Top 6 things you should know about life in Turkey: Lifestyle and culture

If you would like to live in Turkey, you should know some basic things about life in Turkey. You might have already heard that Turkey has been a growing international tourism destination during the last decade.

This is probably due to many natural elements such as its strategic geographical location connecting two continents, excellent mild climate, the amazing greenery of the northern parts of the country, the iconic Bosphorus strait in Istanbul, the amazing landscapes thanks to the predominantly mountainous nature of the country as well as the stunning beaches of the south and the Aegean areas.

Many of the already mentioned reasons have helped Turkey’s tourism success but they are not the only ones. We can list more reasons in this article that can be considered specific to Turkish culture and identity.

1 – Turkey is an open-minded place

You might know this already if you have visited Turkey for tourism before or lived there. For those who did not, even though it belongs to the Muslim world, Turkish society is a very open-minded one. This goes back to many reasons and most of them are historical and cultural.

Places like Istanbul, Izmir, and Antalya are known for their modern lifestyle and acceptance of different cultures, backgrounds, and traditions.

This is thanks to the fact that Turkey itself has always been a racially diverse place with people coming from different places over the centuries and settling there. When you go to Turkey for living, you will get both European and eastern vibes which makes it an interesting place to live for all kinds of different people.

2 – Turkish media is gaining steam

The rise of Turkish music and Turkish drama has certainly contributed to promoting turkey as a tourism destination and helped spread its culture and values to the outside world. The Turkish drama industry has experienced radical growth since the 2000s and it’s today the second biggest in the world after the United States.

Turkish series is widely popular in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North Africa. Most people who follow Turkish series passionately know a lot about Istanbul, the Turkish culture, and some have even learned the Turkish language by just watching TV shows and memorizing the lyrics of the songs.

3 – Well maintained historical sites from ancient times to present

When visiting Istanbul, you will notice countless historically significant monuments all across the city. They include many beautifully preserved mosques, castles, churches, towers, fortresses, tombs, mansions, synagogues, fountains, and old iconic buildings.

Istanbul in particular has always been associated with major civilizations over thousands of years with various religions, ethnicities, and different cultures, offering the city a rich scene of historical monuments that are today visited by millions of people every year.

4 – Growing shopping culture as a part of life in Turkey

According to the latest official statistics, Turkey has an estimated number of 453 shopping malls spread all across the country. In Istanbul, you can even find 2 or 3 different malls within the same neighborhood. This gives both locals and tourists various choices and easy access to shopping options in different parts of the major cities.

The country has a growing shopping culture not only for modern malls but also for the traditional bazaars such as the iconic Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar as well as the regional bazaars that exist in every district of the city.

Turkey presents so many shopping options that it became an international destination for shopping tourism. Many come to Turkey specifically to do the shopping because of the affordable prices, the luxurious malls, and unending discounts and sales.

5 – Excellent infrastructure

Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, has stunning infrastructure; therefore, your life in Turkey would be easy. And by infrastructure, we do not just mean the malls and the highways. It includes everything. From airports and roads to public transportation and shopping malls, modern architecture and well-planned urbanism are noticeable everywhere.

Besides hundreds of high-rise buildings, Istanbul today has 47 skyscrapers which are the highest in Europe, offering the city a stunning and modern skyline.

The new Istanbul airport is among the best and busiest in Europe. According to 2017 figures, Turkey has 35 international airports, making various cities and provinces easily accessible everywhere.

We should also mention the public transportation network in Istanbul with its 8 currently operating metro lines, it’s among the most efficient in Europe. Istanbul is believed to be the only city in the world that is currently building 5 new subway metro lines simultaneously.

6- Hard work is part of Turkish culture

We should conclude with an interesting fact about Turkish culture. Turkey’s recent economic growth and inclusion in the international economy have made the country more popular and have improved its image internationally as a country that is doing great efforts to achieve economic growth and prosperity.

This is mainly because the Turkish people have a working culture. Historically, the Turkish people have succeeded many times in overcoming difficulties through national unity, self-development, and work. This particular mindset is a positive outcome of these difficulties that have shaped Turkish identity.

To sum up, whether you’re coming for short-term residency or thinking about relocating to Turkey permanently. It is safe to say that you will not face any issues settling and integrating within Turkish society. Turkey is a welcoming and culturally diverse place that has accepted different people of different races over hundreds of years.

For more information about life in Turkey and culture in Turkey, feel free to reach out to us by filling out the form on our website or by contacting us on social media and we will be happy to contact you!