Job Discussion Forums

[casab22]

Where are the best neighborhoods to live in Istanbul? I'm moving with my girlfriend who will be studying on a Fulbright there. I will be getting certified with ITI and hope to teach English. We are looking to pay no more than $1000/month.

Any info is much appreciated. Thanks for the help.

Edward

[casab22]

She will be traveling so proximity to good public transport will be important. What do you think we should pay for a decent one bedroom in a good area? Thanks alot for your response.

Ed

[dmb]

we're talking about cihangir again. Great neighbourhood, cant get more central for quietness and transport to everywhere.

[scb222]

how's atakoy/barirkoy area??? anything there??

[molly farquharson]

dmb loves cihangir and i love galata:-) From beyoglu in general (which includes cihangir and galata), transportation is pretty easy. From galata you can walk down to catch the tramway that goes across the golden horn and on into the city and suburbs. you can also catch ferries. if you walk up to taksim square you can catch the metro (subway), though apparently the new metro station near galata will be opening in Dec (they say...).

Re rents, the rents in galata are catching up to cihangir, though you can find a very nice place for $1000, view and everything. unfurnished, BTW.

[molly farquharson]

atakoy rents are high, for living in dull apt blocks. It is near the metro though. You get to the city to and from bakirkoy by sea bus, by bus, or by taxi-dolmus (best and most convenient). rents in Bak are similar to beyoglu and other places, though i find bak is not a very interesting place, ie. pretty short on history. it's quite middle class, as is atakoy (though those people often want to be considered as upper m-c, in my experience)

[casab22]

What do people know about Kocamustafapasa as far as location? I've found a nice apartment, but I'm unable to find it on any maps.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Ed

[Golightly]

K.M. Pasa - also known as Samatya. One train stop down from YediKule. Not the easiest place to get to and from, and IIRC most apartments are relatively old and run-down.

[molly farquharson]

if you want conservative Turkish neighbourhood, KMpasa is it.

[whynotme]

I lived in Kocamustafa Paşa for a year.ıt was fine neither too conservative as Entralicus said nor known as Samatya as Golightly said. If you live in Fındıkzade part of it (Kızılelma or Millet Street parts), it is cool but the other parts are ( Yedikule,cerrahpaşa,aksaray) not so safe but i loved living there.

[dmb]

Can I retract my previous statements about Cihangir? 2 reasons for this. The plot of land in front of my apt. is turning into a construction site. So along with the dust and noise, my Bosphorous view will be no more. Also my g/f had her bag snatched a couple of nights ago 5 metres from her house. Turkish chavs are hanging around the streets too much here now. time for a move.

[saloma]

So if you move, where will you go?

[dmb]

I have an offer of moving to the other side for a few months.House sitting thing. Free

[whynotme]

[saloma]

And then? I mean, you seem to really love where you are...If forced to leave, I'm curious about where you would go.

That is awful about your girlfriend. I hope she is OK.

In university I lived in a cool part of town, and over the space of a few years, the place turned into a dump. Crack houses, chaves, needles on my front lawn, stolen property, and a couple of strange happenings a few streets over involving guns, I was outta there. There is nothing worse than feeling unsafe in (or near), your own home.

It really sucks when neibourhoods change like that.