Is Istanbul expensive to visit?
Istanbul is a moderately priced destination with an average daily cost of $127. Compared to the rest of Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a moderately priced place to visit. It's ranked in the top 50% of cities in Europe for its travel costs, comparable to places like Marbella and Bordeaux.
Istanbul
How expensive is Istanbul?
On average, visitors spend about $127 per day when visiting Istanbul (U.S. Dollars). Two travelers together would spend an average of $255 per day. Prices vary dramatically by travel style and length of trip, but if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and use public transportation when possible, you can expect to stay close to this budget. See more travel costs for Istanbul here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Istanbul?
A weekend trip to Istanbul costs about $382 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $764.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Istanbul?
Based on the travel expenses of others, a one week trip to Istanbul costs around $891 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,783.
Is it expensive to backpack in Istanbul?
With more than 60 hostels around town, Istanbul is a very popular backpacker destination. Hostels usually cost around $14 per night. There's a wide range in prices though, with the cheapest beds costing about $1 and the most expensive rooms costing about $69. (See hostel prices in Istanbul here.)
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Istanbul.
- $11 for a dorm bed at Bahaus Guesthouse Hostel
- $15 for a dorm bed at Cheers Hostel
- $12 for a dorm bed at Second Home Hostel
Are hotels expensive in Istanbul?
Hotel prices in Istanbul are moderately priced and fairly even compared to hotels in other cities. You can expect to spend about $49 per night for a room on average. There are around 176 five star hotels in the city and they average $109 per night. Three star hotels average $45 a night and two star hotels average $39 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Istanbul
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 176 | $109 |
| 4 stars | 515 | $62 |
| 3 stars | 872 | $45 |
| 2 stars | 156 | $39 |
| 1 star | 170 | $46 |
| No rating | 60 | $80 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Istanbul?
Activities and things to do in Istanbul can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $80 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is more than the country's average of $51.
- Daily Ertugrul Tour from Istanbul: $177
- Private Cultural Tour of Istanbul with Certified Guide: $261
- Segway Istanbul Old City Tour - Evening: $44
- Istanbul Cagaloglu Hamam Experience in Old City: $84
- Private and guided Food and Culinary Tour of Istanbul: $225
- 2 Hours Bosphorus Cruise Boat Tour in Istanbul: $22
- Guided Bosphorus Yacht Cruise with Asian Side Visit : $54
- Devour Istanbul Food Lovers Tour: $149
Is food expensive in Istanbul?
Food in Istanbul can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $32 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $33. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Dance Shows with Private Table: $39
- Traditional Turkish Dinner and Dervish Experience: $79
- Istanbul Two Continents One Soul Food Tour: $131
- Learn To Cook From a Local: Private Cooking Class In an Istanbul Home: $140
- Half-Day Istanbul Private Food Tour & Culinary Experience: $300
- Istanbul Street Food Tour: Bosphorus ferry, Kadıköy and Moda: $85
Is transportation expensive in Istanbul?
Local transportation in Istanbul can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $56 on local transportation per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $48. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
More for Istanbul
If you're planning a trip to Istanbul, Turkey, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
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.