Road Cycling in Istanbul
Back in 2012, 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 2024, I wanted to revisit and expand on that article. A lot has…
Category Life in Istanbul & Turkey
İstanbul vs İzmir: Why is İzmir Considered a Better Alternative to Living in Istanbul?
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…
What Makes Istanbul a City People Never Want to Leave?
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…
Ülev Passenger Ferry [Vapur] Departing from Karaköy Pier – A Nostalgic Photo
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,…
4 Non-Touristy Activities to Try in Istanbul
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…
Istanbul Population 2024 [Current and Historic]
Istanbul, one of the most populous cities in the world (its population is over 15 million as of 2024) where the continents of Europe and Asia seamlessly blend, is not just a historical and cultural gem, but also one of…
Top 5 must-see places in Istanbul
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.…
Does it Snow in Istanbul?
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 Beach
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…
Cycling through the Black Sea shore
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…
Cycling to Karaburun
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.
A bike ride on a sunny but windy day
1st day of April… It was windy but sunny and warm. I jumped on my bike and ride it to the North, to the Black Sea. Rumeli Lighthouse (Turkish: Rumeli Feneri, aka Türkeli Feneri), a historical lighthouse still in use,…