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Türkiye has recently released its Digital Nomad Visa, which will allow certain remote workers between the ages of 21-55 to stay in the country for up to a year. And after spending one month in Istanbul earlier this year, I wanted to share some of my experience. Türkiye is a popular destination for digital nomads and remote workers, not just for the fact that it is outside the Schengen Zone, but for the lifestyle, culture and community that it brings.

There is a lot more of Türkiye to explore than the capital city - and I’ll be sharing some more updates about this later in September - but for the first timer, Istanbul is 100% a great place to start. It truly is where so many cultures and practices come together in one place, The Bosphorous River that runs through the city literally marks the borders between Europe and Asia, so you will often hear about the ‘European Side’ and the ‘Asian Side’ of the city. And from the food to the culture, there are so many wonderful influences that make up this city like nowhere else.

Where to work in Istanbul (EUROPEAN SIDE)

There are several cowork space options around the city (that I’ll hopefully get to share a little bit more about in September (follow @hanmeetsworld on Instagram and LinkedIn over the next couple of weeks for more), but while I spent time there in January, I found there were several great cafes to remote work from:

Han Spaces

I know, I made a joke about the name and that it was my space too. We were actually invited to check out this cowork space as part of a hosted trip to the city in August. If you’re in the area, it’s a cosy space where you can hot desk and take calls.

Espresso Lab

There are several of these coffee shops around the centre of the city, but my favourite was definitely the Taksim branch. There is actually a dedicated space for people to remote work upstairs and by around 11am it got busy. You could get a password for a couple of hours, grab a coffee and plug in easily. And I found especially during the morning, that it was a great place to begin the day.

The Turkish-German Bookstore & Cafe

A couple of doors down from the Taksim Espresso Lab, is another popular destination for remote working - especially for students, and honestly I would’ve 1000% loved it when I was studying. Located over two floors, it is literally a bookshop when you walk in and then upstairs and lots of tables packed in to make a cafe. It has the longest coffee and tea menu I’ve ever seen and is super budget-friendly. I only went in once because it got busy pretty quickly, but I think even it’s also a great place to take a book and get a coffee too.

Books & Coffee

Another chain of coffeeshops dotted around the city, we chose to check out the Karaköy branch and it was again a great place to begin the day before walking over the bridge for an Eminönü adventure afternoon. There were lots of tables to choose from on different levels that were conducive to both conversation and working.

Kronotrop

In Karaköy, I wanted to love this space with all my heart! Even on the weekend, there was a table of people working on things and given how chilly it actually was outside, it was the perfect snug hideaway. However, my laptop wouldn’t connect to the wifi and I didn’t have my iPad with me at the time, so it kind of defeated the point of being there. But the coffee was amazing and I would absolutely head back for a coffee catch up (or properly functioning laptop).

Salt Galata

I think this space was great for students, but again, my laptop refused to connect to the internet, so I could only do so much in the end. Located in an old bank building, it is super impressive to visit and it’s also super close to attractions like the Galata Tower and some of the many rooftop cafes and restaurants that look out over the city. (It’s also free to enter).

Cafe Note

If you want to sit inside, I believe you’ll need to get there fairly early to get a table. It’s a lot smaller than some of the other places mentioned here in this post, but I wanted to give it a shout out because it is quiet, small, but quiet and you’ll feel less likely to be disturbed if you are looking for a place in Beyoglu.

Vapur Kafe Besiktas Iskelesi

A bit more of a niche one again, but it warranted a mention if you decide to visit the Ortaköy Mosque and surrounding area. Located above the Beskitas Ferry, it’s this super cute little library-cafe - which again seemed to be a popular option for students on the weekend - where you could grab a coffee and stay cosy in a nook or work on one of the many communal tables.

Note: I did try several other places in the city, but the thing to note about wifi and coverage in Istanbul is that it can be patchy and slow (even with an e-sim).

So often I would stay at the Airbnb or chance one of the Espresso Lab cafes for deeper work sessions.

WHERE TO WORK IN ISTANBUL (ASIAN SIDE)

Village Coffee & Eatery

This was a super cute spot I came across while trying to find another cafe - and I went back several times. I was able to get a great flat white coffee and breakfast here, and it was one of those places I and others seemed to feel comfortable having out laptops out to work. The wifi was great and the team were super chill.

Story Coffee & Roastery

You’re never really stuck for coffee shops in Istanbul, but a coffee shop you can connect to the wifi, work and get good coffee in needs a little extra search. Story Coffee & Roastery is a place I would’ve perhaps gone back to more, if I was in town for a bit longer, but there were other options just that bit closer that became priority. Super cute though!

Duvar Coffee Collective

This was another random find of mine that I came across while doing laundry, ha! It’s a small little space that on a week day afternoon seems to be a place for a handful of remote workers to come together. Great coffee and wifi, but I’m not sure I would stay here for longer than waiting for my laundry to be done…

EspressoLab

Yes, it had to be mentioned again as it is a reliable back up for remote work sessions. There are again several ‘branches’ around Kadiköy, Moda and further along the water where you can get a great coffee and good connection.

Get an e-Sim

I’ve seen some creators and travellers who have gone without data for their trip, but I’m just not that kind of person (and as I mentioned before, the Internet was not always reliable in places). My personal go-to for an e-Sim was Airalo and I didn’t seem to have an issue for the entire time I was there.

Where to stay in the city

This time I stayed in Beyoglu, which for me was fine for my first visit, but having then spent time in areas like Kadiköy, I think I’d personally pick there instead. I found that Beyoglu was perfect for people who were there for a brief visit, or looking to stay in the areas more geared towards the typical tourist. And while you certainly get the tourist vibe when you first arrive in Kadiköy, the vibe is still somehow different and more of what I’d personally be looking for from a long stay.

Public Transport

I walked a lot of places and generally felt safe (at least physically), but the city also has an extensive and efficient public transport system that includes buses, trams, ferries and the metro. I only bought an Istanbulkart for the ferries when I needed it, but you may like to purchase it for more convenient access.

Language

While English is widely understood and spoken in tourist areas and among the younger population, learning basic Turkish phrases can be very helpful and appreciated by locals. (And is something I want to put more effort into in my next trip).

Digital nomad communities

I’m grateful that there were a few digital nomad friends passing through the city at the time, so we met up for coffee and to create content around the city. But there are also some digital nomad and expat WhatsApp groups to join as well, including Smileys Network and Istanbul Digital Nomads and there are often different groups of people who meet up on both the European and Asian sides for activities around the city and also for general hangs.

What to do in your leisure time

Personally, I didn’t do as many things as the traditional ‘things you have to do in Istanbul’ posts will tell you - mostly located in Eminönü - but I can tell you you will never be lost for things to do. One of the things I wish I had done sooner in the month was to go to a Coffee & Fortune-Telling Workshop (stay with me!) because coffee is such a huge part of history and etiquette in Türkiye and once I got to know more about this, I felt like I understood the city that much more. Similarly, sharing a full Turkish Breakfast with Turkish Tea at Dogaciyz Gourmet was one of my absolute favourite experiences! And if you’re looking for a place that serves classic baklava and Turkish Tea, then hitting up a Hazim Mustafa 1864, is a must!

Not forgetting the many rooftop cafes and restaurants, one of my favourite memories was grabbing a coffee at Galata Konak Cafe and watching the clear sunset views over both Eminönü and the Asian side of the city. Galataport is another great area to watch the sunset from and was where I generally found myself wondering back to both during the evening and also first thing in the morning on the way to the ferry or Kariköy area. And while we’re on the topic of Galataport, one of my favourite rainy day activities was to head to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - even just to chill in the cafe.

Visiting some of the mosques - the Blue Mosque is one of my favourites - and bazaars is of course a no brainer, and I would also recommend taking more time to explore other neighbourhoods like Balat. A super vibrant neighbourhood that has so many colourful shops and cafes to explore - and is also easy to reach by ferry.

Overall, I can understand why digital nomads and remote workers love to base themselves here and continue to make return visits to the city. From the large community, to the food and culture to the many things to do in the city (and of course it’s general position in the world for international flights), it makes for a great remote work option. Personally, I am glad I made it one of my remote work stops for a month, although I would like to compare the Asian side as a base for my next visit - and I’ll be intrigued to check out more of the country in the next few weeks to see what they also offer.

Are you thinking of staying in Istanbul?
Han x