Zekeriyaköy is Istanbul's leading expat-friendly neighborhood on the European side, offering a 25-30 minute commute to Maslak/Levent business districts, international schools such as MEF, Enka and Hisar, on-site private healthcare via Acıbadem, gated-community security as standard, and a forest-adjacent lifestyle that is rare in central Istanbul. Estimated expat resident share is 10-12% — making it the highest-density expat district outside the Bosphorus corridor. As a Keller Williams advisor based here, I help international families relocate, choose between rental and ownership, and integrate into the local community.
Where Is Zekeriyaköy?
Zekeriyaköy is a neighborhood in Sarıyer district, on the European side of Istanbul, north of the city center. It borders Belgrad Forest to the south and Black Sea coast (Kilyos) to the north. The TEM motorway and Northern Marmara Highway connect it to the rest of the city.
Schools — The Decisive Factor for Most Expats
The school ecosystem is what brings most expat families to Zekeriyaköy:
- MEF International School — IB Diploma, American curriculum.
- Enka Schools — IB Diploma, strong sports and arts programs.
- Hisar Educational Foundation — Anglo-American curriculum, prestigious Turkish institution with international students.
All offer dedicated school buses servicing every Zekeriyaköy sub-neighborhood. I do not publish tuition figures for these schools: the 2026-2027 schedules could not be verified against two independent sources, and each school releases its own through admissions. Ask them directly.
Healthcare
- On-site: Acıbadem Zekeriyaköy Medical Center (specialist branches, evening urgent care, weekend coverage).
- Family medicine: Vehbi Koç Foundation Family Health Center (24/7).
- Hospital backup: Acıbadem Maslak Hospital, Memorial Şişli and Sarıyer Hamidiye Etfal State Hospital are the nearest full hospitals; driving time depends on traffic.
- English-speaking doctors: Acıbadem and Memorial groups have established English-language services. Most senior specialists at Acıbadem Maslak speak English.
Daily Life and Lifestyle
Mornings often start with a forest walk in Belgrad Forest's marked trails — running, cycling, or weekend group walks are common. The local F&B scene includes Italian restaurants, specialty coffee shops, organic cafés, and Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı) spots. Weekly farmers' markets feature regional produce.
For weekend recreation:
- Kilyos beach — 15 minutes by car, summer destination.
- Belgrad Forest reservoirs — picnic areas, biking, running trails.
- Kemer Country Club — golf, equestrian, tennis (membership-based).
- Sariyer waterfront — fish restaurants, ferry to Asian side.
Shopping and Daily Errands
- Supermarkets in or near the neighborhood: Migros, Carrefour, Macrocenter, A101, BİM.
- Organic produce: Doğa Pazarı (organic store) and weekend village market.
- Köy AVM: small in-neighborhood shopping center for daily needs.
- Vadistanbul AVM (15 minutes by car): full-service mall, cinema, restaurants.
- İstinyePark / Akmerkez (25 minutes): premium shopping.
Commute and Transport
| Destination | Time (car) |
|---|---|
| Maslak | 25-30 min |
| Levent / Etiler | 25-30 min |
| Sariyer center | 15 min |
| Istanbul Airport (IST) | 35 min |
| Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) | 60 min |
| Asian side via 3rd Bridge | 35-45 min |
Public transit: 151 bus from Hacıosman metro to Zekeriyaköy (~25 min).
Rental vs. Buying — What Most Expats Do
A common pattern:
- Year 1: rent furnished to test the area, school fit, and commute.
- Year 2-3: buy if the assignment becomes long-term, often combining lifestyle with Turkish citizenship-by-investment (USD 400,000+ purchases qualify; see Foreign Investor Guide).
- Year 5+: hold for capital appreciation (historical 18-22% nominal TRY annual growth) or convert to rental yield property if relocating.
Rental Costs (measured, 1 September 2026)
These are asking prices from my own portfolio, not market averages. Twelve Zekeriyaköy rentals were open on 1 September 2026, from 75,000 to 350,000 TL per month:
- 1+1 apartment: 75,000-105,000 TL/month
- 2+1 apartment: 85,000-135,000 TL/month
- 3+1 terrace duplex: 140,000 TL/month
- 4+1 villa with private pool: 175,000 TL/month
- 5+1 detached villa with pool: 320,000 TL/month
- 6+1 semi-detached villa: 350,000 TL/month
Source: my own portfolio, keremaliyorukoglu.com/listings, 1 September 2026, 12 open rental listings. Every figure above is the asking price printed on its listing page. See the current set at /listings.
Costs I do not publish
School fees, private health insurance, domestic help, drivers and nannies all vary far more than a published band suggests, and I could not verify any of them against two independent sources. A wrong band is worse than no band, because families budget against it.
For school fees specifically: MEF, ENKA and Hisar publish their own current schedules and mostly release them through their admissions offices. Ask them directly (mef.k12.tr, enka.k12.tr, hisarschool.k12.tr). Bus, meal and trip charges are billed separately from tuition.
How I Help Expat Families
- English-language consultation, school-zone analysis, commute mapping.
- Rental and purchase shortlists matched to your timeline and budget.
- Coordination with international relocation companies and HR teams.
- Citizenship-by-investment process if applicable.
Contact: +90 534 887 0606 | keremaliyoruk@gmail.com | Contact form
Sources
I measured the figures in this article from the sources below. The links open each source’s current page; listing counts and prices change over time, so the figures here belong to the measurement date stated in the text.