Sponsors
APRIL International is a global leader in international health insurance, providing coverage to over 150,000 policyholders worldwide in both their professional and personal lives. Our mission is to make healthcare easily accessible, no matter where you are.
Whether you're a student, an intern, on a working holiday, an employee, or a retiree traveling alone or with family APRIL International offers comprehensive and flexible insurance solutions designed to suit your unique needs and budget. With our expertise, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing you have access to quality healthcare wherever your journey takes you.
Abroad Experience specializes in connecting international professionals with exciting career opportunities in the Netherlands. With a focus on multilingual job seekers, we help candidates find roles that align with their skills, ambitions, and background.
From recent graduates to experienced professionals, we provide guidance throughout the recruitment process, offering job placements in fields such as customer service, finance, marketing, and more. Our goal is to make international job transitions seamless, ensuring candidates find the right opportunities while supporting them every step of the way.
It is of utmost importance to us that we offer a high level of service and build strong and trusting relationships with clients and candidates. As an international agency, we are devoted to international professionals in order to help them succeed on the Dutch labor market. As part of our recruitment services we can provide you with feedback on your CV & interview preparation sessions.
ActiveQuote is a leading comparison platform for health insurance, providing an easy way for individuals and businesses to compare health plans from a wide range of providers. With a focus on transparency, ActiveQuote helps customers find the best insurance coverage that suits their needs and budget, whether for personal or family health insurance, or for small businesses looking to provide benefits to employees.
By simplifying the process of comparing and purchasing health insurance, ActiveQuote offers a personalized experience, ensuring customers make informed decisions quickly and efficiently. With a commitment to excellent customer service and competitive pricing, ActiveQuote is dedicated to helping you secure the right health insurance coverage for your circumstances.
GUIDE FOR
Turkey has long been a dream destination for expats, digital nomads, retirees, and adventurous travellers. With its unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, breathtaking coastlines, vibrant cities, and rich history, it offers a lifestyle that feels both exotic and familiar. To make the most of your move, it’s important to understand the country before your relocation journey begins.
This guide gives you an overview of Turkey, its culture, daily life, work environment, basic language tips, and helpful advice to ensure a smooth transition.
A Glimpse into Turkey
Geography and climate
Straddling both Europe and Asia, Turkey is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of two continents. It borders Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, with beautiful coastlines along the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Seas.
Turkey’s landscapes are incredibly diverse:
Turquoise beaches in Antalya and Bodrum
Volcanic formations in Cappadocia
Majestic mountains in the east
Lush forests along the Black Sea
Vibrant mega-city life in Istanbul
The climate also varies depending on the region. The Mediterranean coast enjoys hot summers and mild winters, while Istanbul has cooler, more temperate weather. Eastern Turkey experiences cold, snowy winters and warm summers.
A snapshot of history
Turkey’s history is as rich as it is influential. It has been home to some of the world’s greatest civilizations: the Hittites, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Istanbul has been the centre of empires that shaped global politics, religion, and culture.
In 1923, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded the modern Republic of Turkey, introducing wide-ranging reforms that transformed the country into a modern, secular nation-state. Today, Turkey blends ancient traditions with a dynamic modern lifestyle, offering newcomers a fascinating cultural mosaic.
Diving into Turkish culture
Turkey is known for its hospitality. Locals are warm, welcoming, and proud of their traditions.
Food and drink
Turkish cuisine is beloved worldwide. Think:
Meze (shared appetizers)
Kebabs
Fresh seafood
Simit (sesame bread rings)
Baklava and Turkish delight
Strong Turkish tea and coffee
Meals are often social events, and sharing food is a central part of hospitality.
Festivals and traditions
Turkey celebrates a mix of cultural and national holidays, from Republic Day to Ramadan and Eid. Local festivals vary by region and often highlight music, dance, and food.
Lifestyle and daily rhythm
Life in Turkey balances modernity with tradition. In major cities, life is fast-paced; in coastal areas, it’s relaxed and slow. Social gatherings extend late into the night, and tea is offered everywhere,sometimes even by strangers as a simple gesture of friendliness.
Working in Turkey
If you plan to work in Turkey, expect a relationship-centred work culture. Building trust is essential. Hierarchy can play an important role, though start-ups and tech hubs are more relaxed.
Digital nomads will find lively coworking spaces in Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, and Bodrum. Turkey is also developing policies to attract remote workers, making it easier to stay long term.
Turks value family and personal time, so weekends and national holidays are taken seriously and often spent with loved ones.
Turkish made simple
Learning some Turkish will enrich your experience tremendously. While English is common in big cities and tourist areas, especially among younger people, speaking a bit of Turkish will help you integrate more easily.
Here are some useful phrases:
English | Turkish |
Hello | Merhaba |
Goodbye | Hoşça kal / Güle güle |
Thank you | Teşekkür ederim |
Please | Lütfen |
How are you? | Nasılsın? |
I don’t understand | Anlamıyorum |
Where is the nearest…? | En yakın … nerede? |
Can you help me? | Bana yardım edebilir misiniz? |
How much does this cost? | Bu ne kadar? |
Do you speak English? | İngilizce biliyor musunuz? |
Even a small effort goes a long way, Turkish people genuinely appreciate it.
Tips for a smooth transition
Relocating to Turkey can feel overwhelming, but good preparation helps a lot. Here are some useful tips:
Check visa and residency requirements: Turkey offers several permit types depending on work, study, property ownership, or retirement. Start early.
Find accommodation beforehand: Platforms like Sahibinden or Airbnb are helpful, but be aware that long-term rentals in major cities can be competitive.
Understand the healthcare system: Turkey has both public and private healthcare. Many expats opt for private insurance for faster access.
Learn local customs: Respecting Turkish traditions and social etiquette will help you integrate.
Learn basic Turkish: It will significantly improve your day-to-day communication.
Get to know your surroundings: Explore local markets, neighbourhoods, and cultural sites, Turkey is full of hidden gems.
Final thoughts
Turkey offers endless adventures, from ancient ruins to beachside living, bustling bazaars, and modern city life. Whether you dream of working remotely by the Mediterranean coast or immersing yourself in Istanbul’s vibrant energy, Turkey has something special for everyone.
Hoş geldiniz! (Welcome!)Enjoy your new life in this beautiful and culturally rich country.
Sponsors
APRIL International is a global leader in international health insurance, providing coverage to over 150,000 policyholders worldwide in both their professional and personal lives. Our mission is to make healthcare easily accessible, no matter where you are.
Whether you're a student, an intern, on a working holiday, an employee, or a retiree traveling alone or with family APRIL International offers comprehensive and flexible insurance solutions designed to suit your unique needs and budget. With our expertise, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing you have access to quality healthcare wherever your journey takes you.
Abroad Experience specializes in connecting international professionals with exciting career opportunities in the Netherlands. With a focus on multilingual job seekers, we help candidates find roles that align with their skills, ambitions, and background.
From recent graduates to experienced professionals, we provide guidance throughout the recruitment process, offering job placements in fields such as customer service, finance, marketing, and more. Our goal is to make international job transitions seamless, ensuring candidates find the right opportunities while supporting them every step of the way.
It is of utmost importance to us that we offer a high level of service and build strong and trusting relationships with clients and candidates. As an international agency, we are devoted to international professionals in order to help them succeed on the Dutch labor market. As part of our recruitment services we can provide you with feedback on your CV & interview preparation sessions.
ActiveQuote is a leading comparison platform for health insurance, providing an easy way for individuals and businesses to compare health plans from a wide range of providers. With a focus on transparency, ActiveQuote helps customers find the best insurance coverage that suits their needs and budget, whether for personal or family health insurance, or for small businesses looking to provide benefits to employees.
By simplifying the process of comparing and purchasing health insurance, ActiveQuote offers a personalized experience, ensuring customers make informed decisions quickly and efficiently. With a commitment to excellent customer service and competitive pricing, ActiveQuote is dedicated to helping you secure the right health insurance coverage for your circumstances.
Aetna is a leading global health insurance company providing a wide range of health plans and services for individuals, families, and businesses. With a strong presence in both the United States and internationally, Aetna focuses on improving health outcomes by offering affordable and accessible healthcare coverage.
Aetna provides a comprehensive range of products, including health, dental, vision, and disability insurance, as well as health management programs designed to support customers in leading healthier lives. With an emphasis on innovation and customer care, Aetna aims to deliver high-quality healthcare solutions that meet the needs of diverse populations worldwide.
Our life is full of metaphors; sometimes we don’t even notice them. However, if you look at today’s world through such a metaphorical lens, you understand why it can be compared to the river. It is dynamic, it is fast moving, every day it gets filled with new streams of ideas, tendencies, and innovations. Then, we can consider different organizations as banks of that river. They all have their traditions, cultural colors, and shades. That’s why there must be something to connect these banks, to make them united by common desires, ideas, business, strategies, language, etc. Therefore, our company come to serve as the bridge for that; we can build a connection between people, business organizations and various establishments. This singular belief makes ourselves and our clients’ products/services and international brand distinguishable amongst all of the rest.
AIMS is a leading immigration and relocation consultancy based in Singapore, specializing in visa and residency solutions for individuals, families, and businesses. With a strong presence across Asia, AIMS provides expert guidance on immigration programs, investment migration, and global mobility solutions.
From securing work permits and permanent residency to facilitating business expansion through investor visas, AIMS offers personalized services to help clients navigate complex immigration processes. With a commitment to professionalism and efficiency, AIMS ensures a smooth transition for those looking to live, work, or invest abroad.
Global Health Insurance, 100% Online – Anytime, Anywhere!
Whether you're an expatriate, student, frequent traveler, au pair, or business, we offer flexible insurance solutions for anyone traveling abroad. From registration to reimbursement, we make it easy to manage your health needs worldwide!
As a global leader in international health insurance, APRIL International provides comprehensive coverage for individuals, families, and businesses. Specializing in expatriate insurance, we offer tailored health plans that ensure access to quality healthcare—whether for short-term trips, long-term stays, or corporate needs.
With a strong focus on innovation, digital services, and customer support, APRIL International simplifies international health coverage, giving you peace of mind wherever you are. Our commitment to accessibility and personalized service makes us a trusted partner for those living, working, or traveling abroad.
Apt Wealth Partners is a trusted financial advisory firm based in Australia, providing expert wealth management, financial planning, and investment solutions. With a client-first approach, we help individuals, families, and businesses achieve their financial goals through tailored strategies and long-term planning.
From retirement planning and superannuation to tax-effective investment solutions, Apt Wealth Partners offers comprehensive financial guidance designed to build and protect wealth. Our focus is on delivering financial advice that allows us to become your personal CFO. Your finances will be tailored to your needs, allowing you to concentrate on living the life you want. We're privately owned and focus on providing the most transparent advice possible.
The AvD is the most traditional automobile club in Germany. Many things that are taken for granted today has been actively promoted and shaped by the AvD. To this day, the AvD is associated with the driver's license, the zebra crossing, the IAA and successful petitions, among other things. The AvD is committed to road safety, Motorsport and the preservation of historic vehicles. Today and in the future.
We’re AXA – Global Healthcare, and we’re experts when it comes to healthcare around the world. We use AXA’s resources around the world to help our members access quality medical care whenever they need it. We do that by matching them up with international health insurance that suits them, and by keeping them supported before, during and after treatment.
We help our members to live life to the fullest, knowing we’ll be here to help if they need us.
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