An Erasmus exchange is not only about visiting the city that you are going to, you want to visit the country (and even neighbouring countries perhaps). For me, this Erasmus exchange is an opportunity to go more often to the girl that I love. Therefore I have to take the high-speed train straight to Eskişehir. This city is known for me, I have visited the city mulitple times now and this summer I spent two full weeks there. It is a beautiful city, with the Porsuk River flowing through the city center. So when you come to Istanbul, don’t forget to check this city too.

The Journey and My First Impressions

Traveling from Istanbul to Eskişehiris quite easy. It is a 3-hour ride in the high-speed train. Often the train continues to Ankara, and Eskişehiris one of the few stops that it makes. The train departs from Sogutlucesme train station in Kadıköy, right next to the football stadium of Fenerbahce. You need to buy tickets for the train in advance, which you can do at a local ticketstore, or online on the website/app (TCDD). However, in my experience the website and app do not work well as it does not accept many credit cards from foreign countries. You will arrive on the central station of Eskişehirand this is very close to the actual city center.

The first time I visited Eskişehiris almost one year ago. I arrived in the night there and took a taxi to the hotel. So I did not really get a glimpse of the city yet. When I woke up and went outside I could finally see the city with my own eyes. Eskişehiris a lot smaller than Istanbul, but still feels like a big city. My first thoughts were, ‘it looks a little like Amsterdam’. With the trams going everywhere, the river flowing through the city. Eskişehiris still very crowded, especially on days when the weather is nice and it is perfect to travel to for a day, or a few days.

The Highlights of Eskisehir

Together with my girlfriend, who is from Eskişehir, I visited almost everything that is possible to visit. We visited parks, the old city center, all the shopping malls, the shopping district, the river sides, etc. Everything in Eskişehiris close and easy accessible with public transport.

Odunpazari: This is the old city center, with a lot of small souvenir shops in old colorful Ottoman buildings.

Kentpark & Sazova Park: These are the two biggest parks of Eskişehir, a city that is already full of parks.

The City Center (Adalar & Carsi): This is the modern city center of Eskişehir. Here you can find every shop that you can possibly think of. The Porsuk River splits the center in two and gives a Venetian vibe to the city.

Espark & AVM’s: These are the shopping malls of Eskişehir. There are two main ones in the city center, both have shops, foodhalls, and cinemas.

The Vibe & The Costs

Eskişehiris a well-known student city, there are two big universities. Therefore there are many young adults and teens in Eskişehir, many cafes and bars, many restaurants, and more than enough shops. Especially in the evening, the atmosphere in Eskişehiris very alive. Groups hanging in the park, on the riverside, in the city center, everywhere you can think of.

When you come to Eskişehir, definitely try out the famous local dish: Çibörek

I would say that compared to Istanbul, Eskişehiris less expensive. Istanbul is one of the most expensive cities in Turkiye, and Eskişehir is a place where you won’t see many international tourists, making the atmosphere more authentic Therefore the prices are also lower than in a very touristic place like Istanbul. For a good hotel you can expect to pay around €50,- a night per room.

I would definitely suggest you to visit Eskişehir, when you are doing your Erasmus exchange in Istanbul. This city is very alive, full of students, full of shops, full of whatever you like, and it is only three hours away from Istanbul!

I hope that you enjoyed reading about this hidden-gem, definitely let me know what you think of Eskişehir? Was your trip a succes or a big flop? Let me know in the comments!

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