How to Beat Post Travel depression: 11 Ways to Recreate Istanbul and Turkey at Home

ByOlga M

If you’re reading this, you’re obviously familiar with that feeling when you come home from an amazing trip and everything feels… meh? Post travel depression is a real thing and I’ve experienced it myself almost every time after a trip, no matter short or long one.

Especially after a trip to Istanbul and Turkey, you probably miss the taste of the Turkish coffee, you just got used to the language and have Turkish music in your mind, and you even miss the crowds… Yeah, I’ve been there.

My experience with post-vacation depression

After my last trip to Istanbul, I found myself missing the chaotic calm of the city — the simit sellers, ferry horns, the smell of grilled corn in the air of Kadıköy.

So I started figuring out ways to bring little pieces of Türkiye into my daily life – not just from nostalgia, but to stay connected to that vibe I want to keep in my everyday life.

If you’re also struggling from post travel blues, here are 11 real things that helped me feel like I was still just a tram ride away from the Bosphorus.

These things will help you recreate Istanbul and the Turkish lifestyle in your daily life, but also with little customization, you can do them after whatever country you’re back from.

1. Listen to Turkish Music:
Download a Radio App or Make a Playlist in Spotify or Youtube

One of the quickest ways to get back into Istanbul’s vibe is through music. Turkish music has a rhythm that instantly shifts your mood – sometimes it makes you want to dance, sometimes it just makes you feel like sitting in a bar in Taksim with hookah or with a kumpir on the waterfront near Ortakoy. This will help you with your post vacation depression by making you feel your vacation is a bit extended.

  • Turkish Radio apps:

Download an app like Radyo Türk (from the AppStore or in Google Play store), and enjoy  – you’ll feel like you’re back on Istiklal street listening to upbeat Turkish pop while walking through the crowds.

  • Create a Turkish playlist on Spotify or Youtube:

 You can also build a custom playlist on Spotify or YouTube.

  1. Here is my Turkish playlist on Youtube, feel free to steal it!
  2. Follow artists like Tarkan, Serdar Ortaç, Sezen Aksu, or Berkant
  3. Search for terms like:“Turkish chill playlist”, “Istanbul café music”, “Turkish arabesque” or “Turkish pop songs +(year)”

2. Watch Istanbul in Real Time: Use 24/7 Webcams

There are live street cams all over Istanbul you can stream from your laptop or TV. You can literally “people-watch” on Taksim Square, or gaze at the Bosphorus from Ortaköy while you fold laundry.

My personal fav? The Eminönü cam – watching this main spot with all the people around and Galata bridge while you’re drinking coffee in your pajamas 2,000 miles away.

3. Join Facebook Groups and Follow Local Creators

Missing the little moments – like walking through the crowd in Grand bazaar or the show of the ice cream seller? Join local Facebook groups for expats, digital nomads, or travel lovers in Istanbul. People share everything from street art finds to fresh prepared Turkish coffee and a plate with menemen or random cat photos in Balat.

  • follow Turkish photographers or content creators on Instagram, TikTok, or Threads. Look for hashtags like #IstanbulLife or #TurkeyLifestyle. You’ll start feeling plugged in again, even if you’re halfway around the world.

4. Subscribe to Travel Vlogs About Istanbul and Turkey

When I was in my worst slump, I started watching Istanbul travel vlogs like a form of therapy. Seeing someone else walk around Balat or grab a simit from Eminönü woke up my best memories and made me feel like I’m also there. It’s kinda like reliving your trip… but with bonus drone footage.

  1. Search YouTube for:
  • “Istanbul street food vlog”
  • “One day in Istanbul”
  • “Kadikoy hidden gems”

    2. Here are also my go-to vlogs about Istanbul and Türkiye when struggling with post-travel depression:

5. Learn the Language (even just a bit!)

Sometimes you just miss hearing the Turkish language. In my opinion, it’s a poetic, emotional language.

Try following when you miss hearing it and feel the post-trip blues:

  • Download Duolingo app to learn Turkish on your own pace
  • Find a language buddy on Tandem app
  • Watch beginner videos on YouTube like “10 Turkish phrases for travelers” or my favorite channel TurkishClass101
  • If you’re feeling serious about that, take a proper basic online language course or in-person one.

It’ll help you feel more connected with the country and the people. You’ll also be prepared for you next trip, because let’s be honest, it’s much better to greet someone with “Merhaba! Nasılsın?” instead of “Hi, how are you?”.

6. Decorate Your Space with Souvenirs

If you’re still in Turkey and have the chance to buy some souvenirs, this is the right timing to prepare for your post vacation depression. 

Even if you’re already home, you can get ready with ideas for next time.
So here are some of the best Istanbul and Turkey souvenirs:

  • Ceramics from the Grand Bazaar (the colorful little bowls, coffee sets, etc)
  • Glassware- tea set, colorful mosaic lamps
  • Evil eye talismans and keychains 
  • Turkish delight (vacuum-sealed if you wanna keep it fresh)
  • Hamam towels
  • Jewelry
  • Scarfs, tote bags, clothing
  • Spices

Ideas for making your space feel more Istanbul-y:

  • Hang a blue mosaic lamp by your bed
  • Frame a photo or postcard from Hagia Sophia
  • Light a rosewater-scented candle
  • Use your çay glasses for your afternoon tea

7.  Recreate Turkish Food at Home

Food is a huge part of the emotional connection to Turkey. 

If you’re missing it, find the nearest Turkish grocery store or Turkish restaurant and order lahmacun or köfte.

No Turkish spot in your area? Check YouTube for “easy Turkish recipes” — or go wild and order from a Turkish grocery online (search for “Turkish market + your country”)

Try cooking at home some favorites:

  • Menemen (scrambled eggs with tomato & pepper)
  • Simit (you can even find frozen ones online!)
  • Mercimek çorbası (lentil soup)

8. Make a Slideshow or Frame Your Trip

Sometimes, I open my phone gallery just to see the sunset at Ortaköy mosque or the street cats of Cihangir. Then I realized – why not play it as a slideshow on a screensaver or print the photos to see them every day?

It’s a simple thing, but it keeps the trip alive instead of fading into another forgotten photo album.

You can also:

  • Create a slideshow screensaver
  • Order a mini photo book
  • Frame a favorite shot from the trip
  • Print more than one photo and hang a collage wall near your desk

9. Watch Turkish Movies or TV Series

Turkish cinema, especially the TV series, are dramatic, slow, emotional, and full of local landscapes and famous landmarks.

You can combine it with some çay plus a blanket and that will definitely work like teleporting. Your post trip depression will slowly fade away while watching.

Some popular picks to get you back in the Turkish mindset:

  • “Winter Sleep” – deep and moody
  • “The Protector” (Netflix) – a modern fantasy set in Istanbul
  • “Leyla ile Mecnun” – comedy and cult classic
  • “Midnight at the Pera Palace” – time-travel, drama, and vintage Istanbul
  • Istanbul Encyclopedia – the latest one on Netflix

10. Stay in Touch with the People You Met in Türkiye

This one makes a huge difference. Whether it was a random person you chatted with over breakfast or someone from a walking tour group – stay in touch with people in the same vibe. Message them and send the photos you promised or remind them for the opposite.

Even a simple “How’s Istanbul this week?” brings it all back. You might end up visiting again, or they might visit you. Either way, connection with people you’ve shared your travel with, keeps the memories alive.

11. Print your Favorite Travel Photo on Something you Use Every Day

One of the simplest ways to keep the spirit of your trip alive is to put it on something you actually use daily. Take your favorite photo — maybe the view from Galata Tower, a dreamy ferry ride, or a perfect plate of baklava, and print it on:

  • a coffee mug or tumbler
  • coasters
  • a keychain
  • a tote bag
  • a T-shirt
  • a mouse pad

That way, every time you sip coffee or unlock your door, you’ll get a flashback to one of the best moments of your trip in Istanbul and Turkey. It’s a low-effort but high-reward way to bring Istanbul into your everyday routine.

Final Thoughts

Having post-travel blues after an amazing trip is totally normal and many people experience it, no matter if traveling to Turkey or to a neighbouring country or state. 

Recreating a place you miss definitely can help you keep a tiny flame lit while you plan your next trip. And Istanbul is for sure one of these places that leaves a mark. But until the next trip, there are so many ways to beat the post travel depression while at the same time keeping it close to your heart.

Love to stay connected in the socials for updates and recommendations?
Join my Facebook Community!

join the fb community now >

Similar Posts