Istanbul ratings & opinions
How our students rated their experience in Istanbul
What our students said about Istanbul
Hospitable, friendly city, lots of stores and entertainment catering to all tastes and wallets. Fairly safe place - there is an active life until 1 am in the tourist part of the center, some stores are open, a lot of police, but no disturbances. Historical monuments, museums, parks, a city with a very convenient public transportation system. Fresh air, sunny weather and friendly people create an unforgettable atmosphere of joy and pleasure. Depending on the time of year, it is possible to visit the nearby islands to enjoy a beach holiday.
Russia
This city is very impressive! It is buzzing day and night. The cleanliness is as good as I have ever experienced in any big city. You can experience whatever your heart desires. The various services are almost without exception impressively good and of great creativity. The cuisine is also very appealing.
Germany
Great, exhausting, exciting, colourful - Istanbul is something you have to walk around or use public transport. Taksim is the area to go for shopping, eating out, amusement, contemporary witnesses can be found everywhere in the city. Multicultural and open-minded.
Germany
I liked the ferry rides best, and apart from that I walked around a lot and found Orhan Pamuk's museum very imaginative. As a solo traveller, I had no problems at all going out to eat. However, I can't say anything about the nightlife...
Germany
Istanbul is my favourite city in the whole world! I am nowhere as happy as in İstanbul! The warmest people I know live in Istanbul and the city will always have a place in my heart!!!
Germany
Istanbul is a huge city with an enormous history. There are a lot of sights, beaches and night life is not neglected either.
Germany
Everything from a big city. Unfortunately, as a foreigner you have to pay a lot for everything.
Belgium
A beautiful city and I am very much in love with it, I will come again inschalah
Germany
Istanbul is the most interesting city I have ever seen. Istanbul is unique.
Switzerland
Istanbul is the kind of city that I personally want to return to again.
Russia
I love the city of Istanbul it's amazing
France
Most recent student reviews of language schools in Istanbul
Really great teacher who kept us motivated and speaking. I had an amazing 4 weeks of learning!
22 April 2024
Course: Intensive Course - 4 weeks
Student age: 31 years
I enjoyed absolutely everything! The teacher Emine is just wonderful!
I will definitely try to take another course in a while.
5 April 2024
Course: Intensive Course - 2 weeks
Student age: 46 years
Very good teacher, good course, good level classification, interesting learning material, small group, nice atmosphere.
29 January 2024
Course: Intensive Course - 1 week
Student age: 55 years
I had a really wonderful time at the school. The lessons were very informative and at a pleasant pace, so you really understood everything. Even when I had questions outside of school hours, I always got an immediate answer via WhatsApp. The teachers and staff in particular made sure that every student was really happy there. I always felt welcome and really enjoyed my time there. I would come back again and again and can recommend the school to anyone!!!
A wonderful school with wonderful people! Küçük bir Aile! (A little family!)
11 October 2023
Course: Intensive Course - 4 weeks
Student age: 18 years
I attended the Turkish course at Royal Turkish Schools in Taksim, Istanbul, from September 11th to September 29th, 2023, and I am extremely pleased with my experience. Despite having no prior knowledge of Turkish, I was able to make significant progress in a very short time. This achievement is credited to the outstanding teachers who not only possess impressive expertise but are also full of energy and competence. A special thanks to "Elif," who played a crucial role in our learning journey.
The speed at which I was able to learn in this course pleasantly surprised me. I never thought I would achieve so much in such a short period. For this reason, I wholeheartedly recommend Royal Turkish Schools. Don't hesitate; this school is truly excellent!
4 October 2023
Course: Intensive Course - 3 weeks
Student age: 31 years
Information about Istanbul
Key Facts about Istanbul
- Price index excluding rent: 65* (35% cheaper than New York)
- Price index including rent: 53* (47% cheaper than New York)
- Price index food only:65* (35% cheaper than New York)
- Big Mac price (Turkey average):
87.14 TRY (48% cheaper than in USA)
- Residential voltage: 220 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
Weather in Istanbul
Events in Istanbul
14 April 2024 - 15 May 2024Come along and admire the blossoming of the cherry tree, an opportunity to admire nature and take part in an event that only happens once per year.
03 September 2024 - 06 September 2024A must-see event for all foodies, where you can explore a wide array of delicious Turkish cuisine.
03 November 2024Take in the sights of Istanbul while running a distance with your family and friends, and conquer your goals. Multiple distance options available.
What to do in Istanbul
Arrival airports
Public transportation to city center:
Every 5 minutes, 30 minutes.
Main stops: Ataturk Airport Havalimani, Zeytinburnu, Aksaray
Every 240 minutes, 75 minutes.
Main stops: Havaalani dis hatlar, Yenikapi transit
Taxi: 15 minutes drive to city center of Istanbul
Public transportation to city center:
Every 30 minutes, 75 minutes.
Main stops: Sabiha Gokcen Airport, Faith Sultan Mehmet Bridge, 1.Levent
Taxi: 35 minutes drive to city center of Istanbul
Q&A - Questions and answers about Istanbul
- Do you have English language courses?“We have partner schools in Istanbul offering excellent English courses.”Sawsan Zein, LanguageCourse.Net - Oct 16, 2023
FAQ about schools in Istanbul
- I am an absolute beginner and would like to focus on practical conversation rather than grammar. Is that possible?“If you are an absolute beginner, you will need grammar before you can converse, as you will naturally need to learn to build sentences first. ”Robin Rebecca Pietersma, Language Travel Consultant from LanguageCourse.Net - Mar 12, 2024How many hours should I study to achieve the different levels (A1/A2/B1/B2/C1/C2) in Turkish?“On average, for A1/A2 level you need about 100-120 hours, for B1/B2 450-490 hours and for C1/C2 1000-1100 hours of study. Of course, it all depends on how quickly you pick it up, what your prior knowledge is (possibly also of a similar language) and whether you learn the language in the country of origin. So, for this reason, we specialise in offering languages in the country of origin, as there you improve your language skills the fastest! ”Robin Pietersma, Dutch Consultant from LanguageCourse.Net - Oct 21, 2022Didn't find what you are looking for?Interested in a specific type of course? See our reviews of Turkish courses & camps for teenager and children in Istanbul or other 16 different Turkish course types in Istanbul.Interested in language travel to other cities? Have a look at Turkish language schools in other cities in Turkey such as Antalya, Izmir or see our list of all schools in Turkey. You may also want to consult options outside Turkey for learning Turkish.