İstanbul on a backpacker budget
İstanbul costs a backpacker about €38 a day before a bed. Here is what that covers, where to sleep near the centre, and which overland corridors run through it.
Modelled estimates, not quotes. Last rebuilt 2026-09-23.
What to see
Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus ferry.
Eating
Balık ekmek €3; esnaf lokantası €6.
Beds near the centre
Distances are from the city centre point the planner uses.
| Cheers Hostel | hostel | 0.2 km |
| Özel Ayasofya Yüksek Öğrenim Erkek Öğrenci Y | hostel | 0.3 km |
| Terace Guesthouse | guest house | 0.5 km |
| The Empress Theodora | hotel | 0.1 km |
| Merih Hotel | hotel | 0.1 km |
Markets and cheap eats
| Gülhane Pazarı | market | 0.3 km |
| Roofstar Bosphorus | market | 1.2 km |
| EYÜL MARKET | market | 1.6 km |
Nearest hospital
Worth knowing before you need it.
| Özel Avusturya Sen Jorj Hastanesi | emergency | 1.7 km |
Routes through İstanbul
Costed corridors that pass through, each with the full leg-by-leg breakdown.
Next stops on the network
Common questions
How much does İstanbul cost per day?
Budget about €38 a day for food and local transport, plus a bed. A dorm bunk runs around €16, a twin room about €44, and a small guesthouse room about €59. Two people sharing a twin usually beat two dorm beds here.
What is worth seeing in İstanbul?
Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus ferry.
Where do you eat cheaply in İstanbul?
Balık ekmek €3; esnaf lokantası €6.
Build a route that runs through İstanbul, costed end to end.
Open the planner