Best Student Accommodation in Istanbul, Turkey

Koc University

• Casita has six accommodation options within close distance to the university.

• Güvenlik bus stop is just a 15-minute walk away from campus.

• Garipçe Kalesi is just a 12-minute car ride away from the university.

Istanbul Technical University

• Our six accommodation options are all within walking distance of the university.

• Sultanahmet Square is just a 35-minute car ride away from campus.

Boğaziçi University

• Casita’s five accommodation options are within walking distance of the university.

• There are two bus stops close to the university; the Boğaziçi Üniversitesi bus stop is just an eight-minute walk away.

• The Istanbul Sapphire observation deck is just a 13-minute car ride away from campus.

Is Istanbul good for international students?

Istanbul is very good for international students. The city has been hosting many different civilizations, cultures and religions in the last few centuries. You will definitely widen your political as well as your religious horizon. But most of all, you will encounter hospitable people, who are always interested in knowing more about your country and culture.

How is student life in Istanbul?

With a ton of universities in Istanbul, student life is very vibrant. Turkish culture has a very connected community, so people often hang out and chill at cafes or in any green spaces during nice weather; this applies to students as well. Once you start making friends in your classes, be sure to keep your schedule a bit flexible so that you can have time to go out and have fun with them as well.

You can’t be in Istanbul and not go to admire the Hagia Sophia Mosque at least once. The Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya in Turkish) was the Byzantine Emperor Justinian's swaggering statement to the world of the wealth and technical ability of his empire. Tradition maintained that the area surrounding the emperor's throne within the church was the official centre of the world. From its conversion to a mosque, after the Ottoman armies conquered Constantinople, to its further conversion into a museum in the 20th century and its reconversion back into a working mosque in 2020, the Hagia Sophia has remained one of Istanbul's most cherished landmarks.

The Topkapı Palace was first built by Mehmet the Conqueror in the 15th century. This glorious palace beside the Bosphorus was where the sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived and ruled. The vast complex is a dazzling display of Islamic art, with luxurious courtyards lined with intricate hand-painted tilework, linking a warren of splendidly decorated rooms, all bounded by battlemented walls and towers. Of the many highlights here, the most popular are the Harem complex (where the sultan's many concubines and children would spend their days); the Second Court, where you can walk through the vast palace kitchens and stand in awe at the dazzling interior of the Imperial Council Chamber; and the Third Court, which contained the sultan's private rooms. The Third Court also displays an impressive collection of relics of the Prophet Muhammad in the Sacred Safekeeping Room and is home to the Imperial Treasury, where you're greeted with a cache of glittering gold objects and precious gems that will make your eyes water.

The Basilica Cistern is another amazing place to visit and is considered one of Istanbul's most surprising tourist attractions. This huge, palace-like underground hall, supported by 336 columns in 12 rows, once stored the imperial water supply for the Byzantine emperors. The project was begun by Constantine the Great but finished by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. Many of the columns used in construction were recycled from earlier classical structures and feature decorative carvings. The most famous of these are the column bases known as the Medusa stones in the northwest corner with their Medusa head carvings. A visit here is very atmospheric with the columns beautifully lit and the soft, steady trickle of water all around you.

Istanbul's bus system, which is operated by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, is very effective, with routes running throughout the entire city. A bus map can be picked up at any terminal, and timetables for all routes are available on Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's Route/Station Search page. Most buses run daily between 6 a.m. and midnight. To ride one of the city's buses, you'll need to purchase a limited-use ticket or an Istanbulkart card. Istanbulkart cards can be refilled at bus and metro stops, and limited-use tickets and Istanbulkart cards are sold at more than 2,100 transportation counters and participating vendors.

Istanbul’s trams are a good way to see the city and get from one place to the other. The city has four tram lines available. A tram network map is available on Metro Istanbul's website. Istanbul also offers six metro lines, most of which service the European side of the city. Although the majority of the metro stations are not the closest public transportation option for popular attractions, this system's underground tracks made it a quicker option during rush hour. 

Taxis in Istanbul are plentiful, cheap and convenient. It might be helpful to write down the address of your final destination and show it to your driver; this will make communication much easier. Taxis can be hailed on the street; they all charge a base rate of 3.45 Turkish lira (about $1), plus a metered rate of 2.10 Turkish lira per kilometre travelled (or less than $1 per mile). The Uber ride-sharing service also operates in and around Istanbul.

Casita offers student accommodation in other Turkish cities besides having facilities for student accommodation in Istanbul. One of these cities is Izmir.