ย Welcome to your Second Home in Istanbul.
We opened our doors in 2009 and have been hosting guests from all over the world for 15 years.
Located in the heart of Old City, we are within an 8 minute walk to the most historical sites:
Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Grand & Spice Bazaar..
We are just steps away from the Sirkeci Marmaray Station and Gulhane & Sirkeci TRAM (T1) stop.ย
Book a Dorm Bed or a Private Room with us. Join us for Breakfast or Family Dinner daily..
and enjoy some Shisha on the Rooftop, before heading out to a Pub Crawl with the Gang.
Now that it’s Summer.. we have weekly BBQ’s and Boat Parties. See you soon!
Memo has been a “Managing Partner” at Second Home Hostel since 2010. His attention to detail, leadership skills and discipline is what keeps Second Home Hostel’s ratings on top.
He only eats Olives in odd numbers and loves to dance. Memo’s last name, ‘Nohut’, translates to Chickpeas. It probably has no real relevance to you, but we thought that you should know.
Memo loves traveling, meeting friends, making quirky jokes and supporting family members. His family originated from Gaziantep region of Southeast Turkey. Ask him about the delicious Olive Oil, Red Pepper paste, Spices and other ingredients from his home town!
Semira was raised in Eritrea, a country she is proud of its heritage and culture, which she often shares with guests. You’ll find her teaching guests how to dance to cooking her childhood favorite meals.
“Second Home Hostel truly lives up to its name by being a home away from home. I am grateful to work here even though I don’t call it work. I call it my “home” and am grateful to be a part of this family that values creating memorable experiences for guests, fostering a sense of belonging, and making everyone feel like they are part of a big hostel. That’s why I love working at Second Home Hostel. Every day, I get to create a warm & welcoming environment for travelers from all over the world, making them feel like they’re part of our hostel family. My passion for hospitality and creating memorable experiences led me to join Second Home Hostel. I believe in the power of genuine connections and aim to ensure that every guest leaves with happy memories and a sense of belonging.
Last but not least, I wanted to thank Can and Memo, from the bottom of my heart, for all your support and guidance that helped me become a part of this Hostel. Your help and encouragement have truly made a difference in my experience here, and I feel like part of a special family because of their kindness. This is my sincere expression of appreciation โค๏ธ๐๐ป”
รmer is the ‘fun uncle’ of the Hostel, who is there first thing in the morning to welcome the early risers. Cooking up delicious breakfasts and tending to whatever guests need. (Especially those needing nursing after our fun Pub Crawl nights!)
Always a smile on his face, always ready to help. รmer loves Road Trips, driving across Turkey with his large Toyota truck and spending time with his beautiful wife and 3 awesome kids.
Aleyna has been working at Second Home for 2 years. She is a great Chef, Dancer and Friend. She’s currently studying to become a Tourguide and will surely be the best.
“I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world to work at Second Home Hostel. There is a different excitement here.
And what we, as staff, get to experience, is truly unique and special every single day. We can think of it as a sitcom series. It is a pleasure to be a part of the memories of people from all over the world coming here.”
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Can grew up in ฤengelkรถy, on the asian side of Istanbul. He loves showing guests his childhood neighborhood, along the Bosphorus with adorable cafes. His parents are from Kastamonu, a beautiful mountainous region near the Black Sea (7 hour drive from Istanbul).
Can has been working in the Hospitality industry for almost 20 years. He opened Second Home Hostel in 2009. Within 1 year, it ranked in the top 3 hostels in Istanbul on the most popular booking sites: HostelWorld,ย Booking.comย and TripAdvisor.
His passion for meeting people, ย solving problems, adjusting with whatever the universe throws at him.. is what keeps Second Home Hostel continuously one of the best Hostels in Istanbul. What puts Can in the zone is simply good music and cooking a large feast for guests and friends.
Ask any of our staff about helping you create personalized itineraries around Turkey!
