Is Turkey Expensive To Visit? Prices In Turkey (2024)
Before traveling to Turkey I was wondering is Turkey expensive to visit. The prices online seemed to be all over the place and I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I spent about 3 weeks backpacking in Turkey, and I was quite surprised by the prices in Turkey today.
Turkey was one of the cheaper countries to visit in Europe several years ago, but the prices and the cost of travel in Turkey changed with inflation.
You can’t plan your Turkey travel budget with prices from a couple of years ago. Everything is 2-3 times more expensive than it was then!
Here’s everything you need to know about the cost of travel in Turkey!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. I hope you find the information here helpful!
Is Turkey Expensive For Tourists?
You will find prices in Turkey expensive or not depending on where you’re coming from.
If you’re traveling from the UK or the USA, the cost of travel in Turkey is quite low compared to the prices in your home country.
However, Eastern Europeans might find Turkish prices quite steep.
Regardless of where you’re from, one thing is sure – Turkey is not as cheap as it used to be several years ago.
Prices in Turkey increased dramatically in the past couple of years. I planned my budget by checking prices from summer 2023, but those prices doubled or even tripled in 2024!
I was especially shocked by the entrance fees for tourist attractions, many free activities in Istanbul are now paid.
For example, a visit to Hagia Sofia Mosque – which used to be free, will now cost you over 20€!
Those prices quickly add up, especially if you’re backpacking around Turkey for several weeks like I did.
Let’s look at the prices more closely!
Turkey Budget Breakdown
| Accommodation 🏡 | 15-30€ (hostels) 50-80€ (mid-range private rooms) |
| Getting Around 🚌 | 0-30€ |
| Activities 👯 | 0-50€ |
| Food 🥙 | 15-30€ |
| Drinks 🍸 | 0-10€ |
TOTAL: 30-60€ for budget backpackers, 65-150€ for mid-range travelers per day
Turkey is not a cheap travel destination. However, it is possible to travel around Turkey on a budget.
I tracked everything I spent in Turkey, and I spent about 800€ for 3 weeks in Turkey in May – which comes down to about 40€ per day.
I backpacked around Turkey in May, so I took advantage of more affordable accommodation, but other expenses looked the same throughout the year.
If you stay in hostels, avoid paid attractions, and get around by bus you can manage to get by with 30-60€ per day, depending on your daily itinerary.
However, if you want to stay in a private room in a well-rated place, you’ll pay at least 50€ per night just for accommodation.
This is a budget travel blog, so your expenses will be significantly higher if you want to “treat yourself” on this trip.
Keep reading as I’ll tell you exactly how to plan your budget even if you’re ready to spend a bit more.
Accommodation Prices in Turkey
The price of accommodation in Turkey is the expense that will dictate the rest of your travel budget as it changes depending on when you visit.
Naturally, prices are the highest in the peak summer season – especially for the popular Turquoise Coast.
Hostels in Turkey are 10-20€ in Istanbul, but closer to 20-30€ on the coast in summer.
If you want to stay in a hotel, I strongly suggest you don’t go for anything with less than an 8-star rating on Booking.
Most hotels in Turkey look better in photos than in real life, so take time to read reviews before booking.
TOP TIP: Booking.com doesn’t work once you’re in Turkey. You can access bookings you already have, but you can’t book anything in the country so make sure you do it before landing in Turkey!
Turkey is one of the most popular European summer destinations, so the best hotels in famous coastal towns like Kas or Bodrum will be pricey.
Still, you can find nice boutique hotels for 100€ per night, compared to the prices in Santorini where you’d have to pay 400€ for the same type of accommodation!
If you rent a car in Turkey, you can be strategic and choose less visited coastal towns in Turkey to save money on accommodation.
Price of Tourist Attractions in Turkey
Visiting tourist attractions in Turkey got quite pricey this year.
You should budget at least 20€ per tourist attraction, while some places, like Topkapi Palace, are even 50€!
If you’re spending 2 weeks in Turkey and want to visit multiple tourist attractions, consider getting a Turkey Museum Pass.
It might seem like a lot of money upfront, especially since it was like 20€ a couple of years ago, but it is worth it if you have a packed itinerary.
There are many cool things to do in Turkey apart from sightseeing too!
A popular activity is a visit to the Turkish hammam. Most hammams I saw are 40-70€, depending on how long the treatment is.
Balloon Ride in Cappadocia is a bucket list experience and one of the most incredible things to do in Turkey. It will cost you about 200€.
Paragliding in Oludeniz is another bucket list activity, and it will also cost about 150€.
If these prices look like too much, don’t despair. There are so many free things to do in Turkey – from beautiful mosques, hiking trails, some of the best beaches in Europe, and free ruins!
Also, instead of booking a Bosphorus cruise, you can simply take a 0,50€ ferry from the European to the Asian side of Istanbul.
Depending on what you want to do in Turkey this section of your Turkey travel budget can look quite different.
Cost Of Eating Out In Turkey
Are you surprised that I will tell you that the cost of eating out in Turkey depends on what you eat?
Of course not! Turkey is a country that offers something for every type of traveler.
If you’re on a budget, you can find many places to grab a quick cig kofte for 1-2€. If you want to treat yourself to seafront dining, you can also have a 3-course dinner for 80€.
But what are the average prices?
A cup of Turkish tea costs 0,80€ to 1,5€ depending on the place where you get it.
Coffee in places like Starbucks is 3-4€. Yes, there is Starbucks in Turkey but also many local alternatives.
I love matcha latte, and that will cost you 5-6€. That’s basically the same as the UK or France!
Now when it comes to actual food, I’m vegan, and I feel there’s a premium price for vegan food in Turkey – unless you’re fine with eating appetizers and side dishes.
On average I paid about 10-12€ for a vegan meal.
If you’re not vegan, a kebab plate is usually around 15€, while fancier dishes can easily go up to 20€.
For quick bites, you can find vegan cig kofte for 3€ or durum for 5-6€.
Generally, food is more expensive in tourist hot spots like Bodrum, Kas, or Antalya. Local spots are significantly cheaper than restaurants that target tourists.
TOP TIP: Ask to see the menu before ordering and check if service fee and tax are included or you’ll have to pay additionally on top of the prices indicated on the menu!
Supermarket Prices in Turkey
Supermarket prices are significantly lower than eating out in Turkey. If you really need to stay on a budget you should stay in a place with a kitchen and prepare your food.
I went to several different supermarkets and I found Migros has the largest variety of items. At the same time, it was slightly more expensive than ŞOK, BIM, or A101.
If I had to compare supermarket prices to prices elsewhere I’d say it is cheaper than prices I pay in France for Turkish products, and quite similar to prices in Croatia.
Imported products are the same price or slightly more.
Getting Around Turkey
The cost of getting around Turkey will depend on your itinerary.
In most cases, the cheapest way to get around Turkey is by taking long-distance buses.
I said in most cases because sometimes it might be cheaper to fly!
Low-cost flights in Turkey
Turkey is a large country, so getting from one side of Turkey to another takes time!
Luckily, several national companies are providing affordable domestic flights in Turkey.
I took a flight from Istanbul to Bodrum with Pegasus Airlines for about 25€ – with checked luggage included!
There are many daily departures, so you can pick the one that works best for you.
Don’t dismiss flying around Turkey if you’re on a budget. Some routes are quite affordable!
However, keep in mind that certain airports are quite far from the tourist attraction you want to visit.
For example, to get to Goreme in Capadoccia you’ll land at the airport about 100km from the town, and getting public transport might be challenging.
Long Distance buses
If you’re traveling on a really low budget, a way to save money on accommodation is to take overnight buses.
Overnight long-distance buses are especially popular when traveling to Cappadocia, as the area is quite far from other popular areas like Istanbul or the Turquoise Coast.
The best website to use to book bus tickets in Turkey is obilet.com, as it covers most bus companies.
Most bus routes are about 15-35€ in one direction.
You can also buy tickets at the bus station, as I did when I traveled from Fethiye to Kas, but it is still useful to check timetables and know the average prices.
Regional buses/ dolmus
If you’re taking public transport within a region, for example, a bus from Bodrum to Fethiye, you’ll have to take regional minibusses.
These minibusses, also known as dolmus, connect virtually every village within a region.
Prices depend on the distance, so you can expect to pay 1.5-5€ per ride.
Dolmuses are managed regionally, so the ease of finding information online varies depending on your location.
For example, in the Mugla region, you could find all timetables online, and paying by card was cheaper than by cash.
On the other hand, there were no timetables online in Kas – instead, there was a table at the bus station with departure times. Also, you could only pay in cash!
Cost of Renting A Car in Turkey
Finally, you might want to rent a car if you want to go on a road trip along the Turquoise Coast.
Renting a car in Turkey will allow you to explore the country at your own pace and stop when you see something interesting.
While you can visit most tourist attractions by public transport, having a car allows you to visit several places on the same day as you don’t depend on bus timetables.
Renting a car will be the cheapest if you can return it to the same location. You’ll have to pay an additional fee if you want to take a car in Antalya and leave it in Izmir.
🚗 Check the price of rental cars in Turkey here!
Shopping In Turkey
I wanted to quickly touch on the subject of shopping in Turkey. I wasn’t aware that Turkey is the hotspot for “designer-inspired” fashion items.
If that’s your thing it’s worth knowing that prices you’ll get quoted vary wildly. It feels like sellers are just trying to see what passes. There are no fixed prices so haggle to your heart’s content.
You’ll also find stores like Zara, Mango, H&M, and several Turkish fashion chains.
The prices are similar to the ones in my country, but it is good to know that you don’t have to worry when packing for Europe – you can buy everything once you’re in Turkey!
FAQ: Prices In Turkey
Some tourists might find Turkey cheap, but it depends on where you’re coming from. Prices in Turkey are similar to the average European prices, but slightly cheaper than in countries like the UK, Switzerland, or France.
Summary: How Expensive Is Turkey?
It’s complicated to answer the question is Turkey expensive, but it is certainly more expensive than it was in the past several years.
Prices in Turkey doubled or even tripled from what they were. It is not unusual to get a menu in a restaurant with prices taped over 5 or more times!
I found tourist attractions quite pricey in Turkey, even by the standards of the most expensive European countries.
A trip to Topkapi Palace when visting Istanbul will cost you more than the Louvre Museum in France!
It is still possible to visit Turkey on a budget, but you’ll have to pick and choose things to do.
