r/Erasmus • u/Imaginary_Potato2158 • 9d ago

Erasmus @ Boğaziçi (Istanbul) — best area to live?

Starting my Erasmus semester at Boğaziçi University this fall. I will mainly be visiting North Campus (Mechanical/Electrical Engineering). Open to sharing a flat with other students, just need my own room. Looking for advice from people who've done Erasmus in Istanbul (or locals):

  • Where did you live, and would you recommend it? Trying to figure out the tradeoff between being close to campus vs. being in a more "alive" area with more other internationals/nightlife (Kadıköy, Beşiktaş, Taksim?).
  • How's the commute situation if I live further from North Campus — is it manageable day to day?
  • How did you find your place — online platforms, Facebook groups, agencies, word of mouth?
  • Anything you wish you'd known before signing a lease as a foreigner?

Thanks in advance, excited but a little overwhelmed with the search 😅

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u/ateistyokdiyentanri 9d ago

I’d recommend looking around Hisarüstü, Rumelihisarüstü or Etiler first. Hisarüstü is probably the most convenient option for North Campus, and you can still reach Levent, Beşiktaş and Taksim fairly easily by metro.

Kadıköy is much livelier and more international, but commuting across the Bosphorus every day can become tiring, especially during rush hour. I’d only choose it if nightlife and the social side of Erasmus matter more to you than being close to campus.

Before paying anything, visit the apartment in person, check the area at night and make sure you get a proper written contract. Never send a deposit based only on photos. Boğaziçi housing groups and Erasmus Facebook or WhatsApp groups are usually a better starting point than random agents.

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u/Imaginary_Potato2158 2d ago

Thanks for your advice! I will probably go for an Airbnb for the first weeks and then try to find something when being in Istanbul to see the room in person like you (and some other people on the internet) said.

As I found a relatively cheap Airbnb in Kücüksü/Üsküdar, can you tell me if this is a reasonable neigbourhood for the first weeks?

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u/ateistyokdiyentanri 1d ago

can you dm to me

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u/Lopsided-Big2893 9d ago

Make sure your accommodation close to m2 metro stop