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How much does a trip to Istanbul, Turkey cost?
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A 3-night trip to Istanbul, Turkey for 2 people costs about €600 (₺33,100) on a mid-range budget, from €300 (₺16,500) travelling cheaply up to €835 (₺46,100) in comfort. Totals cover accommodation, food and drinks, local transport and sights; flights are extra.
Updated September 2026
Trip cost calculator
3-4 star hotel, restaurants, a taxi now and then
| Stay | €410 (₺22,600) |
| Food & drinks | €105 (₺5,690) |
| Local transport | €32 (₺1,780) |
| Sights & activities | €55 (₺3,070) |
| Total | €600 (₺33,100) |
Cost per person per day in Istanbul, Turkey
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stay | €36₺1,990 | €68₺3,760 | €85₺4,700 |
| Food & drinks | €9₺505 | €17₺950 | €25₺1,390 |
| Local transport | €1₺50 | €5.5₺295 | €10₺575 |
| Sights & activities | €3.5₺195 | €9₺510 | €18₺1,020 |
| Total per person per day | €50₺2,740 | €100₺5,520 | €140₺7,690 |
What things cost in Istanbul, Turkey
Hotel room per night
- Budget€72 (₺3,980)
- Mid-range€135 (₺7,520)
- Comfort€170 (₺9,400)
Live nightly rates for a double room near the centre: median of 40 hotels on Agoda for a night next month.
- Restaurant meal€7.11 (₺393.30)
- Street food or quick meal€1.78 (₺98.32)
- Coffee€1.33 (₺73.74)
- Beer€2.67 (₺147.49)
- Taxi per km€0.53 (₺29.50)
- Public transport ticket€0.36 (₺20)
Hotels in Istanbul, Turkey
Budget: €72 (₺3,980) · Mid-range: €135 (₺7,520) · Comfort: €170 (₺9,400)
See hotel prices for your datesMoney tips for Istanbul, Turkey
- Fair taxi price (official, daytime): ₺1,500 - ₺2,500 (€27 - €45). Use the official taxi rank queue and insist the meter is running. Agree on the fare before getting in only if taking a fixed-price service. Refuse unlicensed drivers who approach you inside arrivals.
- Best alternative: Metro line M11 from Istanbul Airport to Kağıthane, then transfer. Alternatively Havaist airport shuttle bus. (₺130 (€2.35))
- Tap your Istanbulkart or bank card at the yellow card readers at the station entrance before boarding, and again for each transfer leg when switching lines or modes. Failing to tap at entry is treated as travelling without a ticket. Fine without a valid ticket: ₺1,500 (€27.12).
- Round up or leave 5 to 10 percent in restaurants when service is good. Tip small amounts for taxis, hotel staff and tour guides. Tipping is expected but not obligatory.
- No automatic cover charge is standard in Istanbul, but some tourist-area places add a service charge of 10 percent, usually shown on the menu. Always confirm the menu shows prices before ordering. Be wary of menus handed to tourists without prices.
- Always choose to be charged in TRY and decline dynamic currency conversion when the ATM offers your home currency. Prefer ATMs attached to major banks. Some independent ATM brands in tourist areas charge high fixed fees, so check the fee warning screen before confirming.
Tickets for the top sights
Check current prices and book official tickets in advance.
How we calculate
Stay is a double room shared by two (one room per two travelers). Food assumes two cheap meals, a modest dinner and a coffee on a budget, a cheap lunch, a restaurant dinner, coffee and a drink mid-range and restaurant meals, coffees and drinks in comfort. Transport is a daily public transport allowance, plus taxis in the higher tiers. Sights is an average daily allowance for entry tickets and activities. Everything is per day of the trip; a 3-night trip counts 3 days.
Not included: flights, travel insurance, city tax (usually a few euros per person per night, paid at the hotel), shopping and nightlife.
Estimates from average local prices and live hotel rates; exchange rates as of 2026-10-05. Your trip can cost more or less.