Are you an expat living in Turkey?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Turkey. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute.

There’s no one-size-fits-all rule for settling into expat life in a new country, but here are a few helpful articles and personal stories that may help make your move a little easier.

Interview with Faye – a British expat living in Turkey

Faye is originally from Buxton, Derbyshire, and is now an expat living in Dalyan in southwest Turkey. She has lived in Turkey for the last 20 years, initially working at Bilkent Laboratory & International School in Ankara. Faye has written two fiction novels that are… Read more

Interview with Emily and Jesse – American expats living in Turkey

When Emily and Jesse first considered living overseas, they had no idea of the life-transformation they would experience. Turkey rose to the surface as their top choice for many reasons: its culture of hospitality, its people's devotion to beauty, their affinity for… Read more

Interview with Ginny – an American expat living in Turkey

Originally from the US state of Alabama, Ginny Lou has long enjoyed travelling and learning about other cultures. She first came to Turkey shortly after graduating from university, and soon fell in love with the people and the culture here. When her friend, Leslie (from Knoxville, Tennessee) came… Read more

Book review: Exploring Turkish Landscapes – Crossing Inner Boundaries by Lisa Morrow

The first time Lisa Morrow went to Turkey she was just one of many young people on the great pilgrimage to Europe and beyond.  The colourful sights, sounds and smells of foreign countries appeal to youngsters’ need for adventure and excitement. When the enterprise becomes too trying, there is… Read more

Book review: Inside Out In Istanbul: Making Sense of the City by Lisa Morrow

For most people, Istanbul is synonymous with its world famous sights, the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Dolmabahçe Palace. Few tourists manage to go beyond the beauty of the historical district of Sultanahmet to visit the other face of Istanbul.  Yet a short ferry ride from the Bosphorus… Read more

Book review: Waiting for the Tulips to Bloom by Lisa Morrow

After extended repeated visits to Turkey, starting in 1990 during the Gulf War, the death of Lisa Morrow’s mother in 2006 prompts her to leave her native Australia with her partner Kim and settle in Istanbul. In Waiting for the Tulips to Bloom she shares some insights of living in this… Read more

Interview with Lisa – an Australian expat living in Turkey

Lisa is an Australian expat living in Istanbul. Her love for this country can be seen in her blog and books on Istanbul and Turkey (Inside Out In Istanbul, Exploring Turkish Landscapes and Waiting for the Tulips to Bloom). She introduces readers to the lesser-known sights and… Read more

Interview with Mihaela – a Romanian expat in Turkey

Mihaela, originally hailing from the winter wonderland of Transylvania, moved to crowded Istanbul in 2016. A highly creative and people-orientated person, Mihaela enjoys learning new languages, eating chocolate, “smiling at dogs and babies” and generally expanding her horizons whenever she can.… Read more

Interview with Caroline – an American expat in Turkey

Caroline is an American writer, editor, and teacher. She moved to Istanbul in 2014 and relocated to southern Germany in early 2018. In addition to teaching at high schools and universities, her writing has been published in almost twenty literary journals and on websites such as Book Riot… Read more

Interview with Catie – an American expat living in Turkey

Catie is an American expat who moved to Turkey with her husband, Jason, in August 2016. Having both previously lived in Turkey, and in search of something a bit different to the “American Dream”, they decided to return to Turkey on a more permanent basis. They have settled in the coastal city of… Read more

Interview with Nelle – an expat living in Turkey

Nelle is a Belgian/French expat living in Turkey. She is married to a Turkish man, and after living in London for a number of years, they moved to Istanbul, where they own a real estate and travel agency specialising in Turkish properties. Nelle shares more of her expat experiences on her blog,… Read more

Finding an apartment in Istanbul: Advice from a real estate expert

Sima Oehlers is the co-founder of CityApartmentsIstanbul, a business operating in London and Istanbul, and specialising in brokering long-term rental accommodation in Istanbul. Here she shares her insights and answers some of the most common questions expats have… Read more

Book Review: Perking the Pansies

Jack and Liam, a gay couple, are fed up with working life conditions in London and so decide to move to Turkey. Apart from the regular challenges that expats normally face in relocation, the two embark upon a journey that will indefinitely bring unique tensions to a head.  Or, as Jack’s… Read more

Interview with Barbara – an American expat in Izmir, Turkey

Barbara Isenberg is a freelance writer specialising in travel, food and culture about Istanbul and Turkey. She moved to Izmir with her husband after buying a one-way ticket to Istanbul in August 2007 and now lives a life of leisure and contemplation on the Aegean. About Barbara Q: Where… Read more

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