Backpacking Istanbul (The Definite Budget Guide)
Written by Nour De Wilde Salhab| Last update: Aug 18, 2025
(First-Hand Travel Experience & Price Comparison)
This guide is part of our main page where you can compare all hostels in Istanbul. Instantly find the best-rated hostels and real-time prices from Hostelworld and Booking.com. Compare prices side-by-side and save money every time. Learn how we compare prices.
Europe on the left, Asia on the right, and a ferry full of cats in the middle—welcome to Istanbul.
I’ve crossed the Bosphorus more times than I’ve changed Turkish SIM cards, so consider this your no-nonsense backpacking Istanbul guide.
We’ll talk lira-stretching tricks, late-night snacks, and why choosing the right neighborhood can make or break your kebab budget.
Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Istanbul
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Hostel Price Statistics & Key Numbers in Istanbul
| Total number of hostels | 64 |
| Typical dorm bed prices in Istanbul | $7 |
| Private room costs in Istanbul | $47 |
| Cheapest hostel in Istanbul | Nostalji Hostel Cafe for only $26 |
| Popular Party Hostel in Istanbul | Second Home Hostel (38 hostels for partying in total) |
| Where to stay in Istanbul on a budget? | Sultanahmet - Old City, Beyoglu, Eminönü/Sirkeci - Central |
Budget & Estimated Daily Costs in Istanbul
Istanbul is a mid-range playground: cheap street food, but museums love admission fees. On a tight budget, plan €30–40 per day.
This will get you a dorm bed, three local meals, ferry rides, and a couple of sights. Bump it to €50–65 for metro convenience, craft coffee, and the occasional rooftop raki.
Anything past €70 and you’re flirting with boutique vibes.
Typical Daily Expenses in Istanbul
- Accommodation (Hostel Dorm Bed):€12–18 per night in shoulder season.
- Food:€15–20 per day.
•Breakfast: €1.50–3 for simit, cheese, and tea.
•Lunch: €4–6 for a gözleme or döner plate.
•Dinner: €6–10 for meze spread and pide. - Local Transportation:€4 daily with an Istanbulkart (trams, metros, ferries).
- Attractions:€5–10; most mosques are free, museum pass saves cash if you binge sights.
- Entertainment & Extras:€6–12 for two beers, baklava, or market souvenirs.
Shoestring: ~€35. Comfort upgrade: ~€60.
Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Istanbul
- Grand Bella Vİsta Hostel - best for Digital Nomads, Family-Friendly Hostel, Solo Traveller, Youth Hostel
- Moon Hostel - best for Digital Nomads, Solo Traveller, Youth Hostel
- Sinbad Hostel - best for Family-Friendly Hostel, Solo Traveller
- Stay Inn Taksim Hostel - best for Party Hostel, Solo Traveller, Youth Hostel
- Taxim Hostel - best for Youth Hostel
Money Saving Tips
- Buy an Istanbulkart at the airport metro; reload at yellow machines and ride for half the cash price.
- Skip rooftop bars—grab a takeaway Efes and watch sunset from Karaköy pier benches.
- Eat “esnaf lokantası” canteens before 3 p.m.; prices jump after office crowds leave.
- Use free Wi-Fi from giant İETT buses parked near squares instead of pricey cafés.
- Tap water isn’t drinkable, but refill bottles at mosque fountains marked “içilebilir” (drinkable).
Getting Around Istanbul on a Budget
- Walk: Sultanahmet, Galata, and Balat are compact—good shoes beat taxis.
- Ferries: Cross continents for €0.60; best travel-cheat skyline show.
- Tram T1: Main tourist artery; avoid peak hours unless sardine cosplay excites you.
- Metro: Fast to Kadıköy via Marmaray tunnel; trains every few minutes.
- Dolmuş: Shared yellow vans—hail, pay cash, jump off when locals do.
Looking for a specific district?
Check out hostels near the following landmarks
Best Free & Budget Friendly Attractions
Free Things to Do
- Wander inside Süleymaniye Mosque’s courtyard for sweeping Golden Horn views.
- Watch fisherfolk cast lines from Galata Bridge at sunrise.
- Stroll Istiklal Street’s side alleys hunting for street art and hidden churches.
- Picnic in Moda seaside park with simit and sunsets over Old City domes.
- Browse Spice Bazaar aromas—smell is free, samples if you smile.
Low Cost Attractions
- Hagia Sophia upper galleries: €12 via timed ticket machine, worth the neck-crane.
- Topkapı Palace: €20, but combine with Archaeology Museums day pass to save €5.
- Fener–Balat ferry loop: €2 scenic spin past Orthodox churches and color-block houses.
- Çamlıca Tower observation deck: €6 for 360-degree ego boost photos.
Food and Drinks on a Budget
- Street Staples:Grab balık ekmek (fish sandwich) under Galata Bridge for €3.
- Lokanta Lunches:Self-service trays of stews + rice hover at €5—ask for “öğle menü.”
- Baklava Fix:Göynüklü pastry shops in Kadıköy sell slices at local prices—€1 each.
- Cheap Drinks:Meyhanes charge for live music; instead, hit corner Tekel shops and sip by the Bosphorus steps.
- Meet People:Join free pub crawls advertised on hostel boards; buy your own beers en route.
Still not sure? Pick my Favorite Hostel in Istanbul
#1 Top Hostel in Istanbul: The Central House Istanbul Galata
This is the overall best rated hostel in The Central House Istanbul Galata. The overall rating is 8.7. You cannot go wrong here.
It is your safest bet in case you are not sure which hostel to pick.
The price for a dorm at The Central House Istanbul Galata starts from $24.00.
Experiences for Backpackers
- Bosphorus sunset cruise on public ferry—€2, bring snacks.
- Street-food tour in Kadıköy Market; many stalls offer €1 tastings, DIY your own crawl.
- Turkish coffee fortune-reading workshop in Balat—€10 and a caffeine buzz.
- Nighttime hammam session at lesser-known Kadırga Hamamı—€17 with scrub.
- Rent a bike on Princes’ Islands, cycle traffic-free pine roads—ferry + bike = €8 day trip.
Additional Tips & Final Thoughts
- Best Time to Visit:April–May and September–early November mean mild weather, fewer tour buses, better hostel deals.
- Booking in Advance:Reserve Bosphorus hostel beds and overnight buses one week ahead in peak months.
- Avoid Tourist Traps:Ignore anyone offering “free” carpet viewings near Sultanahmet—commission hustle awaits.
- Safety First:Keep your bag zipped on packed trams; use ATMs inside banks, not on side streets.
- Cultural Respect:Cover shoulders and knees in mosques; remove shoes before stepping on prayer carpets.
Istanbul rewards curiosity and a bit of haggling swagger.
Backpacking Istanbul? Here's What You Need to Know
These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I've been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I'm passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!
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About the author: Nour De Wilde Salhab
A Lebanese-Congolese-French-Belgian girl as likely to be found climbing a volcano in Indonesia or reading a sci-fi book by the sea in the South of France. Always on the hunt for remarkable experiences. My two favorites so far: volunteering in emergency medical services in Lebanon and solo backpacking around the world. Life is enjoyable in all its facets, from its healthy extremes to its mundane slows.
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