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HİSAR SCHOOL
New Teachers’ Survival Guide
2015-2016
Contents
WELCOME TO HISAR SCHOOL! ................................................................................................................ 4
MISSION ................................................................................................................................................... 4
HİSAR EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION........................................................................................................ 4
TURKEY AND ISTANBUL ........................................................................................................................... 5
GENERAL INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................... 5
LOCATION ................................................................................................................................................ 5
CLIMATE ................................................................................................................................................... 5
HISTORY ................................................................................................................................................... 6
MOVING TO ISTANBUL ............................................................................................................................ 7
WORK PERMIT ......................................................................................................................................... 7
GETTING TO ISTANBUL AND FIRST FEW WEEKS ...................................................................................... 7
LEAVING THE AIRPORT ............................................................................................................................ 8
SETTLING IN ............................................................................................................................................. 8
TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM THE HOTEL/SCHOOL ................................................................................ 8
HOME SEARCH PROCESS ......................................................................................................................... 8
SETTLEMENT AREAS................................................................................................................................. 9
FURNISHINGS ......................................................................................................................................... 12
SHIPMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 12
PAYING BILLS.......................................................................................................................................... 13
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN ISTANBUL ............................................................................................... 13
OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATION/ WHERE TO FIND… .......................................................................... 21
TURKISH HOLIDAYS ................................................................................................................................ 21
BRINGING OR BUYING A MOBILE PHONE .............................................................................................. 22
APPS RELEVANT TO LIVING IN ISTANBUL .............................................................................................. 23
WHERE TO FIND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS/CHURCHES ........................................................................ 24
CHRISTMAS IN ISTANBUL ....................................................................................................................... 25
SECURITY IN GENERAL ........................................................................................................................... 26
BANKING ................................................................................................................................................ 27
SHOPPING .............................................................................................................................................. 27
SAMPLE COSTS ....................................................................................................................................... 27
CHAIN STORES & MALLS ........................................................................................................................ 28
HAIR SALOONS ....................................................................................................................................... 28
TAP WATER-PORTABLE WATER DELIVERY ............................................................................................. 28
APPLIANCES ........................................................................................................................................... 29
RESTAURANTS IN ISTANBUL .................................................................................................................. 29
MEDICAL SERVICES IN GENERAL ............................................................................................................ 30
PHARMACY HOURS ................................................................................................................................ 30
MEDICAL INSURANCE ............................................................................................................................ 30
POSTAL SERVICE..................................................................................................................................... 30
TELEVISION in TURKEY ........................................................................................................................... 31
NIGHT LIFE ............................................................................................................................................. 31
CINEMAS ................................................................................................................................................ 31
TRAVEL ................................................................................................................................................... 31
LEARNING TURKISH................................................................................................................................ 32
SCHOOL DRESS CODE............................................................................................................................. 32
CULTURE ................................................................................................................................................ 32
WHO TO CALL IN CASE OF EMERGENCY FROM HISAR? ........................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
SCHOOL ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE:
Hisar School
Göktürk Merkez Mahallesi
İstanbul Caddesi
No:3 Eyüp, İstanbul
Tel
: +90 212 364 00 00
Fax
: +90 212 322 03 07
Please contact [email protected] for your questions and suggestions.
WELCOME TO HISAR SCHOOL!
We are all very excited to welcome you to the Hisar Family! Our team will be with you from the outset, and we
are just a phone call/e-mail away.
MISSION
Discovering and developing our true potential
We are committed to a continuous improvement in learning. We believe in the skills, resources, qualifications
and the potential that exist in our organization: the Hisar Educational Foundation, students, teachers, parents
and our community. Our duty is to provide enhanced learning opportunities for our students by supporting the
best environment to realize their full potential.
Furthermore, we aim to transform their potential into reality and to help individuals acquire the skills,
knowledge and responsibility to use their full potential at all times.
To become a school which will be recognized and favored by the quality and distinction of its students,
graduates and teachers as well as its administrators; and also to be exemplary in our leadership as well as with
our contributions to education on a global scale.
HİSAR EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Hisar Educational Foundation was founded in 1970 by a group of Robert College Alumni committed to promote
modern and exemplary academic education in Turkey.
Foundations are non-profit organizations which channel individual donations to community benefit. Hisar
Educational Foundation focuses on two leading schools in Turkey: Robert College and Hisar School. Hisar School
is the first and only financial enterprise of the foundation.
Donations made to Hisar Educational Foundation are exempt of corporate tax and income tax. Hisar Educational
Foundation is subject to the Foundations Law; in addition, it is audited annually by an independent audit
company.
For over 30 years, Hisar Educational Foundation’s goal has been to raise the academic standards in Turkey, and
to promote the development of the country by educating individuals who will serve the community and their
country.
TURKEY AND ISTANBUL
GENERAL INFORMATION
Full Name
: İstanbul
Time Zone
: GMT +2 hours
Languages
: Turkish
Population
: 13.250.000
Electricity
: 220 V 50 Hz
Electric Plug
:
Best times to be in İstanbul
: The best times of the year to visit Istanbul are from April to June and
September to October, roughly the months of spring and autumn respectively. During these months,
temperatures are in the consistently mild range of 16-25°C (61-77°F) and the humidity is not too bad, plus the
crowds aren't as big a nuisance as in the summer months. The wintry months from November to February have
the highest rainfall (80-100mm/30-40in per month), and it's when spirits are most likely to be dampened.
LOCATION
The Bosphorus, the strait flowing between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, creates a natural north-south
divide in Istanbul - European Istanbul comprises the bulk of the city to the west, while Asian Istanbul is to the
east. European Istanbul is itself divided by the Golden Horn (Haliç) into the old city to the south, and Beyoğlu
and other modern districts to the north. The Old City is where you'll find all the main sights, such as Topkapı
Palace, Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), Aya Sofya (Saint Sophia), the Atmeydanı (Hippodrome) and the old
city walls. The 21st-century version of Istanbul is a short walk north across the Galata Bridge, and is exemplified
by bustling Taksim Square, the eye of the city's commercial storm. The Asian part of the city has fewer of the
sights tourists come to see.
CLIMATE
Weather Overview
Turkey has seven climatic regions. Istanbul is situated in the Marmara region, which includes eastern Thrace and
Edirne. It is a countryside of rolling steppe land and low hills with an average yearly rainfall of 668mm (26.3in).
Rainfall is highest (between 80mm/3.1in and 100mm/3.9in per month) from November to February; July and
August have the least rainfall. Humidity follows the same pattern, with the lowest humidity (under 30%) in July,
August and September, and the highest (over 60%) - a bone-chilling damp - in December and January.
Temperatures in July and August peak at around 30°C (86°F), with lows around 20°C (68°F). In December and
January, temperatures fall as low as 2°C (36°F) and even below: bring a carrot for Frosty. Daily highs reach about
9°C (48°F). April, May, September and October are the best times to visit, with daytime highs usually around
16°C to 25°C (61°F to 77°F), and lows from around 9°C to 18°C0(48°F to 64°F).
HISTORY
Pre 20th Century History
Prompted by the oracle at Delphi, a man named Byzas established a town on the site of present-day Istanbul
around 657 BC. Although conquered by Alexander the Great and eventually subsumed by the Roman Empire,
Byzantium fared pretty well until it annoyed a Roman emperor by backing his rival in a civil war, and it was
subsequently destroyed. A new city was erected in 330 AD, at first called New Rome but quickly rechristened
Constantinople in deference to the new Roman emperor, Constantine. Constantinople was regarded as the
capital of the Eurasian world, thanks in large part to its magnificent architecture - many of the Christian
churches, as well as the impressive Hippodrome, are still visible today. Embellishments to the city continued as
the Eastern Roman Empire grew in strength, reaching its peak in the time of Emperor Justinian in the 6th
century. Over the next few centuries the city weathered attacks by the armies of the Islamic and Bulgarian
empires, but the crusaders finally sacked it in 1204. The city was reclaimed by a rejuvenated Byzantine Empire
50 years later. The fall of Constantinople occurred in 1453 when the Ottoman army of Sultan Mehmet II took the
city. It was under the Ottomans that a classic mosque design was established and many other great buildings
constructed in the city, which was soon renamed Istanbul. The Ottoman Empire overextended itself militarily in
the 18th century and went into a decline, accentuated by the fact that it was well behind Europe in the areas of
science, politics and commerce. This led to modernization attempts and in-fighting, including the eventual
slaughter in Istanbul of the janissaries, the sultan's bodyguards and a prominent symbol of the old regimes.
Ethnic nationalism ultimately splintered the Ottoman Empire. Greece asserted itself in 1832, with Bulgaria,
Romania, Albania and the Arabs primed to follow suit. Meanwhile, other European powers were getting ready to
squabble over the geographical pickings. Russia tried to pressure the Ottomans for control of the faltering
empire's subjects, but the unfortunate result was the Crimean War, fought in 1853-56 with British and French
support for the Turks against encroaching Russian power.
Modern History
The turn of the 20th century was greeted with more nationalist uprisings in Macedonia, Crete and Armenia, and
Turkish stability hit a new low after the country opted to side with Germany during WWI - the result was the
British occupation of Istanbul. The Turkish War of Independence, during which revitalized nationalist forces
fought off invaders from Greece, France and Italy, finally led to the birth of the Turkish republic in 1923. The seat
of the new nation was established in Ankara, and Istanbul, no longer regarded as a political or cultural
powerhouse, was relegated to a back-seat role in terms of its prominence as a city.
Recent History
However, recently Istanbul has undergone a renaissance, with its infrastructure being upgraded, its cultural life
emphasized and its political tenor increasingly influenced by the West. Indeed, Turkey's bid to join the EU is
underpinned by the fact that these days its major city is a cosmopolitan and sophisticated megalopolis more
than ready to reclaim its status as one of the world's truly great cities.
MOVING TO ISTANBUL
WORK PERMIT
Please see the separate document put together to explain the work permit process.
GETTING TO ISTANBUL AND FIRST FEW WEEKS
Newcomers are asked to purchase their own ticket and get reimbursed when they arrive Istanbul. (the ticket
should be a standard one-way economy class) Please check with the school before purchasing your own ticket.
([email protected])
Please bring with you any medication, cosmetics, vitamins, etc. that you use regularly. Some may be available
here, albeit more expensive, but your particular brand may be difficult to find.
More and more imported items are becoming available here, but due to taxation and import duties your
favorite product may be quite expensive. Local brands of many popular foreign brand medicines are available
over the counter at very reasonable rates. Our school doctor can advise you of the Turkish equivalents of such
medicines.
Bring along what you can of what is most important or necessary to you. Ordinary items like toothpaste,
deodorant, shaving cream, etc. are available everywhere.
Turkey operates on 220 volts, 50 Hz, with round-prong European-style plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets
/points. Transformers can be bought here, if need be.
The Turkish laws concerning the importing of electrical appliances and transistors vary frequently. You can
probably safely pack a hair dryer, shaver and iron, but before packing large items like stereo equipment, can be
a problem in the customs. You can buy all types of electrical equipment (220v), from kitchen gear to color
television sets, here in Istanbul. Many international name brand appliance stores exist as well, although you can
get durable and dependable locally manufactured appliances for less money (Arçelik, Beko).
You can bring and use your driver’s license if you have one. Rental cars are available here. Many European
countries also require you to show an international driver’s license. The only thing you need to do is get your
driver licence translated into Turkish and get it notarized. We can help you with this.
You can bring with you, your internationally recognized credit card, particularly Visa or Mastercard. They are
now accepted in most places in Istanbul, certainly in the larger clothing stores and restaurants, and are useful
when travelling. Also, plane tickets can usually be put on a credit card. It is important for you to know that the
American Express is not widely accepted, nor are traveller’s checks.
It is suggested that new teachers bring at least a dozen passport-size photographs for various formalities. You
may have more done here later if necessary, as it is cheaper to have passport pictures taken in Istanbul.
AUTOMOBILES
Buying a blue plate car (for foreign nationals only) comes with lots of formalities and you need to have some
amount of money in the bank. Also it is not easy to sell the blue plate car, as it can be only sold to foreign
nationals. The school is not currently able to secure the papers required to register an imported car and
recommends that teachers not bring their cars with them.
LEAVING THE AIRPORT
As soon as you’ve passed through passport control, you are free to pick up your luggage. If you would like to
purchase something from the duty free shops, it may be better to do that before collecting your luggage. Once
you collect your luggage, you will make your way past customs inspectors (who seldom stop people to inquire),
through the sliding doors, and out to the main airport lobby, turn right and walk for about 200 metres toward
Starbucks, where a Hisar School staff and driver will be there to collect you with you name written on the
signboard.
SETTLING IN
Upon your arrival, you will be accompanied by our staff to your hotel where you can stay for a maximum period
of 2 weeks. You will have plenty of time to look for apartments during this time with the help of Hisar team and
a Hisar recommended real estate agent. The room charges will be paid by Hisar School. Other expenses will be
covered by our teachers.
TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM THE HOTEL/SCHOOL
During your stay at the hotel, service buses will be picking you up from the nearest point to your hotel. The
school provides staff services from various spots around town. It is important that you receive the bus routes
before deciding where to settle.
HOME SEARCH PROCESS
The property market is dominated by real estate agents who charge you about a month’s rent for their
assistance. Given the nature of the market, it could be considered a good investment.
Prior to your home search appointment, there are some key things that you should know about the Istanbul
market that will help make your experience more meaningful.

Remember that the asking price for the rent is not always the “final price”

Many properties that you may be shown may be in need of renovation or repair. It is typical for landlords
not to restore an apartment before re-leasing and is always part of the negotiation process.

Many properties may not have “white goods” or air conditioners. This can be part of the negotiation
process. White goods would generally include stove, oven, fridge, washing machine, dishwasher and
sometimes microwave and tumble dryer.

We will check the hosuing contract for you, it is pretty standart. The lease will be provided both in Turkish
and English but the “legally binding agreement” will be the one in Turkish.

In addition to the rent, there will always be a “compound fee” or “doorman fee”. This fee varies greatly from
property to property and is dependent upon the type of facility (amenities) and specifically the type of
heating system that is provided (stand alone or shared). An example of this fluctuation would be a block of
apartments within a compound which “shares” the heat vs. an independent residence.

The condition of the property will be noted at time of move in. It is important to note that the condition of
the property must be restored to its original condition by the tenant at the end of the contract term (newly
painted walls need to be painted prior to departure).
SETTLEMENT AREAS
Göktürk/Kemerburgaz- (Where the Hisar School is) located approximately 20 kilometers from city center,
Kemerburgaz has grown from a wooded retreat to a mini city in its own right. Its most attractive feature is
perhaps the Belgrade Forest. A variety of homes available from villas to rustic-but-luxury log-cabin style
houses in forested hills. There are lots of new settlements.The apartments are new, bigger, comfortable.
Cihangir –Galata – Gumussuyu (where most of our foreign nationals live)
Cihangir is a very short walk from Taksim Square and the famous Istikal Avenue and the metro. It is the
bohemian part of Beyoglu/Taksim (two names are used for the area.)
Taksim Square (Turkish: Taksim Meydanı) situated in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major shopping,
tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern
Istanbul, and is the location of the Cumhuriyet Anıtı (Republic Monument), which was built in 1928 and
commemorates the formation of the Turkish Republic. Many expats live in this area and professions generally
range from English teachers to diplomats. This area has a very Parisian feel to it with its narrow streets, cafes
and artistic “hangouts”. Parking is generally a problem in this neighborhood as well as the noise as it is so close
to the heart of Istanbul’s nightlife but an ideal area for singles. The apartments here range in age from 20 – 40
years but many have stunning sea views of the old city and the entrance to the Bosphorus.
Galata
Galata is the area to the south of Cihangir towards the bottom of Istikal and is located by the Tunel district and
the famous Galata Tower. The Galata Tower (Turkish: Galata Kulesi), also called Christea Turris (Tower of Christ)
by the Genoese and Megalos Pyrgos (The Great Tower) by the Byzantines, is located in Istanbul, Turkey, to the
north of the Golden Horn. One of the city's most striking landmarks, it is a huge, cone-capped cylinder that
dominates the skyline on the Galata side of the Golden Horn.
Buildings tend to be much older here but there are many exciting new restoration projects currently underway
providing a mix of modern and traditional design. Once again, parking can be an issue but locals take out
“subscriptions” with a local car park. Streets in Galata are generally narrower than those in Cihangir. Galata is
the new “up and coming” area of Istanbul.
Gümüşsuyu
Gümüşsuyu is north of Cihangir towards Besiktas and is the quietest area of the three locations. Buildings tend
to be around the same age as those in Cihangir or a little newer. Some offer great sea views of the busy
Bosphorus. This area has great public transportation and is only a few minutes’ walk to Taksim Square. Parking
can be an issue but overall is the easiest of the three neighborhoods.
Nişantaşı
Nişantaşı is a quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, comprising neighborhoods like Teşvikiye, Osmanbey, Maçka and
Pangaltı. It includes the stores of world famous brands and has many popular cafés, pubs, restaurants and night
clubs. It is a part of Sisli District. Abdi İpekçi Street, Turkey's most expensive shopping street in terms of lease
prices, stretches from the neighborhoods of Maçka and Teşvikiye to the center of Nişantaşı.
It is the place where you can easily see famous people walking around on the street any time during a day.
Nisantasi is known as being one of the most expensive places of Istanbul. It is the place where you can shop at
Gucci or Armani or any other famous boutiques within walking distance. People living in Nişantaşı are mostly
rich and well-educated people who were mostly born there. Also, Nişantaşı after Taksim and Cihangir, has the
most foreign people population who lives and works in Istanbul.
Apartments tend to be 20 – 40 years old and again, parking can be an issue as well as the traffic getting into and
out of town. The American hospital is also located in this district.
Şişli:
Şişli being a central area well-served with public-transport and other infrastructure Şişli is a center of
trade and shopping. The main road through Şişli up to the skyscrapers of Mecidiyeköy, Gayrettepe,
Levent and beyond are now lined with office blocks. Europe's largest and the world's second largest
(urban-area) shopping mall, Cevahir Istanbul, is situated here. Due to Şişli's middle-class past and the
enduring quality of some neighborhoods the area is home to many up market shops mainly in the
stylish and charming Nişantaşı area. Parking is an enduring problem, especially in the narrow sidestreets.
There are many well-established cafes and restaurants, including fast-food for the students and
shoppers. More and more foriegners are moving to this neighbourhood as the Elite residence and the
brand new Sisli residence are now fully open. Both buildings offer plenty of parking as well as some
great views of the city.
Beşiktaş:
Beşiktaş is a municipality (belediye) of Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European shore of the Bosphorus. It
is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and Şişli, on the west by Kağıthane and Şişli, on the south by Beyoğlu,
and on the east by the Bosphorus. Directly across the Bosphorus is the municipality of Üsküdar.
The Beşiktaş municipality includes a number of important sites along the European side of the Bosphorus,
from Dolmabahçe Palace in the south to Bebek in the north. The municipality also includes many inland
(and relatively expensive, upper-middle class) neighborhoods such as Levent and Etiler. Some of its other
well-known neighborhoods include Yıldız, Kuruçeşme, Ortaköy, and Arnavutköy.
Beşiktaş' historic centre is Çarşı, which adjoins the small Abbasağa Park.
Ortakoy:
Ortaköy (literally Middle Village in Turkish) is a neighborhood, formerly a small village, within the Beşiktaş
district of Istanbul, located in the middle of the European bank of the Bosphorus.
Ortaköy is a cosmopolitan area, with communities of Turks, Greeks, Armenians and Jews. The neighborhood
hosts many different religious (Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox, and other Christian) structures. It is also a popular
spot for locals and tourists alike, with its art galleries, night clubs, cafés, bars, and restaurants.
The Neo-Baroque style Ortaköy Mosque is a beautifully ornate structure, right on the jetty of Ortaköy, bordering
the waters of the Bosphorus, and thus highly visible from the passing boats.
Several reputable schools, such as Kabataş Erkek Lisesi and Galatasaray University, are located in Ortaköy. The
European pylon of the Bosphorus Bridge, one of the two bridges that connect the European and Asian banks of
Istanbul, is also situated in this neighborhood.
Ortaköy was the site of George W. Bush's speech during the NATO Summit of 2004, which he delivered at
Galatasaray University.
Zekeriyaköy
These communities are a bit outside of the city and have a lot of new construction.
Sarıyer-Zekeriyaköy is a village of the Sarıyer district of the Istanbul municipality. It is famous for its silent village
life among the middle and upper class businessmen of the city. It became a rising entity in the real estate market
after the construction of the modern villas next to the old village, where natives still live.
Fincan and Tike are some of the popular restaurants of Zekeriyaköy. There is also a bazaar, opens once a week,
where you can find vegetables and fruits from the local regions. The American Hospital is located in the town
center.
Utilities
Once you have obtained keys to your to your new home, Hisar School will assist you with your utility connection.
Utilities (water, electricity, heating) are usually transferred to tenant’s name A valid residence permit,
mandatory earthquake insurance (called DASK and provided by landlord) will be required prior to each
connection.
ADSL is supplied with or without the phone line and varies in price according to the speed of the connection in
addition to whether you choose limited or unlimited bandwidth. At the present time, the fastest speed available
is 8 MBS.
Cable TV is available in some areas but the most popular choice is Digiturk (you need to apply for it and it has
monthly fee) which has approximately 20 channels in English as well as additional channels in German and
French.
GENERAL LIVING IN TURKEY WEBSITES OF INTEREST

www.timeoutistanbul.com

www.mymerhaba.com

http://english.istanbul.com/?Vst=2

www.sahibinden.com just to give you an idea about the apartments, rents etc.

www.iwi-tr.org (International Women of Istanbul official site)
FURNISHINGS
Whether you prefer a furnished or unfurnished house, we will organize a shopping excursion for all the newly
arrived foreign teachers. Hisar School settling-in allowance is provided immediately upon arrival to help meet
the costs of establishing your home in Istanbul. It is up to the teacher to provide the extras which make the
difference between an apartment and a home.
Turkish import regulations, though they change frequently, usually make a clear distinction between personal
effects and household goods. Under present Turkish laws and regulations, electronic equipment brought into
the country is registered in your passport and kept in the custom office’s files. You will be asked to take all of
these out of the country when you finally leave. Therefore, you cannot sell or otherwise dispose of any of the
articles which have been registered in your name. These regulations are strictly applied. The Internal Services
department offers assistance and supervision of the customs broker, but the actual clearance is handled by a
broker at the teacher’s expense. It is very important that you seek advice before you take any action
([email protected]). Before you sign a contract with a shipping company, make sure they provide a customs
broker. The school recommends that teachers use the school’s preferred customs broker as they are familiar
with the school’s and teachers’ specific needs. Their rapport with the school makes it significantly easier for the
school to facilitate your shipment. INSURANCE IS A MUST.
SHIPMENT
Although it is possible to ship some of your belongings in advance, it is not advisable due to the complicated
customs procedures. (For instance, you cannot pick up your shipment until after you receive your residence
permit.)
If an item remains in storage at customs because, for example, you have sent it ahead of time, or left it for later
clearance, there are additional fees and commissions to be paid. Please be aware that tax rates, fees and duties
are subject to frequent change. For detailed information regarding customs regulations in Turkey, you can visit
www.gumruk.gov.tr.
YOUR HOUSE DURING YOUR STAY
The Operational Services department helps to contact maintenance and repair service, and expenses are paid by
the teacher.
PAYING BILLS
UTILITIES
For your utility bills, you can set up an automatic payment system through your Turkish bank account (We are
working with Akbank). Your electric, water, heating, telephone, ADSL internet, Digiturk, and cable tv can be paid
this way. If your bills have started coming and your automatic payment system has not been set up yet, you can
pay your bills at the banks listed on the bill, please let us know we will help you with this.
When you receive a bill that you know is not covered by automatic payment, check the bill for the last payable
date (‘SON ÖDEME TARIHI’). If payment is not made to the bank by that date, you will not be able to pay the bill
at the bank, but instead you will have to go in person to that utility’s main branch, again let us know, we will
help you in these kind of situations.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN ISTANBUL
Airports
Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport is Turkey's largest and busiest. Any number of popular regular services from the
Middle East, the USA, Australia and Europe land here. Turkish Airlines (THY), has regular flights to major
European and Asian cities. Another smaller airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, some 50km east of the
Old City on the Asian side, is becoming increasingly popular with cheap airlines. The price of your air ticket will
usually cover the airport departure tax.
METRO
The system currently consists of four lines named M1, M2, M3 and M4. More lines are under construction or
planned: M5 (Üsküdar-Çekmeköy/Sancaktepe) is on the Asian side; while M6 (Kabataş-Mahmutbey), M7
(Bakırköy-Beylikdüzü) and Mini-Metro (Levent-Hisarüstü) will be on the European side.
Line Route
Length
Stations
20,0 km
18
M1B Yenikapı ↔ Kirazlı
4.7 km
4
M2
Yenikapı ↔
Hacıosman–
Seyrantepe
23.5 km
16
M3
Kirazlı ↔ Metrokent–
15,9 km
Olimpiyat
11
southern extension to Bakırköy
planned.
M4
Kadıköy ↔ Kartal
21.7 km
16
3 more stations on the south-eastern
end are planned.
M5
Üsküdar ↔
Çekmeköy–
Sancaktepe
20,0 km
16 (under
construction)
line under construction, opening: late
2015
M6
Levent ↔ Hisarüstü
4,2 km
5 (under
construction)
line under construction, opening:
2015
M7
Mecidiyeköy ↔
Mahmutbey
25,0 km
15 (planned)
planned line
40
Crosses the Bosphorus underground
and connects to the metro line
leading to the major airport
(Ataturk)
M1A
Atatürk Havalimanı
(Airport) ↔ Yenikapı
MM Marmaray
TRAMS
76.3 km
Notes
T1 – Kabataş-Bağcılar Tramway Line
T1 – Kabataş-Bağcılar: This is probably the most important line. This air-conditioned tramway basically connects
Sultanahmet with Beyoğlu and Taksim (by funicular). This line has many stops of interest to tourist:

Beyazit — Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye Mosque

Sultanahmet — Topkapi Palace, Haghia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, etc.

Sirkeci — train station

Eminönü — Spice Bazaar, ferry docks

Karakoy — connection to Tünel (T), which brings you to the end of Istiklal Caddesi

Tophane — Witt Istanbul Hotel (walk up the hill), Istanbul Modern, water pipe (nargile) establishments,
cruise ship docks

Kabataş — connection to Taksim via funicular (F1), fast ferry or sea bus docks to the Princes’ Islands and
Kadıköy, 5 min. walk to Dolmabahçe Palace
First train: 06:00
Last train: 00:00
Frequency: every two minutes during rush hour
T – Karaköy-Tünel Funicular
T – Karaköy-Tünel.This is actually the third oldest passenger underground railway system in the world. The look
of the trains still reflects this. This funicular takes you in 90 seconds 573 meters uphill to Tünel, at the end of
Istiklal Caddesi. From there you can easily reach Galata by walking downhill or have a stroll on Istiklal Caddesi.
Alternatively, you could take the nostalgic tramway (NT) until Taksim Square.
First train: 07:00
Last train: 21:00
Frequency: every two minutes
Public Bus (Otobüs) (iett.gov.tr)
The bus system is cheap and you can use Istanbul Card in these busses.
Please check bus routes and information form bus stop kiosks.
MINI-BUS (DOLMUŞ)
They may cost more but because of their route, the destination may take less time. Please ask the driver your
destination and he will tell you how much it is. Only cash money is accepted/no cards. It is always good to have
change money, coins to give to the driver.
Wherever you would like the driver to stop, the magic word to use is ‘inecek var’ (in-eh-jek-var).
Taxi (Taksi)
Metered taxis are easy to find except during weekends, heavy rain and rush hour.
Traffic in Istanbul is very heavy so be prepared to spend a longer time on the road even if the distance is short.
All the taxis have meters, we would advice you to not to agree in advance on a fixed price, but use the taxi
meter.
If you travel across Bosphorus, the toll fees are extra and you will be expected to pay this.
The meter starts standard at 2.70 Turkish Lira (TL). The rate per km. is 1.30 TL. (subject to change)
There is no night rate.
Always pay in Turkish Lira’s. Those who pay in euro’s or U.S. dollars always pay at an unfair exchange rate.
Use official yellow cabs only which will have their registered company names on their doors. (A logo, a writing
etc.).
It is a good idea to write down where you are going to and show it to the drive to avoid the confusion.
İphone/ipad apps
Taksimetre: Shows how mcuh you should pay from point A to B. Also gives you the taxi stops closer to you.
Ferries (Vapur)
You can use your İstanbul card, or you can buy tokens from the token machines (usually accepts 5-10-20
banknotes, not coins) from the embarkment points.
There are municipality boats: (Sehir Vapurları) http://www.sehirhatlari.com.tr/en
They go to various points of İstanbul also to the Princes’ Islands.
Sea Bus (Deniz Otobüsü)
İDO operates fast catamaran passenger "Seabus" ferries and fast car ferries both within the metropolis and to
destinations on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara.
Private Boats (Motor)
They are faster but more expensive. They run more frequesntly to popular locations of İstanbul. You may hve to
get a ticket from the ticket office closer to the boats if they do not accept Istanbul Card.
Water Taxis (Deniz Taksi)
www.deniztaksi.com
The Istanbul Seabus Corporation has introduced water taxis as a measure to ease some of the traffic burden in
Turkey’s most populated city.
The water taxis will be able to carry up to ten passengers to destinations on three main routes on either side of
the Bosphorus: Beylerbeyi-Ortakoy, Kalamis-Bebek and Cenglekoy-Besiktas.
For the six-minute-long trip between Beylerbeyi and Ortakoy the fare will be 32 YTL, while the 23 minutes long
journey between Kalamis and Bebek will cost passengers 86 YTL. The Cenglekoy-Besiktas trip will last seven
minutes, with the fare being 37 YTL.
İphone/ipad apps: Deniz Taksi
Driving
Driving through Turkey is becoming more popular too. You can bring a car over on a ferry from Italy or Greece;
however, you'll find yourself docking in İzmir or Çeşme rather than İstanbul. Car and passenger ferries operate
fairly regularly around the Turkish coastline - book your trip well in advance, as they're popular.
Bus Companies
A number of local bus companies service other European destinations, but these services are slower and often
more expensive than the equivalent flights. Within Turkey, bus is the most widespread and popular way of
getting around; they go literally everywhere, all the time. The main bus station, the otogar, is a town in itself,
with 168 ticket offices, restaurants, mosques and shops. Buses leave here for domestic and international routes.
There's also a bus station on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus at ‘Harem’.
Train
Currently train is the least preferred option for international visitors travelling to Turkey, as the services are
generally slower, but it's becoming increasingly popular for those with time to burn and a love for a journey. The
main station is Sirkeci.
Public Transport (http://www.istanbul-ulasim.com.tr/en)
İstanbul has a decent public transport network, which you'll appreciate once you get the hang of pre-buying
tickets (try an Istanbul Kart pass instead, if you're in town for a few weeks), jumping on half-moving vehicles and
avoiding armpits in tram jams. And if it all gets too much, a mad taxi driver is always ready to race you to your
destination - and you won't pay too much for the thrill, either. But all public transport slows to a crawl around
peak hours; this is the time to take to your feet. Walking is the best way to see İstanbul - though the ferries rate
a close second.
Fares
How to Pay for Public Transportation?
There are basically two ways to pay for the fare: either you get a token (jeton) from the sales booth or vending
machines (jetonmatik), or you use the Istanbul Card (Istanbul Kart) — an electronic boarding pass. If you use a
token you’ll pay 3 TL per ride, with an Istanbul Card you only pay 1,95 TL per ride, and get discounts for every
transfer you make. So I strongly suggest you to get an Istanbul Kart.
Istanbul Card (Kart):
The card was introduced in 2009. It’s a contact less or RFID (Radio-frequency identification) card for public
transportation fare payment. It has the exact same size as a regular credit card, so it fits perfectly in your wallet.
The card is pre-paid and easily rechargeable.
There are quite a few advantages to getting an Istanbul Kart as opposed to buying tokens or ticket every time
you’re going to use public transportation.
1.Multi-Purpose — This single card enables you to pay for multiple types of transportation: buses, metros,
ferries, funiculars, and tramways (yes, even the nostalgic one running on Istiklal Caddesi). Moreover, most of
these transportation types no longer accept cash payments, so you’ll have to buy some kind of token or ticket
before boarding anyway.
2.Pre-Paid — Istanbul Kart is a prepaid and rechargeable card. This means that you don’t have to stand in line
(and maybe miss the bus or tram) to get a valid boarding pass every time you plan to make use of public
transportation. And uploading more credits can be done at designated machines, most of the times without a
queue in front of you.
3.Ease of Use — It is not necessary to bring the Istanbul Kart in contact with the reader. You can pay for your
fare by ‘waving’ the smart card within 8 cm (3.1 in) of the reader. In most cases you don’t even have to take it
out of your wallet, purse or light hand bag. Upon making a successful payment, the reader will make a sound
and the screen will light up showing the amount left on the card. In case of insufficient funds, the screen will
read Kontör Yetersiz.
4.Multiple Travelers — There is no need to buy multiple cards since one Istanbul Kart can be used for up to 5
passengers. After paying the fare for the first passenger, let him or her hop on or pass through the turnpike, wait
a few seconds, and again wave the card in front of the reader.
5.Discounts — By using the card, you already benefit from a 10% discount over the normal fare. Instead of
paying 2 TL per ride, you pay 1.95. And there is more. You can make up until five transfers/connections within a
two hour period, and you’ll pay less for every transfer, already only 1.25 TL for the first transfer.
Where to Get an Istanbul Kart
The easiest way to get the Istanbul Kart is at major transit stops such as Taksim, Eminönü, Sultanahmet,
Beyazıt/Kapalı Çarşı (Grand Bazaar), etc. Beware though; you can’t buy them at the airport. I know, it doesn’t
make any sense at all, but it’s the way it is. The closest place to the airport where you can obtain them currently
is Zeytinburnu. To buy an Istanbul Kart, you need to give a refundable 10 TL deposit, and of course an amount of
your choice to load onto the card.
How to Reload the Istanbul Kart
To reload the card, you can either go to newsstands and small shops (look for the phrase Akbil Dolum Noktası)
which offer this service, use self-service special purpose machines at major transit stations. The machines accept
notes of 5, 10, 20, and 50 TL and have instructions in multiple languages.
(Source: www.wittiistanbul.com)
Akbil, Tickets, Tokens
Akbil replaced by Istanbul Kart. Using ‘trams’, ‘tunnels’, ‘ferries’ tickets or tokens(jeton) are still available at the
embarking point. But their price is higher than Istanbul Kart.
OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATION/ WHERE TO FIND…
TURKISH HOLIDAYS
DATE
NAME OF THE
HOLIDAY
NOTES
30th of August
Victory Day /
Zafer Bayramı
Commemorates the key Turkish victory against Greek forces in the Battle of Dumlupınar
(August 26-30, 1922). The outcome of the battle, determined the overall outcome of the
Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923).
Administration buildings and schools are closed on this day. Workers in private companies
may have a day off or work until noon, but most large supermarkets and shops stay open.
Public transport routes may vary in the event of street parades.
29th of October
Republic Day
/Cumhuriyet
Bayramı
Republic Day marks the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
There will be a ceremony at Hisar School on this day.
1st of January
New Years’ Day
/Yeni Yıl/Yılbaşı
Administration buildings and schools are closed on this day.
23rd of April
National
Sovereignity and
Children’s Day
/Ulusal Egemenlik
ve Çocuk Bayramı
1st of May
Labour Day /Emek
ve Dayanışma Günü
Atatürk, Youth and
Sports Day
/Atatürk’ü Anma,
Gençlik ve Spor
Bayramı
Ramadan /Ramazan
The first gathering of the Turkish Grand National Assembly took place on April 23, 1920,
during Turkey’s War of Independence (1919-1923). Mustafa Kemal Ataturk proclaimed the
parliament an important step toward building a new state after the Ottoman Empire was
defeated during World War I. Ataturk reportedly dedicated the Turkish Republic to children in
Turkey.
There will be a ceremy at Hisar School.
This is a national holiday, school will be closed, also the banks and offical offices will be
closed.
The beginning of national liberation movement in 1919. Dedicated to youth.
19th of May
There will be a ceremony at Hisar School on this day.
Ramadan is a time of fasting, praying and celebration.
While fasting from dawn until sunset Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids,
smoking and sexual relations; and in some interpretations from swearing.
During the Ramadan, it's polite to refrain from eating and drinking in public during daylight
hours. Rather, do it inside a restaurant, tea house, cafe or other private or semi-private area.
(In the middle of the night drummers circulate through towns and villages to wake sleepers
so they can prepare Sahur, the big early-morning meal to be eaten before the fast begins
again at sunrise. They tend to make their noise around 02:30 and 03:00 am, and they make
sure everyone hears them.)
Many restaurants offer special banquet-like Ramazan menus at night. Some restaurants
which normally serve alcoholic beverages may refrain from doing so during the holy month,
offering fruit juices and other drinks instead. It would be polite for you to observe this
stricture if you are in an establishment where others are refraining from alcohol. (In some
restaurants, alcohol service may resume after the evening's main meal is largely concluded.)
July 5-7, 2016
(half day on the
4th)
Ramadan Holiday
/Ramazan/Şeker
Bayramı
September 12-25,
2016 (half day on
the 11th)
Sacrifice Holiday/
Kurban Bayramı
Ramazan Bayramı is the three-day holiday that follows the end of the holy month of
Ramazan. It is a tradtional to give gifts of candy whoever visits you during this holiday.
In Turkey, it is an official national holiday. On the last day of Ramazan, most offices and
businesses close after lunch for "preparation" (arife, ah-ree-FEH).
The festival celebrates the Biblical and Kur'anic account of Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son
on Mount Moriah, proving Abraham's complete obedience to God. In the story, God stays
Abraham's hand at the last moment and provides a ram for sacrifice instead, praising
Abraham for his faithfulness. Following this tradition, the head of each Turkish household
hopes to sacrifice a sheep or other food animal on the morning of the first day of the holiday
period. A lavish meal is made from the meat, friends and family are invited to feast, and the
excess meat and the hide are donated to charity.
BRINGING OR BUYING A MOBILE PHONE
Buying a mobile phone and SIM card here:
-
Go to a GSM shop (Turkcell, Vodafone are the most populer ones)
-
Have your passport with you.
-
You will have two choices,
o

to have a pre-paid line, which is called ‘Kontür’ in Turkish, you can put credit on as you need.
or a line which can provide you with a monthly invoice, for a invoiced line,
o
Passport
o
Residence Permit (last 6 months)
o
1.200 TL. guarantee letter form a Turkish citizen (should be approved by the notary)
o
An invoice on your name
HOW TO BRING A MOBILE PHONE
Bringing you phone with you:
-
Within 30 days entering Turkey, you must register your phone at any Tax office paing 120 TL. (2015)
surcharge for bringing in n overseas purchased phone.
-
The entry stamp on your passport should be readable.
-
You need to have a residence permit.
-
The the bank/ tax office will give you a proof of Payment.
-
With the proof of payment, you can go to any GSM office and purchase a phone line. Gsm Office will ask
for another 50 TL. as the service money.
WHERE TO FIND NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES
The two daily Turkish newspapers in English are Hurriyet Turkish Daily News and Today’s Zaman. International
Newspapers are also available but they come 2-3 days late to Istanbul.
D&R and Nezih are two stores that you can buy international/Turkish magazines, books, periodicals tec.
APPS RELEVANT TO LIVING IN ISTANBUL
Not all of the applications are in English, but as soon as you get used to some Turkish words and phrases, you
will be able to understand most of the content. And don’t forget, in any need we are a phone call away.
Banking
Akbank Direct- Only in Turkish yet, but as soon as your bank account is opened, this application is a must have.
You can make all your transfers, payments etc. through this application, a must have.
Health & Safety

En Yakin Hastane- Closest Hospital

Eczane (means Pharmacy)- find the pharmacy closest to you

Acibadem- Scholars health Insurance is working with this hospital. Acıbadem Maslak (Maslak is the area, is
very helpful, English is commonly used.)
Logistics
• Yemeksepeti- very easy to use, the application is in English also, get delivery to your house in 30-45 minutes,
lots of restaurant choices.
• Yandex maps- realtime guide to traffic on every street of Istanbul, you must have this app.
• Taksimetre- will be useful to understand how much you should be paying for a taxi from point A to point B and
gives you the numbers of taxi stands closest to you.
• Migros- online grocery shopping
Other Apps:
• Seslisozluk- online English/Turkish dictionary.
• Around Me- find out what banks, hospitals, bars, cafes, restaurants, etc are right around you
• Istanbul.com – see what’s going on in the city this week
• Biletix- online boxoffice
WHERE TO FIND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS/CHURCHES
Churches in Istanbul
Anglikan Church
Anglikan Church is in Beyoglu, Serdanekrem Street No: 83. The architect of this building, which is also known
as the Crimean Church is G.E. Street.
Aya Yorgi
Aya Yorgi Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchy Church is in Fener, between Sadrazam Ali Pasa Road and Incebel
Street. Greek Orthodox Patriarchy is located in the yard of this church.
Saint Antoine-Beyoğlu
Saint Antoine Church which is located in the center of a courtyard is entered through the gate on the
roadside between two apartment buildings which were built to provide funding for the church.
Saint Mary Syriac Kadim Church
Saint Mary Syriac Kadim Church is in Beyoğlu, Karakurum Street in Tarlabaşı. It is the only church in Istanbul
commisioned by Syriac minority.
St. Stephan Bulgarian Church
St. Stephan Bulgarian Church which belongs to Bulgarian minority is may be the most interesting church of
Istanbul.
Surp Krior Lusarovich Armenian Orthodox Church
Surp Krior Lusarovich Armenian Orthodox Church is in Istanbul, Karakoy, Sakizcilar Street No:3. It the oldest
Armenian Church in Istanbul.
 Neve Shalom Synagogue – located in Karaköy, this is the central and largest Sephardic synagogue in
Istanbul. It was inaugurated on Sunday March 25, 1951 and is open to service (see details on their
website). Unfortunately, Neve Shalom has been the target of three terrorist attacks.
 Ashkenazi Synagogue – located near the Galata Tower, it is the only currently active Ashkenazi
synagogue in Istanbul open to visits and prayers.
 Bet Avraam Synagogue – located behind the Sirkeci train station, it is the synagogue nearest to
Sultanahmet.




Bet Israel Synagogue – located in Şişli, it is currently the most populated synagogue in Turkey. The
synagogue can be visited after making appointments with Neve Shalom Foundation.
Caddebostan Synagogue – built in 1953 as a result of the increasing Jewish population in the Kadıköy
district. It is the most populated synagogue on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Yanbol Synagogue – the second of the ancient synagogues in Balat.
Ahrida Synagogue – one of the two remaining synagogues in Balat. It is the oldest and probably most
beautiful synagogue in Istanbul. It was founded before the Muslim conquest of Istanbul in 1453 and
has been in constant use ever since. Tourists can only visit by prior arrangement with a tour guide.
Others;
Ecumenical Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate, Eyüp
Armenian Patriarchate
Christ Church, Karaköy
Union Church, www.unionchurchofistanbul.org, 02122445212
CHRISTMAS IN ISTANBUL
Istanbul is also spoilt with a wealth of beautiful and historic churches, many of of which are holding special
Christmas services. These include:
Agia Triada - Meşelik Sokak No. 11/1, Taksim; P: (0212) 244 13 58
December 24 & 25, 08:00.
Language: Greek
Christ Church - Serdarı Ekrem Sokak No. 82; P: (0212) 251 56 16
December 25, 10:00
Language: English
Dutch Chapel - Istiklal Caddesi Postacılar Yokuşu, Tünel; P: (0212) 244 52 12
December 24, 18:00, 21:00, 23:00
Language: Turkish, English
Greek Patriarchate - Murat Molla Sokak No. 39, Fener; P: (0212)6354501
December 24, 16:30; December 25, 08:30
(St. George)
Language: Greek
Sacre Coeur (Syriac Catholic) - Sarayarkası Sokak No:15, Taksim; P: (0212) 243 25 21
December 24, 20:30
Language: Arabic, Syrian & Turkish
St. Antoine - İstiklal Caddesi No. 171; P: (0212) 244 09 35
December 24, 20:00 Hymns, 21:00 Rites
Language: Turkish, Italian, English
St Helenas British Consulate General Chapel - Meşrutiyet Caddesi, Tepebaşı, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
December 24, 19:00
Language: English
St. Demetrius - Ateşböceği Sokak No. 66, Kurtuluş; P: (0212) 250 48 73, 250 62 48
December 25, 08:30-09:00
Language: Orthodox
(Ref: www.istanbulguide.com)
SECURITY IN GENERAL
As a foreigner, please keep your proper identification with you at all times. You should keep your passport on
you until your work permit is processed (if not available upon arrival). Always keep copies of your identification
documents in case replacement becomes necessary.
The overall crime rate remains lower than that of other cities of comparable size. ıncidents involving foreigners
tend to be concentrated in tourist areas, such as Taksim Square, Istiklal Caddesi, Sultanahmet, and the Grand
Bazaar.The most common incidents are pick-pocketing.
In general, Turkish men are respectful toward women; however, some Turkish men might understand smiling or
friendliness as an invitation, so it is best to keep interactions with unfamiliar men as formal as possible and avoid
eye contact with men on the street.
There is a particular scam that seems to lure unsuspecting men- if you are a foreign man, out alone or with one
or two others, be suspicious of anyone you don’t know who comes up to you and asks you to go have a drink
with them. You will end up having to pay big amounts for each drink or even be forced to withdraw money from
the ATM. It is reported that if you flatly refuse at the initial request, they will not follow you or hassle you. This
scam has been known to include drugging of the victim in some instances, so be careful not to drink with people
you don’t know. In the drugging cases, almost all perpetrators introduced themselves as being foreigners
themselves, usually from Morocco. Taking simple precautions will enable you to avoid such situations. Be aware
that pick-pocketing is an issue in the Sultanahmet area (historic district) and Taksim.
For your apartment, if you require an alarm system service (not very common), Pronet is the company proving
it; inquire with HR to help you with the process.
BANKING
One of the first things you should be doing once arrive on campus should be to open a bank account at the
nearby Akbank where salaries are deposited. Salaries are deposited at the end of each month.
Also you will be able to access your foreign accounts from the ATM of your Turkish bank and at many banks
throughout Istanbul and Turkey. Turkish banks widely accommodate overseas ATM cards. (Enter your PIN
carefully as your card will be taken by the machine after 3 incorrect attempts, call us in this situation)
SHOPPING
Major supermarkets in Istanbul, like Migros, Macro, Carrefour are situated in key areas where all your grocery
needs will be met. Large housing compounds like Kemer Country and Alkent 2000 have a Macro within the
compound. Weekly markets known as pazaars are great for purchasing cheap, fresh fruits and vegetables. It is
suggested that you switch to local substitutes of your favourite products as imported ones will be very
expensive.
Migros, Carrefour all around the city are large supermarkets with just about everything you want to. (Please
note, alcohol drinks won’t be sold after 22:00)
Mega Stores: Carrefour, Bauhaus, Koçtaş, Ikea are are well worth a visit for furniture and appliances.
There are a growing number of computer supply stores like Vatan, TeknoSa, Media Markt.
Ask our shopping expert Perran Işın to take you to the Covered Bazaar It is a good place to shop for jewelery,
kilims, and other ethnic crafts. In the bazaar bargaining is a must. It is common to be offered (free)
refreshments like apple tea, mineral water, or the like while you are shopping. It is a sign of courtesy and
shopkeepers are pleased to make this offer. Please note that while accepting beverages from a shopkeeper is
quite normal and common, outside of the shopping context it is not advised to accept beverages, drinks, or
offers to go drink with strangers.
SAMPLE COSTS
Food
Tomatoes
2-5 TL/KG
Water
8-10 for a 15 liter can
Fresh whole chicken
10 TL
Sea bass (medium sized)
30 TL
Utilities (Approximate)
Telephone
20 TL
Low cost mobile phone
40-100 TL
Natural Gas
Varies high in winter
İn winter: 200-.. TL.
Water
40-40 TL.
Electiricty
60 TL.
Eating out
Starbucks coffee
7-..TL
McDonalds meal
12 TL
Pizza Hut
20 TL
3 course meal (medium restaurant) 80 TL (for two)
3 course meal (top restaurant)
150 TL ( for two)
Taxi
Around 2,5 TL per kilometer
(Ref: www.expatwomen.com)
CHAIN STORES & MALLS
Every day there is a new shoPping mall opening in Istanbul Among the chain stores you may know from other
countries, Turkey has the following chain stores (to name a few), although for fashion items, the prices are much
higher due to import tax: Ikea, Carrefour, Bauhaus, Harvey Nichols, TopShop, Marks & Spencer’s, Debenhams,
Next, Benetton, Levi’s, Lee, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, River Island, Tommy Hilfiger, Zara, Harvey Nichols,
Massimo Dutti, Sephora, Watson’s, Body Shop, Lush, etc. There are shopping areas in Beyoglu and Nişantaşı as
well as several modern shopping malls and hypermarkets in and around the city. The shopping malls on the
European side include İstinye Park, Akmerkez, Cevahir, Metrocity, Kanyon.
HAIR SALOONS
Please ask your colleagues for hair saloon recommendations. For men, haircuts can be quite reasonable—and
you may be offered tea (çay) along with your cut, shave, and scalp massage. Don’t be surprised if they give you
the deluxe treatment by burning your ear hair away with a blow of a lit match! It is customary to give a small tip
to all attendants who serve you: hairdresser, hair washer, manicurist, etc.
TAP WATER-PORTABLE WATER DELIVERY
You shouldn’t drink tap water in any areas of Istanbul, it is not considered drinkable, therefore it is quite
common for people to have 19-liter water delivered from one of the many water delivery stores or you can
puchase it form your local small market (called ‘bakkal’ in Turkish) It is about 19-liter bottle is 5-10 TL depending
on the brand. A deposit is required for the initial bottle/s at a price of 5-10 TL, and if you wish to purchase a
pump for the bottle, that can range from 5-20 TL, so you may choose to buy a pump more cheaply from a house
wares store like Bauhaus, Praktiker, or Koçtaş. It is not required but is customary to give a small tip to the
delivery person as it helps ensure to expedite your next request, which may help if you are in a hurry.
• Pınar Su: eng.pinarsu.com.tr
APPLIANCES
Many foreign name brand appliance stores exist here, although you can get durable and dependable locally
manufactured appliances for less money (Arçelik, Beko, and Vestel). Electronics such as a decent computer
system are not much more than European prices. US $700 would buy you a good, latest model computer. US
$600 would buy you a decent dishwasher and US$750 would buy you a new LCD TV (32 inch screen).
Major, reliable electronics chain stores include:
• Teknosa http://www.teknosa.com/
• Media Markt: http://www.mediamarkt.com.tr/
• Bimeks http://www.bimeks.com.tr/magazalar/
RESTAURANTS IN ISTANBUL
www.yemeksepeti.com online ordering and delivery service for all areas of Istanbul and other cities, including
complete menus, working hours, and minimum order amounts for a wide variety of area restaurants. The site
has an English section.
There are lots of restaurants in Istanbul both offering Turkish and international food. There are Chinese, Korean,
Japanese, Mexican, Italian and German restaurants available. You can find known fasfood chains everywhere
such as McDonalds, Burger King, Dunkin Donut, Starbuck’s etc.Turkish cuisine offers a wide variety of meat and
vegetarian fare. And Seafood. You will see that fruit and vegetables are plentiful and vary with the seasons.
It is possible to eat out relatively cheaply, for example, dinner for two in a normal (moderate) restaurant costs
around EUR 20/ US $30 excluding drinks or EUR 30-60/ US $50-90.
Please try meze (Turkish hors-d’oeuvres) and fish in Taksim ‘Balık Pazarı’ ‘Çiçek Pasajı’ or along the Bosphorus in
costly places or little fish restaurants where fish and ‘meze’ is delicious and prices are reasonable. “Kebabçi”
places offer various grilled meat platters, some deliciously spicy, at very reasonable prices.
Alcoholic drink prices in restaurants and bars can vary with trendy restaurants sometimes charging as much for
cocktails as you would expect to pay in places like Manhattan or London.
MEDICAL SERVICES IN GENERAL
There are many hospitals in Istanbul, but the main ones to note are the American, Acibadem, International and
Florence Nightingale hospitals. The American Hospital and Acibadem Hospital have many American-trained and
English-speaking doctors.
Hisar school has a full time doctor, and there are two main hospitals in the neighborhood, Acıbadem and
Florance Nightingale for emergencies.
PHARMACY HOURS
Most pharmacies or chemists (eczane) are open 9:00am-7:00pm Monday-Saturday. Pharmacies are now
indicated by a white, square sign displaying a red letter “E” for easy identification.
For each neighborhood, there is at least one on-call pharmacy (called ‘nöbetçi eczane’) that will be open
7:00pm-9:00am. There will also be an on-call pharmacy open Sundays. There is a rotation schedule for this
which you can find at:
http://www.istanbulsaglik.gov.tr/w/nobet/nobetci_eczaneler.asp
If you are unable to reach a pharmacy, there is a 24/7 medicine delivery service available by calling (212) 444
7724 (for orders, press 1) or www.ilac7-24.com who will deliver your desired medicine to your doorstep for a
20TL charge. If the medicine is not available in the area you live, the charge increases to 40TL to source the
medicine from a different supply location. If your prescription needs to be collected, an additional 10TL is
charged. This website also provides 24 market services. English might not be spoken by the operators. English
speaking staff may return your call if the operator doesn’t speak English.
iPhone/iPad/handheld app for pharmacies near you: Eczane
iPhone/iPad/handheld app for medicines: EczaPlus
MEDICAL INSURANCE
Your health insurance (Scholars/Clements) is a World-wide insurance. To be insured, HR Office will be asking
your current private insurance information, please send your documentation. A detailed information will be
given to you by HR about the insurance.
POSTAL SERVICE
Please keep in mind, it can take up to 4 weeks for mail to arrive from the US, about 2 weeks from the UK. To
make sure your post goes as quickly as possible, mark the envelope or package ‘uçakla’, which means ‘air mail’.
You can use the school address as your mailing address. The school will also help post letters for you. Postal
rates change frequently, according to the lira-dollar exchange rate, but keep to about the US equivalent. If you
wish to have things sent to you after your arrival, remember that all items go through customs and are subject
to tax.
TELEVISION in TURKEY
Turkish television operates on the PAL system (Phase Alternating Line), a color encoding system that differs from
NTSC and SECAM. PAL system uses a vertical resolution of 576 lines (usually with a horizontal resolution of 720
or 704 pixels), with interlaced resolution, which is not compatible with televisions produced for NTSC markets
(such as USA). Bringing a television from USA, therefore, isn’t practical.
Regular broadcasting, cable, satelite, and digital television are available in Turkey, with satelite television
offering the most selection of foreign language options and foreign programming.
Cable TV is available through TurkTelekom (the local phone company). CNBC-E channel shows current sit-coms
and movies in English with Turkish subtitles, and BBC World, BBC Prime, CNN, Eurosport, TVE, RTL, and a few
other foreign channels are available with basic cable TV.
Also available is digital satellite tv, like Digiturk and D-smart, which both offer a wide selection of Turkish and
foreign channels, with language options for many of the channels. Digiturk is the more popular, with the widest
range of channels, there are different packages you can buy, among them if you buy a movie channel for
example, you can watch the movies in their original language.
NIGHT LIFE
The main concentration of night life attractions are in the Beyoglu/Taksim area on the European side, and
Kadıköy on the Asian side of Istanbul. There are bars and cafes for almost every taste, many of which offer live
music, both foreign and Turkish. Closing times vary from district to district. Bar prices range from reasonable to
very expensive. There are frequent concerts, performances, and music festivals of many descriptions, and in
summer many of these take place outdoors.
CINEMAS
Most cinemas in Istanbul show European and American films in the original version with Turkish subtitles,
although children’s films are usually dubbed into Turkish. There are many annual film festivals. Many cinemas
have a discounted admission day once a week. Teachers generally get a small discount on tickets if they have a
proper ID.
TRAVEL
Istanbul is in a great location, you can travel within and outside Turkey with reasonable expenses. Within tourist
facilities in many areas are quite well-developed. There are comfortable hotels and excellent museums in or
near all the major tourist sites, and a number of helpful guidebooks are available in English. Transportation by
air, train or bus is efficient and relatively inexpensive. Passenger ships from Istanbul call at various Black Sea,
Aegean and Mediterranean ports.
You may choose to join the American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT), or similar organizations, which
organize tours both in and outside Turkey. The Greek border is only four hours away and easily reached by bus.
LEARNING TURKISH
Language schools in the city offer Turkish language instruction at reasonable rates. Some language schools offer
very traditional approaches to language learning. Private tuition is readily available.
Hisar will help you if you want to take Turkish courses, please contact Hurriyet Erkmen for this support.
SCHOOL DRESS CODE
Main Principles (from Ministry of Education)
Regarding the dress code, for all faculty and staff, the simplicity and cleanliness are the fundamentals.
Female employees
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Dress, pants, skirt, in an orderly fashion, ironed and plain.
Shoes and/or boats should have normal size of heel, and should be polished.
The hair/head should not be covered on the job and should be in an orderly fashion.
Wide open collar blouses or dresses and stretch, faded jeans and similar pants are not allowed.
The skirts shall not be shorter than the just over knee level, and no deep slashes are allowed.
Slippers, slipper like shoes (sandals) are not allowed.
Nose ring/ear ring/piercing is not allowed.
Male employees
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Dresses shall be clean, neat, ironed and plain; shoes shall be covered, clean and polished
Slippers, slipper like shoes (sandals) are not allowed
Sideburns shall end around mid-ear and shall not go lower than mid-ear.
Hair shall not cover the ears, shall be neat, clean and well groomed.
Face needs to be clean shaven every day. Naturally moustache is acceptable, but shall be kept neatly
and closely trimmed.
Nose ring/ear ring/piercing is not allowed.
Hisar School does not require you to wear neckties on regular bases but on special days, event,
ceremonies, parent/official meetings etc. you are required to wear a necktie. Therefore we kindly
request you to keep a necktie in your office at all times.
CULTURE
Theater
The Square Peg Theatre Group is an expat community theater group located in Tarlabaşı (now they have in
Asian Side) that hosts play rehearsals, theater workshops, writing workshops, small exhibitions, poetry readings,
movie nights, open mic nights, Art After Dark, and small staged theatrical shows. Brought to life by donations
and volunteers, the theater is growing in presence by enthusiastic participation and no lack of talent. Contact
the space at [email protected], and visit its website,squarepegistanbul.com for more information
and pictures as well as to meet its founders and leading participants.It would be a nice surprise for you that
some of our teachers involve in staging the shows they write.
Annual International Events (Ref: Expat’s Bible)
For a few occasions each year, Istanbul is the center of global attention. In a country fraught with up and coming
artists of its own, its no wonder Istanbul attracts the attention of some of the world’s greatest artists, actors,
singers and designers as well as contributes its own talent to the mix. These events put Istanbul on the map,
bringing expats closer to an international context.
Istanbul International Film Festival, film.iksv.org/en: This event is held in March-April each year.
Istanbul International Theater Festival, tiyatro.iksv.org/en: This event is held in May-June, attracting more than
20,000 visitors per year.
Istanbul International Music Festival, muzik.iksv.org/en: This event is held in June-July and features ballet,
opera, and classical music performances.
Istanbul International Jazz Festival, jazz.iksv.org/en: For more than 20 years, this early-July event attracts highprofile jazz performers from around the world.
Istanbul Fashion Week, ifw.com.tr: Taking place annually in February and September, Istanbul Fashion Week
showcases more than 20 Istanbul designers and attracts international attention.
Istanbul Design Biennial, tasarimbienali.iksv.org/en: The third Istanbul Design Biennial will take center stage
between 22 October – 4 December 2016, marking the beginning of many design biennials to come.
Istanbul Biennial, 12b.iksv.org/en: Assembling contemporary art from around the world for the public to view,
the Istanbul Biennial centers around a theme that inspires discussion.
Contemporary Istanbul, contemporaryistanbul.com: Contemporary Istanbul brings together numerous
contemporary art galleries from all over the world, with exhibitions, publications, initiatives, and other artrelated presentations on display.