Turkey uses the Turkish Lira (TRY). Exchange rates fluctuated between approximately 27-33 TRY per USD throughout 2023-2024, with significant volatility driven by inflation and central bank policy. Prices in this section reflect late 2024 conditions. The lira's depreciation against major currencies has made Turkey substantially more affordable for foreign visitors carrying dollars, euros, or pounds, while creating price instability for certain imported goods and domestic inflation pressure.
Accommodation costs divide sharply by location and season. In Istanbul, a basic hostel bed in Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu ranges from 300-600 TRY per night. A clean, no-frills hotel room in the same districts costs 800-1,500 TRY. Mid-range hotels with breakfast near Taksim Square or along the Bosphorus charge 1,800-3,500 TRY. High-end properties such as the Four Seasons Sultanahmet or Çırağan Palace Kempinski exceed 15,000 TRY per night, particularly during April-May and September-October peak seasons. Coastal Antalya shows similar pricing for comparable categories, though shoulder seasons in November or March offer 20-30 percent reductions. Cappadocia cave hotels present specialized pricing: basic cave rooms start at 1,200 TRY, while atmospheric properties in Göreme or Ürgüp with terrace views for balloon launches range 2,500-6,000 TRY. Boutique cave suites in Uçhisar can reach 10,000 TRY. Ankara hotel prices sit approximately 15 percent below Istanbul equivalents due to lower tourism demand. Trabzon and Black Sea coastal towns offer budget rooms for 600-900 TRY and mid-range options at 1,200-2,000 TRY. Izmir prices align closely with Istanbul. Şanlıurfa and southeastern cities provide the country's lowest accommodation costs, with acceptable hotels available from 500 TRY and comfortable options under 1,500 TRY.
Street food and casual dining present exceptional value. A simit from a street cart costs 10-25 TRY. A döner wrap from a neighborhood shop ranges 60-120 TRY depending on meat type and location. A portion of lahmacun costs 40-80 TRY. A plate of İskender kebab in a lokanta ranges 150-250 TRY. A traditional Turkish breakfast spread at a neighborhood café costs 120-200 TRY per person. Midye dolma (stuffed mussels) from street vendors sell for 5-10 TRY each. A portion of balık ekmek (fish sandwich) near Eminönü in Istanbul costs 60-100 TRY. Börek from a pastry shop runs 30-60 TRY per piece. A full meal at a typical neighborhood restaurant including soup, main dish, and tea costs 200-350 TRY per person.
Sit-down restaurants show wider variation. A meal at a tourist-oriented restaurant in Sultanahmet or Taksim averages 400-800 TRY per person without alcohol. Seafood restaurants along the Bosphorus or in coastal Izmir charge 600-1,200 TRY for fish dishes, with meyhanes (taverns with meze) reaching 800-1,500 TRY per person with rakı. Fine dining establishments in Istanbul such as Mikla or Neolokal run 2,000-4,000 TRY per person for tasting menus. A meal in Cappadocia's better restaurants averages 350-600 TRY. Antalya's old town (Kaleiçi) restaurants charge 300-700 TRY for mains. Gaziantep, renowned for kebabs and baklava, offers superior quality at lower prices: exceptional kebab meals cost 200-400 TRY, while the city's famous baklavacılar charge 180-350 TRY per kilogram compared to 300-600 TRY in Istanbul. Local kebab restaurants in Adana serve portions for 150-280 TRY. Traditional Konya restaurants near the Mevlana Museum charge 180-350 TRY for full meals.
Beverages follow their own pricing structure. Turkish tea in a standard tea garden costs 10-20 TRY per glass. Turkish coffee ranges 30-60 TRY depending on setting. Fresh-squeezed orange juice costs 40-80 TRY. Ayran (yogurt drink) costs 15-30 TRY. Bottled water ranges 10-25 TRY in shops, 30-60 TRY in restaurants. Domestic beer in a neighborhood bar costs 60-100 TRY; in tourist areas or upscale venues, 100-200 TRY. A glass of rakı ranges 80-150 TRY in regular meyhanes, 150-300 TRY in tourist zones. Turkish wine by the glass costs 100-250 TRY in mid-range restaurants. Imported alcohol carries significant markup: foreign spirits cost 200-500 TRY per drink in bars.
Intercity transportation costs remain moderate despite inflation. Bus travel forms the backbone of domestic transport. A bus ticket from Istanbul to Ankara (450 kilometers, 5-6 hours) costs 350-600 TRY with companies like Metro Turizm or Kamil Koç. Istanbul to Izmir (480 kilometers) ranges 400-650 TRY. Istanbul to Antalya (730 kilometers, 12 hours) costs 500-800 TRY. Cappadocia (Nevşehir) from Ankara (290 kilometers) runs 250-400 TRY. Buses include water service and rest stops; overnight routes on premium buses with more recline cost 15-25 percent more. Domestic flights provide faster alternatives: Istanbul to Ankara with Turkish Airlines or Pegasus ranges 800-2,500 TRY depending on booking timing and route demand. Istanbul to Izmir costs 700-2,200 TRY. Istanbul to Antalya runs 900-2,800 TRY. Routes to Trabzon, Van, or Şanlıurfa from Istanbul range 1,200-3,500 TRY. Booking 3-4 weeks ahead typically reduces costs by 30-40 percent. The high-speed train from Istanbul to Ankara takes 4.5 hours and costs 280-450 TRY, running multiple times daily. Istanbul to Konya by high-speed rail costs 350-520 TRY for the 4-hour journey.
Urban transportation prices facilitate frequent movement. Istanbul's Istanbulkart (rechargeable transit card) costs 50 TRY for the card itself. Metro, tram, and bus rides cost 12.50 TRY per trip with the card, 20 TRY without. Transfers within two hours receive discounts, reducing the second ride to 7.50 TRY. Ferries across the Bosphorus cost 12.50 TRY with Istanbulkart. The Marmaray tunnel train costs the same 12.50 TRY. A taxi from Taksim to Sultanahmet (approximately 6 kilometers) costs 100-150 TRY depending on traffic. Ride-sharing apps like BiTaksi offer similar or slightly lower rates. The airport shuttle bus from Istanbul Airport to Taksim costs 150 TRY. A private airport transfer runs 600-900 TRY. In Ankara, metro rides cost 10 TRY. Izmir's metro and ferry system charges 11 TRY per trip. Antalya's tram costs 15 TRY. Dolmuş (shared minibus) rides in any city range 15-30 TRY depending on distance.
Car rental provides flexibility for rural areas and coastal drives. A basic economy car rents for 900-1,500 TRY per day from major companies like Avis or Budget in high season, 600-1,000 TRY in low season. Mid-size vehicles cost 1,200-2,000 TRY daily in summer, 800-1,400 TRY in winter. Weekly rentals reduce daily rates by approximately 20 percent. Full insurance adds 300-600 TRY per day. Gasoline costs approximately 40-43 TRY per liter for unleaded. A tank (50 liters) costs around 2,000-2,150 TRY. The drive from Izmir to Bodrum (250 kilometers) uses roughly 15-18 liters, costing 600-775 TRY in fuel. Rental cars allow practical access to Pamukkale, coastal routes between Antalya and Kaş, and remote areas like Mount Nemrut or the Kaçkar Mountains where bus service proves limited.
Entrance fees to major sites vary considerably. Hagia Sophia in Istanbul became a mosque again in 2020 and charges no entrance fee, though donations are expected. Topkapı Palace costs 750 TRY; the harem section requires an additional 450 TRY. The Basilica Cistern charges 450 TRY. The archaeological site of Ephesus costs 700 TRY; the Terrace Houses within Ephesus add another 350 TRY. Pamukkale and Hierapolis combined cost 600 TRY. Göreme Open Air Museum in Cappadocia charges 500 TRY; the Dark Church within the complex adds 200 TRY. Troy archaeological site costs 350 TRY. Pergamon's Acropolis charges 400 TRY. Sumela Monastery near Trabzon costs 450 TRY plus 150 TRY for the shuttle from the parking area. Mount Nemrut summit access costs 100 TRY. The Museum Pass Istanbul covers major sites for 2,650 TRY valid for five days, breaking even at approximately four major sites. The Museum Pass Mediterranean (Antalya region) costs 1,500 TRY for seven days. The Museum Pass Aegean covers Ephesus and surrounding sites for 2,000 TRY for seven days. Göbekli Tepe near Şanlıurfa charges 250 TRY. Many smaller museums charge 75-200 TRY. Mosques including the Blue Mosque and Süleymaniye Mosque charge no admission but expect modest dress; rental scarves and coverings cost 20-40 TRY.
Guided tours and experiences span a wide range. A full-day group tour of Istanbul's major sites (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Grand Bazaar) costs 600-1,200 TRY per person, usually excluding entrance fees. Private full-day Istanbul guides charge 3,500-6,500 TRY for the guide service. Bosphorus cruise tours range from public ferries at 25 TRY for a basic route to private sunset cruises at 1,500-3,500 TRY per person with dinner. Hot air balloon flights over Cappadocia, the region's signature experience, cost 6,000-9,000 TRY per person for a one-hour standard flight with companies like Butterfly Balloons or Royal Balloon. Deluxe flights with smaller baskets and champagne reach 11,000-15,000 TRY. Flights operate nearly year-round but cancel frequently for wind conditions; April-May and September-October offer the most stable weather. A full-day guided tour of Cappadocia's valleys and underground cities costs 800-1,400 TRY per person in a group, 4,000-7,000 TRY for a private vehicle and guide. Paragliding from Babadağ Mountain over Ölüdeniz costs 1,800-2,500 TRY for a tandem flight with photos and video. Scuba diving in Kaş or Bodrum ranges 1,500-2,500 TRY for a two-tank dive. Multi-day gulet (traditional wooden yacht) cruises along the Turquoise Coast cost 1,800-4,500 TRY per person per day depending on boat quality and group size, including meals. Whirling dervish ceremonies at legitimate venues cost 300-600 TRY; tourist shows in restaurants run higher at 800-1,500 TRY with dinner.
Hamam (Turkish bath) experiences vary by authenticity and location. Historic hamams like Çemberlitaş Hamamı or Süleymaniye Hamamı in Istanbul charge 650-900 TRY for self-service bathing. Traditional scrub and foam massage services add 550-850 TRY. Full package experiences including massage reach 1,200-1,800 TRY. Tourist-oriented hamams in Sultanahmet charge 1,500-2,500 TRY for complete packages. Neighborhood hamams used by locals cost 150-300 TRY for entry and basic scrub. Antalya and Cappadocia hamams charge 600-1,200 TRY for tourist packages. Oil massages separate from hamam services cost 500-1,200 TRY for one hour at spas.
Shopping costs depend heavily on item type and bargaining ability. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar in Istanbul expect negotiation; quoted prices typically start 40-60 percent above intended sale prices. Turkish carpets range from 3,000 TRY for small machine-made pieces to 50,000+ TRY for antique or high-quality hand-knotted wool or silk carpets. Ceramic bowls and plates cost 150-600 TRY for decorative pieces, 80-200 TRY for functional ware. Turkish delight ranges 120-300 TRY per kilogram for quality lokum; tourist shop prices reach 400-600 TRY. Spices cost 60-150 TRY per 100 grams for saffron, 30-80 TRY for standard spices by weight. Leather jackets range 2,500-8,000 TRY in Grand Bazaar shops depending on leather quality and construction. Pashmina-style scarves cost 200-600 TRY. Evil eye (nazar boncuğu) trinkets cost 20-100 TRY. Turkish tea sets (glasses with holders) cost 300-800 TRY for six. Copperware trays and pots range 400-2,000 TRY. Modern shopping malls like Istinye Park or Zorlu Center in Istanbul carry international brands at prices comparable to European markets. Local clothing chains like LC Waikiki or Koton sell shirts for 250-600 TRY, pants for 400-900 TRY.
Activity costs in coastal areas follow seasonal patterns. Beach clubs in Bodrum or Çeşme charge 400-1,200 TRY per person for sunbed and umbrella rental with minimum food and beverage spending. Entry-only beach access where available costs 100-300 TRY. Boat trips from Bodrum to nearby bays cost 600-1,000 TRY per person for full-day trips with lunch. Water sports pricing includes jet ski rentals at 800-1,500 TRY per 15 minutes, parasailing at 1,200-1,800 TRY per ride, and paddleboard rentals at 300-500 TRY per hour. Scooter rentals in coastal towns cost 600-1,000 TRY per day. Bicycle rentals run 200-400 TRY daily.
Trekking and mountain activities in regions like the Kaçkar Mountains or Taurus Mountains require guide services for safety and route finding. Daily guide rates run 2,000-3,500 TRY for groups up to six people. Multi-day treks with camping support cost 4,500-8,000 TRY per person for three to five days, including food and camping equipment but not personal gear. The Lycian Way, a long-distance coastal trail, can be walked independently with pension accommodation ranging 400-800 TRY per night in trail-side villages. Ski resorts like Uludağ near Bursa or Erciyes near Kayseri charge 600-900 TRY for day lift passes; equipment rental adds 400-700 TRY. Ski season runs December through March depending on snowfall.
SIM cards and connectivity cost little. A tourist SIM card with 20-30 GB of data valid for one month costs 400-600 TRY from Turkcell, Vodafone, or Türk Telekom at airport kiosks or city shops. Registration requires passport presentation. Café and restaurant WiFi is nearly universal in tourist areas and cities. International roaming from European carriers often functions under roaming agreements, though travelers should verify specific plan coverage.