I visited Istanbul for the first time in 2018, and I still clearly remember free entry to Hagia Sophia and going up Galata Tower for 25 lira. Much has changed in seven years: friends living in Istanbul and travelers coming from Turkey often tell me about constant price increases for goods, services, and attractions. At the end of September, I spent a week in Istanbul myself, so I saw everything with my own eyes. Here is my budget for this trip.
Transport and accommodation
The cost of flights varies for each traveler. In my case, the route was quite complex: I flew from Tashkent to Istanbul, then from Istanbul to Amman (Jordan) via Ankara, and my return flight to Tashkent was through Sharjah Airport (UAE). The total cost of all tickets was 612 USD per person. It’s convenient to choose tickets on the Aviasales website.
Accommodation costs also vary greatly depending on the district, hotel category, or apartment size. I stayed at Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Old City. The hotel is located next to a stop of the T1 tram line and a ten-minute walk from Aksaray metro station. Six nights in a double room cost 652 USD.
Most of the time, I got around the city by metro or on foot. The cost of the first ride on most metro lines, trams, and funiculars is 35 lira. Each subsequent transfer deducts a smaller amount. Metrobus and Marmaray have different tariffs.
I didn’t need to take a taxi on this trip. But I accidentally learned about a change in Uber’s payment system: as of September 1, Visa cards no longer work in the app — only Mastercard can be linked now. Keep this in mind if you plan to pay for taxi rides cashlessly.
Food and groceries
In my opinion, grocery prices in Istanbul have increased quite a lot, but it is still possible to find stores with relatively inexpensive food. For example, in the Şok store right next to Galata Tower, you can buy a liter of milk for 34 lira, and a 50-gram pack of chips for 25 lira. Alcohol is usually sold in separate shops. A 0.5-liter can of beer in such a store costs 95 lira.
One day I passed by a market. Fresh vegetables can be bought there — useful for those planning to cook in a hotel or apartment. A kilo of tomatoes costs 40 lira, cucumbers — 50 lira, grapes — 60 lira.
As for restaurants and cafés, there are many options too. The cheapest type of places are so-called lokantas — canteens with a wide selection of local dishes. A lunch in one of these places cost me 220 lira (lentil soup, chicken with potatoes, ayran). In another lokanta I ordered an eggplant casserole and pickled vegetables — 180 lira. I bought coffee in small street cafés for 150–160 lira.
During this trip, I also visited places where prices seemed too high. In one café near my hotel, I ordered menemen (a dish with eggs, vegetables, and cheese) for 310 lira. In my opinion, that’s quite expensive for a variation of scrambled eggs.
Naturally, the cost of goods and services varies depending on the district and the level of the establishment, so every traveler can choose something suitable for their budget.
Attractions
In the two years since my last visit, entrance fees to Istanbul attractions have increased significantly. The only paid attraction I visited this time was Kariye Mosque, where entry cost 20 euros. At the same time, the mosque closed to tourists 20 minutes after I bought the ticket. If you are visiting Istanbul for the first time, you will likely want to see the city’s iconic landmarks. Entry to Hagia Sophia now costs 25 euros, a ticket to the Basilica Cistern is 1 650 lira, and going up Galata Tower costs 30 euros.
I’ve written many times about free attractions in Istanbul. If you’re not ready to spend large sums on museum tickets, you can choose one of these places instead. During this trip I visited Bulgur Palace for free, walked through the Turkish Bath Culture Museum, and went to the Asian side to see former fuel storage tanks that are planned to be turned into a new cultural venue.
Another free place I visited on this trip was the Church of Saint Mary Draperis. I’ll tell you about it in my next Istanbul article.
Happy travels!
Istanbul — 6-day budget per person (September–October 2025, without flights):
- Accommodation — 652 USD;
- Food — about 3 000 lira;
- Metro, ferries, trams — 575 lira;
- Attractions — 20 euros;
- Total approx. 760 USD.
