How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Turkey for Two Weeks?

Hello there! Yes, it’s been a while since we shared one of these detailed budget breakdowns from our RTW trip, but we’ve gotten feedback that our country-specific budget posts are especially helpful to fellow travelers and aspiring RTW-ers, so we’re planning to finish the series. Enjoy!

After (almost) three weeks in the Caucasus, we caught a flight to Istanbul, Turkey. After five days in Istanbul, we flew to Izmir to visit the ancient city of Ephesus, then bussed down the coast to celebrate our wedding anniversary at an all-inclusive resort in Bodrum. Here’s every cent we spent during our two weeks in Turkey (all prices in USD as of October 2019):

Turkey: $1,185.50

Transportation: $108.73

We used the metro a few times in Istanbul, flew from Istanbul to Izmir on a pretty cheap flight, and then used intercity buses to get from Izmir -> Selçuk -> Bodrum -> Selçuk, before taking the train from Selçuk to the Izmir airport to leave Turkey. Average: $8.36/day.

Lodging: $203.20

While in Istanbul, we stayed at Reggae Apart Hotel in the popular historic area of Fatih for $31/night, then rented a room closer to the airport for $13.50 the evening before our early morning flight to Izmir. We based ourselves at the Ephesus Centrum in Selçuk while visiting Ephesus, then headed down to Bodrum for an all-inclusive stay at Salmakis Resort & Spa, which we booked with points through our Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. Our average lodging cost does not include the nights we spent at the resort, as they were free. Average: $25.40/night.

Eating out: $294.43

As is our custom when traveling, we ate a lot in Turkey, including three meals a day at restaurants. This total cost includes a splurge of $71 USD on one dinner in Istanbul, but we found we could eat very well in Selçuk for very little (a filling dinner for two could easily be found for less than $10 USD). Our average daily cost does not include the days we spent at the resort using points, as all food and drink was included. Average: $32.71/day.

Treats: $37.47

We like treats, so this category includes any coffee, dessert or alcohol that was not purchased as part of a meal (or a grocery run). Treats in Turkey included a few snacks from street carts and cocktails overlooking the Bosphorus River. Megan also couldn’t stop buying Turkish Delight candies at the various markets we visited. Average: $3.63/day.

Groceries/household items: $46.76

We purchased some personal items in Turkey (including plenty of sunscreen for our days at the coast!), and Jonathan treated himself to a hot shave at Salmakis. Average: $3.60/day.

Entertainment (tours, etc.): $326.17

We went on quite a few guided tours in Turkey, and it certainly helped us appreciate all the history of this area. (Because I waited almost 3 years to finish this post, some of these links are for similar tours if I couldn’t find the exact one we did.) We started our time in Istanbul with a free walking tour (but tipped the guide) and later joined the same guide for a paid tour of Little Hagia Sophia combined with a boat tour on the Bosphorus ($34.82). We also splurged for a guided skip-the-line tour of the (big) Hagia Sophia* ($50.15) and treated ourselves to a Turkish bath experience at Suleymaniye Hamam ($90.18). Once in Selçuk, we went on an excellent guided tour of the ancient city of Ephesus ($102.22), and we independently visited the Ephesus Archeological Museum and the Basilica of St. John for a few dollars each. On our final day in Bodrum, we walked from our resort to some historic sites in town, including the Bodrum Castle ($16.81). We had hoped to visit another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus, but sadly it was closed on the day we tried to visit, so the best we could do was peek through the fence. Average: $25.09/day.

*After our visit, the Hagia Sophia converted back to a working mosque. There is no longer an admission fee (though you can still pay for a tour guide), and non-Muslims can visit during specified hours.

Gifts & souvenirs: $21.66

This included our usual postcards and a scarf for Jonathan from Arasta Bazaar in Istanbul. (If you enjoy shopping and want a quieter, lower-pressure experience than the Grand Bazaar or Spice Bazaar, we highly recommend Arasta Bazaar.) Average: $1.67/day.

Travel insurance: $87.36

We had travel insurance through World Nomads for $6.72/day. Travel insurance costs will vary depending on chosen plan, length of travel, location, etc.

Other: $59.72

Visas are required for Americans traveling to Turkey. It was a very straightforward process to apply for e-visas and pay the fees ($41.05 USD) before we entered the country. We also paid cash tips to hotel staff. Average: $4.59/day.

Total: $1,185.50 = $91.19/day = $45.60/person* per day

*Did you know we have a new page on the blog completely dedicated to Money & Budgeting? We also list our country-specific costs on this page, but those numbers might differ a bit from the numbers shown here. The numbers in our detailed budgeting posts (like this one) are a true reflection of what we personally spent on our trip. The numbers on the Money & Budgeting page are meant to reflect what a typical tourist traveling at our comfort level can expect to spend.

For example, our time in Bodrum drastically lowered our average daily spending for Turkey because we used credit card points to stay at an all-inclusive resort, which meant we barely spent any money for four days. In the daily travel cost on our Money & Budgeting page, these days were removed to more accurately reflect what you can expect to spend each day in Turkey.

Of course, you can always spend far less (or far more) than the numbers listed here or on our Money & Budgeting page. These figures are provided as a loose guide to help you plan travels within your budget range.

Feature image: Interior of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

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