An increasing number of people from various parts of the world are moving to Turkey to start a new life, to work or even to find peace of mind for their retirements.
The country has developed dramatically in the last ten years and the pace of progress in certain fields is nothing short of astonishing.
Most of Turkey’s new residents hail from countries like the UK, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Belgium, France and the USA.
With its unique geographical location combined with a rich and diverse history, right in the cradle of many different civilizations, Turkey is a privileged place to live for expatriates and their families.
Housing
From flats in urban centers to villas in suburbs, there are a multitude of options to choose from when looking for housing in Turkey. Major metropolitan areas have the most modern and complete environment for an extravagant life in the city, where luxurious residence complexes offer all the daily amenities such as private security, kindergartens, sports complexes, social facilities, parking lots and shopping malls for their residents.
Thanks to a recent amendment in Turkey's property law that lifted the reciprocity principle, foreign homebuyers and investors from all over the world are free to purchase property in one of the most promising real estate markets in the world.
Eating and Drinking
Globally renowned Turkish cuisine owes its fame to the country’s unique geographical location at the crossroads of the continents, enriched by various cultures that form the history of modern Turkey. Every region of Turkey has a cooking style of its own, where one can find the authentic tastes of local delicacies, while major cities of the country have restaurants offering very fine examples of dishes from all over the world.
Specialties like pastries and desserts unique to the Turkish cuisine are all-time favorites for tourists and visitors, meanwhile the Turkish coffee, first introduced to Europe in the 16th century, never ceases to be the finishing touch to any meal, especially when accompanied by another Turkish specialty, the Turkish delight.
Transportation
The transportation system in Turkey makes good use of the country’s highly developed infrastructure. For urban transportation, the major cities of the country are equipped with extensive rail networks both under and above ground, while public and private buses carry hundreds of thousands daily. In addition to public transport, taxi services are extremely common, offering a low-cost and expedited means of local travel. For coastal towns like Izmir and Istanbul, ferry services offer many travelers a viable choice, being both fast and far reaching.
For long distance travel, highways are the choice for many, as hundreds of travel agencies run daily bus shuttles to even the farthest towns and cities from major metropolitan centers. Rail is another means of low-cost and widely used transport; the rail network crosses Turkey from east to west. The railways are given special consideration, the network is enlarging and fast-trains enter service yearly.
The air travel option is becoming cheaper every year, thanks to the development of the Turkish aviation industry and the increasing number of domestic carriers. With a total of around 50 airports in all major population centers, one can fly from one city to another in Turkey in less than an hour, regardless of the distance.
Banking and Finance
Turkey’s significance on the world finance stage is on the rise. The financial capital of the country, Istanbul, with its rich and vibrant economy, is now slated to become a World Finance Center. The country’s banking industry demonstrated remarkable resilience to the effects of the global financial crisis without any government backing, and Turkish banks are now regarded as the soundest in Europe. With service quality matching and exceeding international standards, Turkish banks are widely acclaimed as being fast integrators of technology into their services. Many foreign banks either operate directly in the country or entered the market via mergers and share acquisitions, providing services in all aspects of banking to individuals and investors alike.
A wide range of insurance services and products are available for both individuals and corporations with very competitive premium rates.
Education
The extensive and disciplined education system of Turkey underwent serious reforms in the last decade, like the compulsory eight-year education, improvement of the overall quality of the Turkish education system, as well as the increase in the number of schools and related establishments.
Many private and foundation schools, in addition to public schools, offer education services; moreover international schools, where only foreign nationals can attend, are present throughout the country. While schools providing education in European languages such as English, German, French and Italian are available, there are other institutions where languages such as Russian, Japanese and Chinese are taught, as well.
Starting in 2012, Turkey is undertaking a revolutionary education initiative, the Fatih Project, which will equip all public school students with tablet PCs and classrooms with electronic boards, increasing the overall quality of primary education in the country, while setting an example for the world in the integration of the latest technologies into education.
Healthcare
The healthcare system in Turkey mainly operates with three different types of hospitals: public, university and private. While social and health securities are governed in essence by the state, it is also possible to have private health insurance.
The majority of hospitals in Turkey, both public and private, are either meeting or surpassing international standards in equipment quality and expertise.
Leisure and Sports
The cultural activities that one can engage in Turkey are only limited by individual interests and capabilities. Be it arts, hobby, entertainment or other leisure activities, the possibilities are countless. In all major cities movies, plays, concerts, ballets, operas and other varieties of cultural activities are awaiting either participants or spectators. Local festivals and more traditional forms of leisure activities are also rising in popularity.
Turkey’s rich geography and suitable terrain make the country an ideal place for alternative sports such as mountaineering, golf, scuba diving, rafting, skiing and yachting. Naturally, well-established and popular sports like football, basketball, volleyball have a considerable number of players and supporters all over the country.
Geographically located in both Asia and Europe, Turkey has a climate allowing extreme variations in climatic conditions, often in the same region or province. As such, it is possible to go skiing in a mountain resort after sunbathing on a sandy beach, both in the same day.
Source: http://www.invest.gov.tr/
