological Museums, Galata Tower and much more. A single visit pays for the card. Note: a few venues (e.g. National Palaces such as Dolmabahçe and some special exhibitions) use separate tickets. Details: muze.gov.tr/MuseumPass.

Free (or almost free) Istanbul

• Take any ferry at sunset: the ₺22.55 student fare, plus ₺30 more, means a Bosphorus tour with tea.
• Walk: the colourful houses of Balat, Karaköy → Galata → İstiklal, the historic city walls near the campus district, the Ortaköy waterfront (kumpir!).
• Mosques are free and open outside prayer times; the terrace of the Süleymaniye has the city's most beautiful free view. Dress modestly; headscarves are lent at the door.
• Take the ferry to the Princes' Islands for a car-free day trip; Belgrad Forest for barbecues and running trails.
• Student discounts everywhere: cinemas, theatres, museums, some cafés and even barbers; always ask "Öğrenciye indirim var mı?" (Is there a student discount?) and show your student card.
• [İZÜ TO CONFIRM: list of İZÜ student clubs + how international students can join + trips organized by the International Office]