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Bilgi's Dolapdere campus is just 15 minutes walking distance from Taksim Square , the main square in modern İstanbul. Scheduled university shuttles can also drop you off at this center of culture and entertainment. Taksim is in many ways the transportation hub of İstanbul. From almost every district of İstanbul you can reach Taksim by bus, dolmus, tramway or subway. Taksim is world-famous for İstiklal Caddesi, a bustling pedestrian walkway running the length of old “Pera”, where you can find fancy restaurants and fast-food spots, classical Turkish kebabs as well as the exotic flavors of Asian or Mexican cuisine. Cafes and bars can be found everywhere, open all hours for a hot drink or a glass of wine or beer with friends. Then there are İstanbul's renowned nightclubs packed with afficionados of music and dance – ranging from speedy techno clubs to vibrant jazz spots. The historic Çiçek Pasajı, the Flower Market and the “meyhane” or taverna street known as Nevizade welcome everyone for an evening of Turkish hors d'ouevres known as “meze” and some of the most delicious fish to be found in İstanbul In addition to the choices it offers for the gourmet, İstiklal Caddesi is also a shopping paradise both for the local and the foreigner. Traditional passageways and cul-de- sacs are great for bargain prices and, department stores feature famous brands. Historical buildings are in abundance in Beyoğlu, preserving the scent of late 19 th century Pera. For the art lover, the district is full of exhibition halls and art galleries, cinema complexes, theaters, bookstores and music shops. One can always find exhibitons of artists from all around world, a music festival or cinema or theatre. Then there are the concerts and, performances held at the major entertainment halls and hotels in the city. Climate There are four rather distinct seasons in İstanbul: summer, autumn, winter and spring with temperatures ranging from 0 degrees celsius in the winter months to 30 degrees celsius in the summer. Work Hours and Holidays Banks are open weekdays from 9:00 AM until noon or 12:30 PM , depending on the bank, and from 1:30 PM until 5.00 PM . However, there are some banks which continue to serve during lunch breaks. Museums are generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 AM until 5.00 PM or 5:30 PM and closed on Monday. Palaces are open the same hours but are closed on Thursdays. Shops and bazaars are normally open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 1.00 PM and from 2.00 PM to 7.00 PM, and closed all day on Sunday. But most stores in shopping malls and crowded streets are open seven days a week, including lunch breaks. You can find restaurants or cafes open virtually at any time of the day or night. Post offices are painted bright yellow and have PTT (Post, Telegraph, and Telephone) signs on the front. The Central Post office is open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 9 PM , Sunday from 9 AM to 7PM. Local PTTs are open Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 5.00 PM. Transportation Public Transportation Rail Transportation Sea Bus Turkish Airlines Communication Turkish Telecom White Pages Entertainment and Night-life www.babylon-ist.com www.biletix.com www.istfest.org www.akbankcaz.com www.clubcrystal.org www.livingindigo.com www.borusansanat.com www.dulcinea.org www.roxy.com.tr Emergency Numbers Emergency : 112 or 444 0 911 Police: 155 Fire: 110 Directory: 118 Postal Code: 119 Phone Repair: 121 CableTV: 124 Wake up service: 135 Trafic Report 154 Main Post Office: 161 Healt Hotline: 184 Water Company: 185 Electric Company: 186 Gas Company: 187 Aria Codes: 189 The information provided on this page is taken from the Welcome Guide of İstanbul Bilgi University’s web page for International Students. |