Participants are required to arrange their own accommodation and cover the associated costs. We recommend selecting hotels situated in the city center (Beyoğlu or Cihangir area). Following the initial two days at the university, the majority of program activities will be concentrated within the city center vicinity for the duration of the week. The recommended hotels below have been the suggestions of ILSW participants in the previous years.
Recommended hotels:
*Any other hotel close to the M2 metro line is a suitable choice with easy transportation.
Istanbul has two airports: Istanbul Airport on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Anatolian side. Travelers can reach the city center (Taksim) from either airport by utilizing airport buses, public buses, metro, or taxis. For more information regarding transportation from the airport to the city please click on each airport's website link.
Koç University is situated on the northern side of the city, within the Sariyer district. Participants are instructed to arrive at the Hacıosman metro station, which is the final stop on the M2 (green) metro line. University shuttles will be available from there to transport participants to the campus. In the event that a participant misses the shuttle, taxis are readily available at the exit of the metro station for alternative transportation.
Click here to access Istanbul Metro Map and for more details about transportation to the University click here Transportation to Koç University.
Istanbul is a city of almost 20 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.
Here are the main transportation options in order to find your way around during your stay.
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.
Take a look at the beauty and the attractions of the city:
The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira
In case of an Emergency, please use the following numbers
Emergency Numbers