Which place is cheaper, Braga or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Braga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Braga, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Istanbul or Braga?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
Braga
Located in the Cavado Valley of Northern Portugal, Braga is a medium sized city with both historical and modern characteristics. There is a university in town, known as Universidade do Minho, which gives the city a young feel with a lot of life. There are also many bars, clubs, and activities around to keep you entertained.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Porto, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Braga $120
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Braga is $120. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Istanbul and Braga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Braga $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Braga $116
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Braga
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Braga? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Braga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Braga $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Ferry$0.09
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Local Bus$0.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Princes' Islands Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $13
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Cruise Port: $19
- Istanbul City to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)-Departure Private Transfer: $20
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Private One-Way New Istanbul Airport Transfer To/From Istanbul: $21
- Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Airport (SAW) to Istanbul - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul to Istanbul Airport (SAW) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Airport Private Transfers: $22
- Princes' Islands Cruise w/Music, Lunch & Transfer: $24
- Istanbul Airport VIP/ULTRA VIP Transfer, Free WIFI: $25
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Cruise Port: $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Braga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Braga:
- Braga Private Transfer:To/From the Oporto Airport: $102
- Traditional Vinho Verde Tour in Bowl with Private Transfer (Porto and Braga): $131
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Braga?
Prices for flights to both Braga and Istanbul change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayIstanbul $31Braga $43
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Juice$0.06
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Turkish Delight$0.02
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Dessert$0.26
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Pastries$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show from Istanbul: $16
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $17
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $21
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $29
- Half Day Sunset Luxury Yacht Dinner Cruise Tour in Istanbul: $29
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Braga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Braga.
- Small-Group Braga Food Tour With A Local Guide: $84
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Braga $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
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Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.62
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Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.62
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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
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Hagia Sofia entrance$0.93
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- App self-guided tours Istanbul with multilingual audioguide: $2.14
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.35
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.08
- Istanbul in a day: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.87
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.06
- Hippodrome and Blue Mosque Guided Tour: $8.73
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.62
- The Royal Adventure Highlights Exploration Game: $11
Tours and Activities in Braga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Braga are as follows:
- Casa dos Coimbras ( Chapel and Tower ) ticket & drink: $5.35
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.65
- Braga Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tourer Hunt: $7.82
- Tuk Tuk City Tour: $16
- Bravaes Kayak Park Private Adventure: $38
- Small-Group Braga Half-Day Tour with Bom Jesus: $42
- Small-Group Braga Half-Day Tour with Bom Jesus: $43
- Guimarães Old Town Private Walking Tour: $54
- KAYAK TOUR I Descent of the River Lima in Kayak: $55
- Stand Up Paddle Tour: $55
- Lagoons and Waterfalls Tour - Serra do Soajo: $60
- Tour Soajo - Peneda-Gerês National Park: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Braga $23
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl Big Nightout . Rooftop parties,party Bus & Nightlife: $22
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $80
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $245
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $844
Sample the Local Flavors in Braga
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Braga:
- Wine Tasting & Lunch | Quinta de Santa Cristina Vinho Verde: $50
- Green Wine Region-Small Group Tour with Lunch and Wine Tastings, from Porto city: $142
- Douro Valley Private Tour from Lunch & Wine Tour: $288
- Vinho Verde Private Wine Tour: $535
When comparing the travel costs between Istanbul and Braga, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Braga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Braga?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Braga. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Braga, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul or Braga?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Istanbul or Braga in the Summer?
Both Braga and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Istanbul is generally a little warmer than Braga. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 24°C (74°F), and Braga fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
It's quite sunny in Braga. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Braga during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Braga receives 308 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Braga. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Braga receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Braga 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Braga in the Autumn?
Both Braga and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Istanbul is around the same temperature as Braga in the autumn. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Braga fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
In the autumn, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Braga. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Braga receives 184 hours of full sun.
Braga gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Istanbul usually gets less rain in October than Braga. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Braga receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Braga 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Braga in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Braga. The winter months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Istanbul is much colder than Braga. Typically, the winter temperatures in Istanbul in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Braga averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Braga during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Braga receives 124 hours of full sun in the winter.
Braga receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Braga. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Braga receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Braga 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Braga in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Braga. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
In April, Istanbul is generally around the same temperature as Braga. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 13°C (55°F), and Braga fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Braga. In the spring, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Braga. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Braga receives 217 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Braga. Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Braga. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Braga receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Braga 14°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Braga and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Braga | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.