Welcome to Istanbul! We love having visitors here, but as someone who rides metros daily, I need to address a frustrating trend I keep seeing: tourists handing out cash to beggars.

I know you mean well, but for the sake of everything holy, please stop doing this. Here is why giving to beggars in Istanbul actually harms the community, and what you should do instead:

No one is left to starve here Turkey has a massive network of social support. Between state programs, municipality resources, government charities, and deeply ingrained neighborhood support systems, there is a near-zero chance that someone genuinely goes hungry or lacks shelter. If someone is truly struggling, at least the local neighborhood steps in to take care of them.

It is a "professional" day job The people you see begging in tourist hubs, on the Marmaray, and in the subway lines are almost entirely "professionals." This is their daily hustle. By handing them cash, you are not helping the vulnerable; you are funding a lucrative, organized industry that discourages them from actually contributing to society.

Where your money actually makes a difference If you want to do charity, give sadaqah, or just share your holiday budget with locals, there are much better ways to distribute your money:

• Tip service workers: Leave generous tips for restaurants, cafes, hotels etc.
• Support local musicians: Give your spare change to the performance artists at the stations - they are mostly university students trying to make ends meet.
• Help low-wage earners: Pass your extra cash directly to the hardworking people keeping the city running on minimum wage.

Enjoy your visit, and please spend your generosity where it genuinely helps the working class rather than funding the professional begging rings.

Hello

I will be travelling to Istanbul tomorrow and I saw the massive floods that had happened there. I was reaching out in regard to the aftermath of everything and if it's safe or "worth it" to travel.
For reference, my hotel will be near Taksim square

Anadolu Yakası'nda birlikte ev tutabileceğim ev arkadaşı arıyorum. Kişi başı bütçem 20-25k civarı. Kafa yapımız ve hayat tarzımız uyuşursa birlikte ev tutabiliriz.

24 yaşındayım, bilgisayar mühendisliği mezunuyum ve özel sektörde çalışıyorum. Benzer yaşlarda, uyum sağlayabileceğim birini arıyorum. Düşünen varsa yazabilir, tanışıp konuşabiliriz.

"Fener Rum Patrikhanesi ile aynı cadde üzerinde bulunan okul, Rum cemaat için bir sosyal merkez işlevi de görmekeydi. Öğrenci sayısının 10'a düşmesi üzerine kapandı. 1901'de inşa edilen neo-klasik üsluptaki okul yapısı, 2021'de restore edilmiştir."

kitabe yunanca yazısıyla: Πατριαρχική Ελληνική Σχολή Μαρασλή / Patriarkal Elliniki Scholi Marasli
3. fotoğraf restorasyondan öncesine ait.