Working in Istanbul Turkey
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and is located in the west of the country. The city has a population of almost 14 million in its metropolitan area and is considered the major economic and cultural centre of the country.
Istanbul is one of the most historically valued cities in the world and has been a key hub in several of the most well known empires, such as the Ottoman Empire. The city’s climate is primarily Mediterranean and it experiences a hot, humid summer and cooler winter with an increasing number of days of precipitation.
- Airport
- Railway Station
- Transportation
- Cost of Living
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Emergency
- Insurance and Healthcare
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Istanbul Ataturk International Airport
Located about 25km from central Istanbul, Ataturk International Airport is a major international complex that caters for visitors to the Turkish metropolis and those travelling between continents. One of the world’s busiest airports, Ataturk International Airport handles at least 37 million passengers each year through a modern three-terminal facility.
The airport can be accessed by Istanbul’s light rail service, an airport shuttle service, public and shuttle buses and taxi. The light rail service is cheap, efficient and primarily travels through the European part of Istanbul. Although more expensive, the airport shuttle bus is a more direct service for travellers.
Railway Station
Istanbul Sirkeci Terminal
Also known as Istanbul Terminal, Istanbul Sirkeci Terminal is a main station in the European part of Istanbul. International, domestic and regional trains running westwards depart from this station. It was inaugurated as the terminus of the Orient Express. The terminal is the main connection hub of the Turkish railway network with the rest of Europe. The two main lines connect to Thessaloniki in Greece and Bucharest in Romania. The station also provides extensive domestic services and is a major bus depot.
Transportation
Istanbul has a complex transportation system that involves a metro, tram, bus and boat system. The city metro’s origins date back to the 19th century and it has now evolved into a generally modern two line system that provides easy access to the city metropolitan area.
A tram system was introduced in 1992 and consists of two lines that operate through the city’s busier, more central areas. There are two types of public buses in Istanbul, one run by the private sector and the other is city-owned. These buses generally operate between 6am and midnight with a network that travels to all parts of the city.
Cost of Living
Although rising, the cost of living in Istanbul is low by western standards and the average monthly wage is typically about $1100 equivalent.
According to online cost of living database Numbeo (www.numbeo.com), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (June 2013) are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | $6.70 |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | $33.50 |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | $3.30 |
| Coke (330mL) | $1.10 |
| Milk (1 litre) | $1.10 |
| Loaf of bread | $1.10 |
| Eggs | $2.20 |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | $1.10 |
| Monthly pass | $78.20 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | $2.50 |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | $560 approx |
| Three bedroom apartment (central area) | $990 approx |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | $20 |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | $175 |
Accommodation
Accommodation in Istanbul varies, but in the main isn’t overly expensive. Being a large city Istanbul has an abundance of budget hotels and hostels, a strong selection of mid-range hotels and many luxurious hotels. The most popular areas for accommodation in Istanbul are: Harbiye, Taksim, Sultanahmet and Bosphorus.
Shopping
Most shoppers head to Istanbul to visit its historical bazaars, which have origins from the Ottoman era. However, the city also has several modern shopping malls for shoppers of a different type. Whichever you choose, there will be lots of Turkish Delight on offer.
The most popular market in Istanbul is obviously the Grand Bazaar, which is also surrounded by many cheaper bazaars worth exploring. The shopping malls of Istanbul are generally found in New Istanbul and the city’s western suburbs.
Emergency
Emergency numbers
Medical emergency / Ambulance 112
Fire 110
Police 155
Australian Consulate-General, Istanbul
16th Floor, Süzer Plaza (Ritz Carlton Hotel),
Askerocaĝı Caddesi No. 15, Elmadağ
Istanbul Turkey
Telephone: (90 212) 393 8542
Facsimile: (90 212) 243 1332
Insurance and Healthcare
Health care in Turkey is operated by the country’s government. It is a centralized system that involves a public and private sector. The public system is available to all Turkish citizens and registered expats for free or at low costs. However, the public system in Turkey has a reputation of being slow and crowded.
To avoid the crowds, expats in Turkey can also take out private care, with a growing range of services available for those willing to pay extra. Costs for private health treatment in Turkey are inexpensive compared to those in Australia. Despite these facilities, DFAT recommends all Australians travelling to the country take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover any overseas costs.