Booking Like a Local
From booking accommodation to reserving restaurant tables and buying event tickets, here's a guide to essential booking platforms and tips for exchange students in Türkiye.
Accommodation Booking
- Booking.com — best for short stays and hostels
- Airbnb — great for longer stays (negotiate monthly rates)
- Jolly Tur — Turkish platform with local hotel deals
- Tatilbudur — domestic holiday packages at student-friendly prices
- Hotels.com — collect 10 nights, get 1 free
Event & Activity Tickets
Turkish events sell out fast, especially concerts and football matches. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.
- Biletix — Türkiye's main ticketing platform (concerts, sports, theater)
- Passo — football match tickets (requires Passolig card)
- Mobilet — events and activities app
- Meetup — find local events and groups
- Your ESN section's event page
Local Buddy Tip
Want to watch a football match? You'll need a Passolig card (electronic fan card). Apply online at passo.com.tr — it takes about 1 week to receive. Most stadiums don't sell tickets without it!
Restaurant Reservations
Popular restaurants in big cities can be fully booked, especially on weekends. Here's how to secure your table:
- Google Maps — most restaurants accept reservations via their listing
- Instagram DMs — many trendy restaurants take bookings via Instagram
- Call ahead — Turkish restaurants are phone-friendly
- Getir Yemek / Yemeksepeti — for food delivery when cooking isn't an option