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We’ve all heard the cliche tagline— the meeting point of East & West, but Istanbul is quite literally that destination. Sprawling across the narrow Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul sits on both the Asian and European continents. It’s the current capital of a country with a majority Muslim population but also the location of the Ancient historical city Constantinople that essentially birthed Christianity. Today, the streets look far more European than other major “Asian” metropolis’ like Bangkok or Mumbai. But with oodles of street food, crowded open-air markets, and some of the most beautiful mosques in the world there’s still a little taste of the Eastern atmosphere. For those looking to budget travel in Istanbul, you’ll be pleased to know the prices far more resemble Asia than Europe.
I expected to love Istanbul. I loved Cairo despite so many people despising the city, I could probably live my entire life happily in Bangkok, and cities like New York bring me joy. But my first impression of Istanbul was ehhh. It’s tough to get a feel for the capital, even having spent the better part of two weeks here. Often, I felt frustrated. But slowly, I started to get a real liking for the city. & some lovely sunny weather and moving to the Asian side of the city are mostly to thank for this.
Let’s go over some pros and cons real fast to help you better understand what it’s like to budget travel in Istanbul.
What it’s like to budget travel in Istanbul
Pros
- Food is abundant and cheap.
- Public transport is very well connected so no problems getting around the city.
- On sunny days, Istanbul is a great place to walk.
- I’m a coffee addict. Having traveled through Egypt & Jordan before this trip, I was pleasantly surprised to find tons of excellent cafes with real coffee (not the tiny cups of Turkish coffee) in the city.
Cons
- Istanbul has very unpredictable weather. We visited in late Spring and had many cold rainy days.
- This is one of the few cities in Turkey where touts (like carpet salesmen) will ceaselessly hassle you.
- All the “best” sights are super crowded. Unless you visit at the crack of dawn.
- Many of the popular museums are extraordinarily expensive. And as of 2024, the prices have further increased!!
- The hostel scene in Istanbul is wildly varied. We hated both places we stayed on the more popular west side of the city. It wasn’t the facilities either, most were nice enough, but the people weren’t the best. Some stayed out and partied all night coming home loud & late, others had incredibly bad hygiene (weird complaint I know…but it was a serious problem), & some others slept all day (literally until 5 PM) in the dorm snoring loudly— which is a personal pet peeve of mine.
- It’s so far away from everywhere else in the country. I include the city on my 2-week Turkey itinerary but Istanbul is really isolated in the North.
Getting to/from Istanbul on a Budget
Istanbul is an air traffic hub for both Asia + Europe so you would think it would be more central to travel within Turkey. But not really. You’ll probably have a 5-13 hour transit over land to anywhere else you might want to go in the country.
Here are my top tips for getting to/from the city
- Book the train if you can. Tickets MUST be purchased 3-4 days before you want to travel. Popular routes sometimes need a week or more. It’s the cheapest + most comfortable option so it sells out fast. This is the train booking website. You need a Turkish card + phone number to book. My hostel helped me out and let me use theirs.
- Buses are comfy but LONG. If you must take the bus to Istanbul try to take it at night.
- You can take a ferry to Istanbul. From Bandirma the ferry runs twice per day. Consider this paired with a shorter bus journey as an alternative to super long bus routes.
- Flying is often the best way to get around Turkey if you are someone who plans ahead. Fares between cities run for as low as $20 at times. Cheaper than buses. Pegasus is Turkey’s low-cost air carrier.
Ankara to Istanbul is connected via high-speed YRT Train. This is the best transport in the country and your super speedy highway to Cappadocia. Or Ankara itself which has some amazing eats.
Getting around Istanbul on a Budget
Once you’ve made it to Istanbul public transport is super easy. From the bus station way outside of town or the YRT Train Station, the Metro is an easy option into the city center.
Each ride costs about 50 cents. You’ll need to load a metro card at one of those yellow kiosks near the platform.
There are also plenty of public buses + Uber so you shouldn’t ever need to take a taxi within the city. We found ourselves walking almost everywhere to explore. But be warned Istanbul has loads of hills. It’s quite the workout.
Getting from the European Side to the Asian Side
As I mentioned before Istanbul is actually on two continents & the two sides of the city are separated by the Bosphorus Sea. Conveniently, there are public ferries connecting the two sides every 20-30 minutes that cost less than $1.
Where to Stay in Istanbul on a Budget
We had quite a few problems finding a decent cheap place to stay in Istanbul. These are the 3 places we stayed in Istanbul. I found the Anatolian or Asian side to be exponentially better as far as a relaxed neighborhood vibe. Modi is the more popular neighborhood for travelers to the Asian side, but we didn’t choose to stay there.
Hanchi — Good for Amenities
Hanchi has great amenities, fast wifi, free Turkish Breakfast, & very modern facilities all for $7 a dorm bed. It’s also super close to many of the main sights. But the people who stayed there didn’t seem like the typical hostel crowd. In our 6-bed dorm, we had 2 roommates who seemed like they had been there for months and spent most of their time sleeping, snoring, or eating in bed.
Levanten — Good for Private Rooms
Levanten Hostel has great private rooms for $19 a night right near the metro. But their dorms were abysmal + we had very similar problems with our roommates. Staying up late partying + wanting the lights off so they can sleep until 5 PM.
Hush Hostel — Best Dorms
Hush Hostel was our winner. Located in the very best neighborhood surrounded by locally trendy breakfast spots and loads of coffee shops. It was slightly more spendy than the other options but it was one of only a few hostels on the East side (Asian side) + we liked that side exponentially more. It has a great hostel atmosphere, an attached cafe to work in, and a great rooftop for yoga/weightlifting. It also has a fun garden area to lounge in the sun + a fully functional kitchen.
Activities Worth Doing in Istanbul on a Budget
We skipped many of the “must-see” attractions in Istanbul because of the price tag. I’m talking mainly about the many museums. Everyone raves about the Topkapi Palace but at $20+ a ticket it was out of our budget. These are a handful of free things we did instead & how to see them at their best.
Haggia Sophia Mosque
One of the most impressive mosques on this side of the world. It previously was a museum where you had to pay an entrance fee but now it’s a mosque which means it’s free to visit. I recommend visiting either early in the morning (before 8) or late in the evening to see it without crowds. This mosque is open 24 hours a day.
As of 2024, you now need to pay for tickets to enter. Not a big fan of monetizing active religious sites. But it is what it is.
Blue Mosque
Unfortunately, the mosque was under construction during my visit (& likely will be for years to come). But it’s still beautiful from the outside and interesting enough to look at inside even with all the scaffolding. Again, get here early to see it at its best.
Grand Bazaar
Although this market is definitely a tourist trap it’s still cool to wander around and look at all the spice vendors and sample the Turkish delight, olives, & cheese.
Secret Viewpoint
We really just wanted a nice view to see some mosques from above. This odd viewpoint in Maps.me is from a window on the top floor of a shopping center. Great view of the mosques.
Sunset Ferry Ride to East Istanbul
Why pay for a sunset cruise when you can just take the ferry?
If you do want to see all of Turkey’s incredible museums & are visiting for a short time I highly recommend getting the Museum Pass. (It costs $80 now in 2024 rather than the $40 it cost in 2021, which says some crazy price inflation has happened over the past few years). It covers the entrance to Pummakale, Ephesus, Topkapi Palace, + Galata Tower. But it only lasts 15 days. So be sure the pass works for you.
Best Budget Eats in Istanbul
Get ready for wet burgers, doner, pistachio kebap, and more. Istanbul’s biggest attraction is food. These were my favorite budget-friendly eats in the city.
Check out my guide to my favorite eats in Antalya, Turkey.
Dönerci Sahin Usta
This is one of the most popular doner kebab places in Istanbul. For good reason.
Sehzade Cag Kebap
Another exceptional and iconic kebap place. This specific joint is unique because the spit is roasted horizontally with your meat served to you on a personal skewer.
If you want to splurge on some world-class cocktails in not a budget-friendly environment…I have to recommend Flekk cocktail lounge. As bartenders, we have a soft spot for locally influenced craft beverages.
Yigit Sofram Gozleme ve Kahvalti
A great Turkish breakfast spot. The whole spread is quite expensive but all “Turkish Breakfast” spreads are in Istanbul. This one is large enough to share. By a lot.
Tarihi Kalkanoglu Pilavcisi
It’s weird to say a simple dish of rice, beans, and meat was one of the best things I ate in Istanbul, but once you try it you’ll understand.
Durumzade
No frills local kebaps. Must eat.
Taksim Square
Here you’ll find all kinds of street food vendors selling kebap and wet burgers. Which is exactly what it sounds like. In the walking street in this area, you’ll also find all kinds of dessert shops and local buffets offering LOTS of cheap Turkish staples.
Simit Carts
These unassuming street carts sell sesame bagels with cheese and make the perfect 30-cent breakfast on the go.
Kem Kum Egyptian Vegan
You know vegan food has to be good when I’m recommending it. This is some of the tastiest (and cheap) Egyptian food you’ll find in all of Turkey.
Ciya Sofrasi
If I had to label one meal the best in all of Istanbul…it would without a doubt be this one. Ciya Sofrasi isn’t super cheap but it’s the only restaurant where you can taste all the local delicacies of Turkey’s small villages. It was also featured on Netflix’s Street Food.
Damla Pide
I’m a sucker for a good cheap pide. But who doesn’t like pizza.
Küff
This place is world-famous for its breakfast spreads. Get one and share between 2 or 3 hungry travelers.
Levent Pide + Borek Salonu
Pide and borek for cheap. Two of my favorites when it comes to Turkish food.
Mudavim Lokantasi
This place had a very home-cooked feel to it. When something runs out, it’s gone. I arrived late and just got rice and veggies and was pleasantly surprised by the meal. Perfect for lunch.
Borsam Taşfırın Bahariye
Lahmacun is a staple in Turkish food. This place made the best in all of Turkey. I would place bets. I would also say this is probably one of the cheapest meals you can eat if you are trying to budget travel in Istanbul.
Best Budget-Friendly Cafes in Istanbul
The cafe culture in Istanbul is huge. I felt this city was a lot like my home base of Seattle. Here are a few of our favorite coffee shops for those looking for bean water, not in Turkish coffee form.
Warning: These are often not the cheapest options for coffee. But even those looking to budget travel in Istanbul sometimes like to splurge on a good cup of joe.
Best Shop for Ambiance — Jupiter Cafe
Not only was the coffee + chai (powder) absolutely delicious they have three resident cats who will cuddle you while you enjoy your beverage.
Best Coffee All Around — Peyk Coffee
In kinda a weird location, this itsy bitsy shop is all windows & the toffee nut latte is to die for.
Best Coffee for a Budget — Koffy
This chain is everywhere + it’s serving great coffee without all the fuss of a typical shop. You can get any beverage chai tea, cookie dough latte, iced or hot for a set price determined by cup size. No more deciding if the extra dollar for milk is worth it or not! This is 100% the cheapest *good* coffee in town.
Best Starbucks Alternative — Espresso Lab
I didn’t actually drink at this chain but it’s definitely a local favorite. It looks and functions much like a Starbucks and they are all over Istanbul.
Best Working Cafe – Manifesto Cafe
Right up the street from Hush Hostel, this place became my go-to work cafe. It’s definitely on the expensive side but makes a great environment for working.
Your Foodie Map of Istanbul
Here’s our map of all the best food, coffee, places to stay, & sights in Istanbul.
Istanbul quickly grew on me the longer I stayed in the city. And I found budget travel in Istanbul quite easy. Hit me with any questions in the comments or on Instagram for more travel tips about the digital nomad city.
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