Some people, particularly those who have never visited Turkey, imagine it as a hot, dry country covered in deserts. While parts of Turkey have arid or semi-arid climates, the country as a whole is far from being a desert. In…
Istanbul, one of the most populous cities in the world (its population is over 15 million as of 2026), where the continents of Europe and Asia seamlessly blend, is not just a historical and cultural gem but also one of…
Previously, I wrote an article titled “Road Cycling in Istanbul” for the website Cycling Passion. The article was predominantly in a Q&A format. Now, for 2025, I wanted to revisit and expand on that article. A lot has changed in…
Why do people want to leave Istanbul and live in Izmir? In a previous article, I explained why, despite their desire, people find it hard to leave Istanbul, and even if they move to another city, they often return after…
There’s something I’ve observed in people living in Istanbul (and many others have observed it too): once someone settles in this city, they either can’t leave or find it very difficult to leave and even if they do, after some…
A nostalgic photo of Istanbul, likely from the 1980s, shows the Ülev passenger ferry departing from the Karaköy pier. The image evokes a sense of the city’s rich maritime history, with the ferry gliding through the waters of the Bosphorus,…
Istanbul offers more than just its popular tourist attractions. Numerous hidden gems go beyond the typical guidebook recommendations for travelers eager to experience this vibrant city like an “active” local. Here I picked four non-touristy activities that reveal a different…
Straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, Istanbul is one of the major tourist destinations in Europe. The city’s strategic location has made it one of history’s most important cities.…
Some Europeans and Americans think that Istanbul is an Arabic city in the desert. Simply, it’s not. It’s cold, humid, rainy, and even snowy in winter. Snow is common between December and March. Rain is also common, especially in autumn,…
Uzunya is a small and beautiful cove in the north of Istanbul, near the Black Sea. It has a beautiful beach, one of the best beaches in Istanbul actually. There’s also a restaurant on the beach. I went there during…
I went for a training ride yesterday with two friends. We headed up to the north and cycled through the Black Sea shore. We climbed a lot. First, we headed to Kısırkaya, where the road has a lot of short-but-really-steep…
Karaburun is a small village in the northeast of Istanbul, near the Black Sea. Me and two friends cycled there and swam in the sea.