"Türkiye rewired me — its colours, its chaos, its quiet neighbourhoods at golden hour. I want you to feel that too."
Based in Şişli, Istanbul
Türkiye · Since 2019
The Person Behind the Blog
About
Armaveni
Nehabetyan
Who I Am
I'm Armaveni — a writer, slow traveller, and unrepentant lover of regional Turkish breakfast spreads. Born into a family with deep roots in the Caucasus, I grew up listening to stories about borderlands and crossroads, places where cultures stack on top of one another like the layers of a good börek. That restlessness never left me. I've spent the better part of a decade moving through countries with a notebook in my bag and an appetite for the kinds of experiences that don't make it onto billboard ads — the ferry rides at dawn, the fruit sellers in side-street markets, the guesthouses run by families who've lived in the same town for six generations.
How I Found Home in Şişli
Istanbul was supposed to be a two-week stop. That was 2019. Şişli held on to me with the grip of a city that knows exactly what it's doing. The neighbourhood sits between Istanbul's grand historic core and its glittering modern skyline — and it reflects that in-between quality perfectly. My apartment is a short walk from Nişantaşı's elegant boutiques and a tram ride from Beyoğlu's 19th-century arcades. I learned Turkish here, broke bread at communal iftar tables here, got spectacularly lost here on more than one occasion. Şişli isn't picturesque in the postcard sense, but it is vividly, honestly alive — and that's precisely why I stayed.
Why This Blog Exists
armaveni-nehabetyan began as a way to answer the same questions my friends kept asking me: "Where should I actually stay in Cappadocia?" "Is the Black Sea coast worth the detour?" "How do I get from Izmir to Alaçatı without paying tourist prices?" Every post here is built on genuine experience — no press trips, no hotel freebies, no content written from a desk in another country. My goal is simple: give you the honest, practical, sometimes opinionated information that helps you travel Türkiye with confidence, curiosity, and real delight. Whether you're planning your first visit or your tenth, I want this blog to feel like advice from a friend who actually lives here.
Three Threads That Run
Through Everything
armaveni-nehabetyan isn't a general travel directory. Every post fits into one of three areas — kept tight so the writing stays useful and the perspective stays honest.
City & Neighbourhood Guides
Street-level perspectives, no tourist traps
From the backstreets of Balat to the quieter corners of Kadıköy, these guides go beyond the obvious. I walk the neighbourhoods myself, note what's changed, what's worth the detour, and what guidebooks consistently get wrong. You'll find practical layouts, neighbourhood character sketches, and honest assessments of where to stay without paying over the odds.
Practical How-Tos
Visas, transport, costs & the essentials
Türkiye has its own rhythms — e-visa quirks, intercity bus culture, the difference between a dolmuş and a minibus, which SIM card actually works outside the cities, and how much things really cost in 2024. These posts cut through the confusion with up-to-date, first-hand information gathered from living and travelling here repeatedly, not from press trips.
Food & Culture
Local dishes, traditions & what visitors miss
The mezes that don't appear on tourist menus. The çay rituals that tell you more about a place than any museum. The regional dishes — Gaziantep's lahmacun, Trabzon's hamsi, the breakfast spreads of Van — that define communities and invite you in. These posts explore food as culture, including seasonal customs, market days, and the social fabric woven around the table.
No affiliate bias, no sponsored itineraries. When a restaurant, hotel, or service appears here, it's because I paid for it myself and found it genuinely worth your time — or because it genuinely isn't, and you deserve to know that too.
Let's Start a Conversation
Whether you have a question about Türkiye, want to share your own story, or are interested in a collaboration — I'd love to hear from you.
ARMAVENI NEHABETYAN
Author & Travel Writer
Address
Hacı Emin Efendi Sokağı No:47
34365 Şişli / Istanbul
Türkiye
Response Time
I typically reply within 2–3 business days. For collaboration inquiries, please include details about your project.
Send Me a Message
For travel questions, story tips, or partnership ideas — this form goes straight to my inbox.
Real stories, honest tips and hidden gems from Türkiye — exploring the layered history, vibrant culture and sun-drenched landscapes of this extraordinary country, one journey at a time.
Contact & Owner
Owner: ARMAVENI NEHABETYAN
Address: Haci Emin Efendi Sokagi No:47
34365 Sisli / Istanbul, Türkiye
Email: [email protected]
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Personal travel blog — Türkiye experiences, stories & honest tips