Where to stay in Bakirkoy for an exam, interview or course

If you are coming to Istanbul for an exam, an interview or a short course, the easiest solution is a simple flat you can reach on a single line or with one change, and where you can settle in a day early. Bakırköy sits on the Marmaray line; Marmaray Bakırköy station is an 8-minute walk from our flats in Zeytinlik.

This guide gives you a concrete plan, from arrival to the morning of the exam.

Arrive a day early

If the exam or interview is in the morning, arriving a day earlier takes most of the stress out of the journey. Check-in is from 14:00; you can settle in during the afternoon and walk the route once before the evening. That way you already know which way you will walk to the station in the morning, where to change lines and how much time to allow.

Check-out is until 11:00. If you need to come back to the flat for your things after the exam, ask about late check-out when you book; it depends on availability.

Route by destination

Once you know the address of your exam or interview, check the route on a map. The general connections from Bakırköy are:

Times are approximate; add the walk to the station and waiting time. Check current timetables for departure times. For details on the card, see our Istanbulkart guide.

A short plan for the morning of the exam

1. Pack your passport, exam entry document and the materials you need the night before.
2. Check the route and the change point once more.
3. Make breakfast in the flat's kitchen; you will not lose time looking for a café in the morning.
4. Allow for the 8-minute walk to Marmaray and a possible wait.
5. Check your Istanbulkart balance the night before so you are not caught in a queue in the morning.
6. Set your alarm and charge your phone. With free Wi-Fi you can follow last-minute announcements easily.
7. Leave early, bearing in mind that the rail system can be busy at peak times in the morning.

You will also need ID at check-in: a passport, or a T.C. kimlik card for Turkish citizens. In Turkey, the identity details of every guest staying at accommodation are reported by law.

For people coming to a job interview

The biggest risk at an interview is being late. Visiting the address the day before and seeing the building takes the uncertainty out of the morning. Carrying a suit or shirt in a garment bag keeps it from creasing. If you are travelling home by coach afterwards, you can follow the route in Getting from the bus terminal to Bakırköy in reverse.

Courses that last a few days

If the course runs for a few days or a few weeks, you will use the same route every day, so being close to the station matters most. Free Wi-Fi lets you review lessons and do homework in the evening; your own kitchen means you can cook and give more time to studying. Regular cleaning makes the daily routine easier. In the evening, Bakırköy Freedom Square (Özgürlük Meydanı) (6 minutes) and the Bakırköy seafront (14 minutes) are close by for a short break.

Students coming with a parent

For a student coming to an exam with a parent, the Studio apartment (1+0), which sleeps 1–2, is enough. If two of you are coming with the student, or you want a separate seating area, the One-bedroom apartment (1+1), which sleeps 2–3, is more comfortable: a separate bedroom gives a student who wants to rest before the exam their own space.

The building has a lift and security cameras; for families that means an easy entrance with luggage and peace of mind during the stay. Every guest needs ID at check-in; the parent should have their passport with them as well, or a T.C. kimlik card if they are a Turkish citizen. If the parent will wait nearby during the exam, agreeing on a meeting point the night before takes the rush out of the morning.

Which flat suits you?

• If you are coming alone or with one relative: Studio apartment (1+0)
• If three of you are coming, or you want more space: One-bedroom apartment (1+1)

Both flats have a kitchen, private bathroom, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi; details are on the apartments page. Tell us your exam date and how many nights you are staying and we will let you know availability and the current price straight away: 0532 655 43 32.

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