Daily Essentials

Üsküdar · Experience date Feb 25, 2026

Istanbul sits on or near the North Anatolian Fault — a major earthquake is considered likely. Practical steps: download the AFAD app for official alerts. Keep a 3-day emergency kit (water, food, flashlight, copy of documents) at home. Know your building's construction year — buildings built before 2000 may not meet modern earthquake standards. Ask locals about the nearest toplanma alanı (assembly point) for your neighborhood. Many Istanbul apartments now have earthquake damage insurance (DASK) — mandatory by law for property owners.

Üsküdar · Experience date Feb 2, 2026

Pharmacies (eczane) are marked with a green cross. They're on every other street in Istanbul. Open 9am–9pm typically; each neighborhood has a rotating 24-hour nöbetçi eczane (duty pharmacy), listed on the window of any closed pharmacy. Turkish pharmacists are trained to diagnose minor issues and recommend treatment — very helpful for common ailments without a doctor visit. Antibiotics require a prescription. Many common medications available over the counter that would require prescription in EU/US.

Beyoğlu · Experience date Mar 24, 2026

Tea (çay, pronounced 'chai') is the social lubricant of Turkish life. Offered everywhere: shops, offices, waiting rooms, neighbors. Always accept tea when offered — refusing can be slightly awkward unless you explain an allergy. Turkish tea is strong, served black in tulip-shaped glasses with sugar on the side. Çay bahçesi (tea gardens) are social spaces open from morning until midnight. A glass of çay costs 20–50 TRY at a kahvehane. Weekly tea consumption for one person: budget 200–300 TRY if you buy tea to make at home.

Beyoğlu · Experience date Apr 23, 2026

Every Istanbul district has a weekly pazar (outdoor market). Kadıköy Salı Pazarı (Tuesday Market) is legendary — 2km of stalls selling vegetables, fruit, cheese, olives, spices, and clothing at very low prices. Prices at pazar are 30–50% lower than supermarkets for equivalent produce. Know the day for your district: Kadıköy — Tuesday and Saturday, Beşiktaş — Saturday, Şişli — Wednesday. Arrive before 10am for best selection. Bring cash and a reusable bag.

Şişli · Experience date Apr 25, 2026

Istanbul has a basic recycling system. Blue bins for recycling (kâğıt-ambalaj: paper and packaging), green bins for glass. Regular waste: collected daily in most districts. Some neighborhoods have organic waste collection (kahverengi kutu). Street cleaning is frequent in central areas. Unlike Germany, there's no Pfand (bottle deposit) system — bottles go in recycling. For electronic waste: Teknosa and MediaMarkt have drop-off points. Istanbul is generally clean in tourist and central areas; outer suburbs are less maintained.

Şişli · Experience date Mar 17, 2026

Istanbul has world-class private hospitals that attract medical tourists from Europe and the Middle East. Acıbadem Hospital network has English-speaking staff at most branches. American Hospital Istanbul (Amerikan Hastanesi in Nişantaşı) is the most foreigner-friendly, with staff trained to international standards. Prices: 40–60% lower than Western Europe for procedures like dental work, cosmetic surgery, and elective procedures. Dental in particular is excellent value — full implant treatment costs $1,000–1,500 vs $3,000–5,000 in Germany/UK.

Kadıköy · Experience date Mar 7, 2026

Istanbul is world-famous for its street cats — thousands of semi-feral but community-fed cats live throughout the city, particularly in Beyoğlu, Fatih, and Kadıköy. This is a cultural institution, not a problem. Local kahvehane (coffee houses) and restaurants adopt cats as semi-permanent residents. Cat food dispensers are scattered across neighborhoods. The documentary 'Kedi' (2016) captures this beautifully. As an expat, the cats are part of Istanbul's social fabric — many residents have deep bonds with neighborhood cats.