Turkey on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes: Turkey works on a budget of about ₺3,850 per person per day (bed ₺1,500, food ₺900, sights ₺1,200, transport ₺250), though euro-priced site tickets make sightseeing the hardest part to keep cheap.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₺1,500 | ₺3,500 | ₺9,000 |
| Food & drink | ₺900 | ₺2,000 | ₺4,500 |
| Sights & tickets | ₺1,200 | ₺2,500 | ₺4,500 |
| Local transport | ₺250 | ₺600 | ₺1,500 |
| Per person, per day | ₺3,850 | ₺8,600 | ₺19,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Turkey day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Blue Mosque (closed to visitors during prayers)
- The Hippodrome and the Egyptian obelisk
- Walking the Grand Bazaar (closed Sundays) and the Spice Bazaar
- Süleymaniye Mosque and its terrace over the Golden Horn
- Sunset Point and the Love Valley in Göreme
- Kaleiçi's lanes and Hadrian's Gate in Antalya
Cheap eats
- Simit and tea, about ₺40–80
- Köfte on Divanyolu or döner, about ₺250–500
- Balık ekmek (fish sandwich) at Eminönü, cheap and filling
- Lokanta lunch of stew, rice and salad, a few hundred lira
- Çöp şiş in Selçuk; a grill dinner costs about ₺600–1,000
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in pensions in Sultanahmet and Göreme (about ₺2,500–4,500 a double), many with breakfast; even budget rooms in Göreme are often carved into the rock. Hostels in Istanbul and on the coast have dorm beds for less.
Getting around cheaply
In Istanbul, an İstanbulkart covers trams, metro and ferries (about ₺30–40 a ride); the M11 metro and Havaist buses reach the centre from Istanbul Airport. Between regions, intercity buses (₺600–1,200 for 3–5 hours) and early-booked domestic flights are the cheapest options.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Blue Mosque (free) and the Hippodrome
- Lunch: Köfte on Divanyolu, about ₺400
- Afternoon: Basilica Cistern (roughly ₺1,500–2,000) and the Spice Bazaar
- Evening: Ferry to Kadıköy (about ₺35) and a cheap dinner in the market streets, about ₺500
- Total: about ₺3,850 including a shared pension room
More ways to save
- Watch the Cappadocia balloons from the ground at dawn for free if a flight is too expensive.
- Take overnight buses between Cappadocia and the coast to save a night's accommodation.
- Buy an İstanbulkart and share it on trams and ferries (one card can pay for several people).
- Travel in April–May or October for good weather and lower prices.
- Choose the sites that matter most to you, since each charges foreigners €20–50.
- Drink tea and eat breakfast at local cafés rather than in tourist squares.
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Common questions
Can you travel Turkey on a budget?
Yes: about ₺3,850 a day per person with pensions, buses and local food, choosing paid sites carefully.
Is the Museum Pass worth it?
Often, if you visit several covered sites; compare the current price with your planned tickets.
Are buses or flights better in Turkey?
Early-booked domestic flights (about €40–90) are best for long distances; buses suit 3–5 hour trips.