City Guide
Istanbul is one of the most exciting cities in the world to work from: a huge metropolis on the Bosphorus, split between Europe and Asia, with incredible food, history and neighbourhoods that each feel like a different city.
Best for
City lovers who want food, history and a lot of energy on a moderate budget
Best months
April to June, and September to November
Time difference
1 hour ahead of Central Europe in winter, 2 hours in summer, as Turkey has no daylight saving time
Cost per day
Roughly €70–€130 including a good hotel
Internet
Good in hotels and coworking spaces; get an eSIM, as EU roaming does not apply
Less suited if you want a calm, small-town routine. Traffic is heavy and distances are big, so pick a base close to where you want to spend your days.
Hotels, cafés and coworking spaces aimed at business travellers usually have good WiFi. Turkey is outside the EU, so your normal EU mobile plan does not include roaming there, and using it can be expensive.
An eSIM with a Turkey data package is the easiest solution: you have mobile internet from the moment you land and can share it with your laptop as a backup. Read my guide to eSIMs for workations.
Kolektif House
Turkey's best-known coworking brand, with locations such as Levent, Şişhane and Moda. Day passes start from around 175–225 TL, depending on the location.
Istanbul also has countless cafés where you can work for a few hours, especially in Kadıköy, Moda and Karaköy. For calls, a coworking space or your room is better.
Kadıköy and Moda
On the Asian side: local, lively and full of cafés, markets and bars, with ferries to the European side.
Beyoğlu and Cihangir
Central on the European side, with galleries, cafés and views over the Bosphorus. Hilly and busy.
Karaköy
By the water, with design hotels, restaurants and easy access to the old town across the Galata Bridge.
Sultanahmet
Next to the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Convenient for sightseeing, but touristy for a longer stay.
Stays I list in Istanbul:
A rough week for one person with a good hotel, excluding travel:
Stay
€350–€700
For a hotel room with a desk
Food
€120–€220
From street food and lokantas to restaurants
Coworking
€40–€80
For five day passes
Transport
€15–€35
On ferries, metro and trams with an Istanbulkart
Lira exchange rates change quickly, so check current prices before you go.
Istanbul is one or two hours ahead of Central Europe, so you start a little before your colleagues and finish before them too.
Apr–Jun
Mild and green, with tulips in April
Jul–Aug
Hot, humid and busy
Sep–Nov
Warm, with fewer crowds
Dec–Mar
Cool and damp, around 9°C in January
Istanbul has two airports: Istanbul Airport on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian side. Both are far from the centre, so allow at least an hour.
Get an Istanbulkart for the metro, trams, buses and ferries. The ferries between Europe and Asia are cheap and one of the best parts of daily life.
Many EU citizens can visit Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days within 180 days, some with only an ID card. Check the current rules for your nationality before you book. For longer stays, look into a residence permit.
Take a ferry across the Bosphorus at sunset
Explore the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar early in the morning
Visit the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque outside prayer times
Walk from Kadıköy to Moda for dinner by the sea
Relax in a traditional hammam
Yes. Coworking spaces and hotels have good internet, prices are moderate and there is always something to do after work.
Kadıköy and Moda on the Asian side for a local, relaxed feel; Beyoğlu, Cihangir or Karaköy on the European side for a central base.
Yes, it is highly recommended, as EU roaming does not apply in Turkey.
Istanbul is part of my Turkey guide, next to Antalya. Compare it with other cities in my Europe guide.
