Istanbul International Library Staff Week 2023

Participants should organize their own accommodation and are responsible for covering their own accommodation costs.

Recommended hotels:

• Troya Hotel
• Naum Pasa Konagi
• The Peak Hotel
• Sed Bosphorus Hotel 
• Hammamhane Hotel
• Tophane Suits
• Divan İstanbul City

*​Any other hotel close to the M2 metro line is a suitable choice with easy transportation. 

Entrance Form to Turkey: 

You must fill this form by the Ministry of Health in within the last 72 hours before travel to Turkey.

For the participants' easy transportation TO and FROM the campus as well as for all off campus visits, we will use shuttle buses during the whole week.

Hacıosman metro station is the central station for the route TO and FROM the campus with the shuttle buses.  Depending on the daily program, the shuttle buses can make selective stops at convenient metro stations. 

In case participants would like to commute independently, they should inform the organizing committee and use one of the following Transportation options. 

Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul) is Turkey's most populous city as well as its cultural and financial hub. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe both physically and culturally. Istanbul's population is estimated to be around 18 million people, making it also one of the largest cities in Europe and the world.

Take a look at the beauty and the attractions of the city:

• http://www.visitistanbul.org/
• https://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul
• https://loveandroad.com/first-trip-to-istanbul
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destination/istanbul

Istanbul is a city of almost 18 million people but no worries, you can commute easily using metro, buses, mini buses or tramvay.  For your transportation it would be better to purchase and use Istanbul card which you can load and use in all public transportation. You may purchase Istanbul card for 13₺ from the automatic machines located at every public transportation station. The ticket prices are lower when using the Istanbul card (Metro: 5.48₺ Bus: 3.92₺) while the price of one pass ticket is 11₺. After purchasing Istanbul card, you need to upload your HES code to the card. For instruction on how to upload your HES code to Istanbul card check this link.

Here are the main transportation options in order to find your way around during your stay.

• Istanbul Metro Lines / Route Planner / Timetables 
• Istanbul Metro Map
• IETT Buses / Metrobuses
• IETT Bus Lines
• Istanbul Urban Rail map
• Transportation to Koç University

Istanbul now has a new airport which replaced Ataturk Airport and is located on the north west side of the city.

The Istanbul Airport is connected to the city center with two public transportation options: Havaİst and İETT public buses. Havaist is more expensive (32₺) compared to İETT public buses (7,84₺) but it is the most practical option to travel from the airport to the city center and vise versa. 

The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira 

• Abbreviation: TL
• Symbol: ₺

In case of an Emergency, please use the following numbers

Emergency Numbers

• 112 Medical emergency/Ambulance; Police; Fire