How to travel Istanbul affordably: Transportation, food and site seeing on a budget

Istanbul is a city where each district feels different; its atmosphere captivates visitors, and its diverse styles make it impossible to explore in just one day. However, if you’re curious about how a tourist might spend a day here, it’s useful to know how much you’ll be paying and where.

No matter what season it is, don’t forget to wear your most comfortable shoes, preferably ones for walking, because Istanbul is best enjoyed on foot, wandering through its steep streets and getting lost in its alleys. We assure you in advance that it will be one of the most inclined cities you’ve ever walked in.

What to budget for during Istanbul tour

To start the day, we recommend setting aside plenty of time for breakfast, as an attempt at tasting a Turkish breakfast will add a new dimension to your life. With an array of flavors covering the table, even tasting everything just once will take over an hour. Whether you’re on the European or Asian side, the key is to choose a place with a sea view. When ordering, learn the phrase “serpme kahvalti” (breakfast spread). This shared breakfast, enough for two, will cost you around ₺500–₺600 ($13-$17) at an average place.

Once you’ve had breakfast and are ready to walk, head towards the pier, passing by Mihrimah Sultan Mosque and Selim III Fountain on the way if you’re on the Asian side. After purchasing an Istanbul public transport card from a vending machine for ₺10 and charging it at least ₺150, we can cross from the Asian side to the European side with a Bosphorus view for just burning ₺27 of it, using our Istanbul card.

For those looking for a quicker breakfast option, you can grab a simit from a street vendor for ₺15 before boarding the ferry and enjoy it with a dollar worth of Turkish tea while gazing at the Bosphorus up on the sea.

Once you arrive at Sirkeci, you are recommended to visit the Egyptian Bazaar, also known as the “Spice Bazaar,” to explore its incredible smell of spices, unique types of teas, and fruit-filled Turkish delights. Don’t worry—Turks are hospitable, so you can taste all the things available before deciding whether to buy. After leaving the bazaar, it’s possible to walk toward Gulhane Park through Vakif Hani Street, where the architecture will fascinate you all the way along.

Like all of Istanbul’s beautiful parks, Gulhane Park is specially arranged in spring for the Tulip Festival, offering a colorful display of Turkish tulips. Take a deep breath here before visiting the Archaeological Museum, where the entrance fee is €15 ($16.44), though using a Museum Pass (MuzeKart) can offer additional advantages.

Before leaving the museum, make sure to use the seats inside, relaxing your feet while enjoying what the ancient art of Istanbul presents to you because you must be ready to walk toward Sultanahmet. After snapping a photo with the iconic Sultanahmet Square view, set aside €25 to explore the upper floor of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque—where breathtaking views await, regardless of your beliefs.

If you’re not vegan, since you’re already in the area, Sultanahmet’s famous “kofte” or meatballs with a copper cup of ayran on the side are highly recommended for lunch. This meal for two will also cost you around ₺600. But if you’re on a meat-free diet, a falafel shop nearby will serve you something with a flavor hard to find in your local vegan place in the West.

Once you’re full, you’re ready for the next route. Spend another $1 per person and use your Istanbul card to hop on the tram. Sit by the window—it offers better views than any hop-on-hop-off double-decker bus in other cities of the world. If it’s not too crowded, you’ll enjoy what you are watching. If it is crowded, you’ll get a real local Istanbulite experience.

Crowded or not, don’t take your eyes off the window—this tram follows a route that truly lets you feel the spirit of Istanbul, such as the walls of the city. On the way to Beyoglu, you’ll pass through Fatih’s streets and see the Golden Horn and the fishermen. Be ready to get off when you spot the Galata Tower with your naked eye. When you arrive, there’s no entry fee to climb up on the tower if you already bought a Museum Pass on your previous visit to the Archeology Museum. If not, it will cost you ₺650, which is almost $20 again. And just a heads-up—according to legend, whoever you go up the tower with is the one you’ll marry, so choose your travel buddy wisely.

After leaving the tower, you’ll walk toward the famous Istiklal Avenue. On this street, you can visit Santa Maria and Saint Anthony churches, and explore buildings full of free exhibitions like Salt Galata or others, each one unique. If you’re a street food lover, don’t miss out on Istanbul’s famous “wet burgers”. Grab one from a corner stall for ₺100–₺150 and enjoy it while walking to your next stop.

If you wander down one of the side streets, you’ll find yourself in the Pera area, with a vibe completely different from İstiklal—almost as if you’ve stepped into an Agatha Christie novel. And if you want to feel the midnight mystery of the Netflix series Midnight at the Pera Palace, make your way to this district, where history and fiction blend seamlessly into the night. While you’re there, you can catch the Pera Museum, home to fascinating Orientalist paintings, Anatolian weights and measures, and rotating contemporary exhibitions. It’s all a short walk away in there.

When you decide to end the day, choose one of Pera’s elegant fine dining restaurants and enjoy a Turkish dinner full of rich flavors, picking dishes that suit your personal taste from Turkish salmon to many types of kebabs. We recommend setting aside a budget of $100 for this.

During your one-day journey, you’ll get a real taste of Istanbul’s unique atmosphere and begin to understand why everyone wants to live in this city—suddenly, the crowds make sense. But remember, this is just the beginning. You’ve only just met Istanbul—you’ll need much more time to truly discover it, including the people living in it.