Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Turkey
Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport
Daily Budget: $24-82 per day
Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Turkey
Accommodation
$8-25 per night
Dorm beds in hostels, basic guesthouses, budget hotels with shared facilities
Food & Dining
$8-20 per day
Street food, local markets, döner kebabs, simple lokanta restaurants, occasional self-catering
Transportation
$3-12 per day
Public buses, metro, dolmuş (shared minibuses), walking, occasional short taxi rides
Activities
$5-25 per day
Free walking tours, public beaches, some museum entries, occasional paid attractions
Currency: ₺ Turkish Lira (TRY) - though prices shown in USD for comparison
Budget/Backpacker Activities in Turkey
Curated experiences perfect for your budget/backpacker travel style
Money-Saving Tips
Eat at local lokantas and street vendors instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-70% cheaper)
Use public transportation like buses and metro instead of taxis (usually 80-90% savings on transport costs)
Book accommodation in advance during peak season for 20-30% discounts
Buy groceries from local markets for breakfast and snacks (can reduce food costs by 40-50%)
Visit free attractions like public beaches, bazaars, and walking areas instead of only paid sites
Travel during shoulder seasons (April-May, September-October) for 25-40% lower accommodation rates
Use Turkish Lira instead of USD/EUR when possible to avoid poor exchange rates at tourist areas
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Eating only in tourist areas like Sultanahmet or Taksim Square (typically 100-200% markup over local neighborhoods)
Taking taxis everywhere instead of learning the public transport system (can triple your daily transport costs)
Booking last-minute accommodation during peak summer season (often 50-100% higher than advance bookings)
Exchanging money at airports or tourist areas instead of local banks or ATMs (typically 5-15% worse rates)