How much does a trip to Istanbul Cost?
The Cost of a Trip to Istanbul
Typically, the daily expenses for a trip to Istanbul for one person fall between $51 and $306, while for two people, it can range from $103 to $611. These price ranges are based on the average daily cost of $127 (TRY4,076) which is calculated from the expenses of previous travelers. These numbers include expenses for food, accommodation, sightseeing, and local transportation. Keep in mind that prices can vary depending on your overall travel style, level of luxury, and the activities you choose. If you book standard hotels, eat at typical restaurants, and take in the main attractions, your budget should stay close to this average cost. Below, we provide a breakdown of travel expenses by category, as well as a general price range for accommodation and activities for your visit. Please bear in mind that individual attractions and hotels may vary in price, although they generally adhere to the price ranges discussed in this article.
How much money should you budget for your trip to Istanbul?
Budget travelers to Istanbul often spend around $51 per day. This usually includes a stay at a hostel and meals at affordable restaurants around town. Many budget travelers also prefer free activities over those that cost too much money. If you have a bit more money to spend, you should budget around $127 (TRY4,076) per day. This average includes a mid-range hotel and more meals in restaurants, along with a higher budget for entertainment and activities. Luxury travelers should plan to spend around $306 a day which includes higher-end accommodations, restaurants, tours, and activities. For more details, see our average travel costs for Istanbul here.
Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
| Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $21 | $48 | $90 |
| Local Transportation1 | $19 | $56 | $181 |
| Food2 | $13 | $32 | $72 |
| Entertainment1 | $31 | $80 | $214 |
| Alcohol2 | $6 | $15 | $35 |
How much does a weekend trip to Istanbul cost?
Travelers spend, on average, $382 per person on a three-day trip to Istanbul. This includes sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. You can stick close to this average price by staying at mid-range hotels and eating at mid-level restaurants, while also paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. If you wish to travel cheaper, it's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities. It's also common for many visitors to have a much higher travel budget, as many high-end hotels and restaurants can be found around town.
Istanbul
How much does a five day trip to Istanbul cost?
With five days in Istanbul, you can expect to spend about $637 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.
How much does a one week trip to Istanbul cost?
Most visitors spend between $360 and $2,139 for a one week trip to Istanbul, with the average being $891. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in Istanbul. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.
Hostel Prices in Istanbul
With more than 60 hostels in Istanbul, the average price is $14 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $1 and the most expensive is $69. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in Istanbul here.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Istanbul.
- $12 for a dorm bed at Bahaus Guesthouse Hostel in Istanbul
- $15 for a dorm bed at Cheers Hostel in Istanbul
- $13 for a dorm bed at Second Home Hostel in Istanbul
Hotel Prices in Istanbul
The average price for a hotel room in Istanbul is $49 per night. This average is based on our detailed analysis of available hotels in the area. If you want to save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by location and amenities. You can see more details from our analysis of hotel prices in Istanbul here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.
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 |
Should you do a tour in Istanbul?
You'll find a wide range of guided tours in Istanbul and many visitors enjoy the convenience of having an expert guide leading them through the chosen activity. Tours range in price from $21 for the Bursa Uludağ Mountain Tour & Cable Car Ride from Istanbul to $982 for the 4 Day Turkey tour from Istanbul to Gallipoli Troy Pergamon Ephesus and Pamukkale.
- Bosphorus Afternoon Cruise on Yacht - With Live Guide: $55
- Istanbul Old Town Tour: Classics, Highlights & Hidden Gems: $90
- 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
- Devour Istanbul Food Lovers Tour: $149
- 1-Day Best of Istanbul Private Tour with the Best Local Guides: $250
- Dolmabahçe Palace Tour & Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht: $98
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.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
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.
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