Istanbul versus Berlin

This is the perfect opportunity to use a coin flip to make your choice. Assign Berlin heads, Istanbul tails. Flip the coin, high in the air. Which ever side you find yourself rooting for, that's your answer. The actual result of the coin flip doesn't matter :)

Caveat: I have no idea what you should do re: your career, or how much impact on your career this would have, or how much you care about that vs the experience of travelling. Those things others can comment on, and the latter is really a decision you have to make yourself. But from a travelling perspective, I'd go Istanbul.

When faced with having to make one of two apparently equally good choices, I have always allowed chance to be my guiding star: Flip a coin and take the path fate chooses for you. It's great fun knowing that an important choice in your life hedges on a random outcome over which you have no control. It's kinda like life actually is. Good luck!

Your two paragraphs describing the benefits of each city make it clear that either choice will be great. So certainly don't stress over this. It sounds like Istanbul is more of a limited opportunity, and will be more challenging, leading to more personal growth. Berlin will also be fun, and may be more comfortable. For me, Istanbul would be a very clear choice, but then, I didn't chose the username you did.

I'd do Berlin for career reasons. Getting into your first choice residency program can be quite a challenge, especially if you're aiming for academc hospitals. Having unique but relevant experiences will make you stand out.

Also: if you want to add more travel to your summer after Istanbul, connections via super modern bus companies serve the region from Istanbul. But, speaking from experience at least three years ago, most companies do not serve Belgrade or Serbia: its easier to get a bus to Kosovo or Skopje. If Split attracts you, remember that the Turkish Aegean coast is very affordable, has great visitor infrastructure, grilled squid every bit as good, far fewer drunken Anglophone teenage dance party crowds, and better grilled meat and squid. Consider an adventure in the Kachkar mountains of the eastern Black Sea region, or even a quick hop into Georgia. (Bulgaria? Unless you are really into folk bagpipes - I am - and dusty cement architecture... not so much.)

Another reason I suggest Istanbul is that life/career opportunities happen in many different places. It's important to try new things and go to new places, not just for the sake of fun, but also to learn new things about one's self. I took two trips that especially changed my outlook and my perspective, and thus my direction within my field. I have many friends who went on trips or did other things that changed their perspective within their academic field of study, pushed them from an MD to an MPH, switched their focus in law school, became more passionate about what they were already doing, dropped out and pursued another path, etc. So I'd say - even for your career, go to some place that is new to you.

I've been to Berlin, I haven't been to Istanbul. Personally, I'd choose Berlin. It seems to be more aligned with what you're currently studying, and where your interests lie. Plus, if things dive south for whatever reason, you'll have both the family, and the language skills, to help you out.

Berlin seems like the obvious choice to me, because the curriculum appears more closely tied to your career. Visit Istanbul some other time. I'm further influenced by my own experience in both cities. I found Berlin to be orders of magnitude more interesting, welcoming, and exciting than Istanbul.