Backpacking Istanbul (The Definite Budget Guide)

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Find your Perfect Hostel in Istanbul

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

Best for Hostel Newbies

The Central House Istan...10.0

from $9.21 | More Details

Best for Female Solo Traveler

Hush Hostel Lounge8.8

from $0.76 | More Details

Best Party Hostel

Second Home Hostel9.5

from $13.53 | More Details

This is not an ad. We help you find the perfect hostel and compare prices from Hostelworld and Booking. You can save up to 23.7%

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

1. Cordial House Hostel - best for Family-Friendly Hostel, Older travelers (+50), Party Hostel, Quiet Rest, Solo Traveller
2. Sinbad Hostel - best for Family-Friendly Hostel, Solo Traveller
3. Orient Hostel - best for Party Hostel
4. Yucelt Interyouth Hostel
5. Amphora Hostel

Cordial House Hostel

8.4

Sultanahmet - Old City

"…If you compare the rates they charge with other hostels, Cordial House is reasonable considering more

Sinbad Hostel

8.0

Sultanahmet - Old City

"…" The rooms are dense with bunkbeds and the top bunks are not too stable. The bathrooms aren't more

Orient Hostel

8.3

Sultanahmet - Old City

"…Bleugh! Amazing view and nice people for a cheap price. It's the hostel to stay at when you are in more

Yucelt Interyouth Hostel

8.5

Sultanahmet - Old City

"…The road outside was fairly noisy especially when a tram went past. The location was great - right more

Amphora Hostel

8.6

Sultanahmet - Old City

"This is such a great place. Thanks to Bobby and both Özgürs for their help and care. This is the more

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.

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 10.0. 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 $9.21.

Check out The Central House Istanbul Galata here

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.

6 Hidden Gemz for Istanbul (by Hostelgeeks)

How it works

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.