Since 2021, prices in Turkey have been, for want of a better word, dynamic.
They’ve been rising quickly since interest rate cuts led to a sharp fall in the lira and rapid price rises across the country.
Inflation officially peaked at around 85% in October 2022, and although it eased slightly through 2023 and 2024, it has remained high by European standards.
As a result, hotel rates and attraction entry fees have changed frequently, and many major tourist sites in places like Istanbul and Cappadocia now price in euros to protect against currency volatility.
I spent 2.5 weeks in Turkey in February 2026, and here are up to date prices.
All prices are for two people unless otherwise stated. This is a sample of spending, not a complete trip total, as some costs were paid on a different card.
Hotels
Accommodation costs varied depending on location and standard, with breakfast often included.
- One night at Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Pera cost £69.76 / 4,118 TL, including breakfast. Although marketed as five-star, the overall quality felt more mid-range. Take a look at it here, but the pictures are deceiving!
- Three nights at Amida Butik Hotel in Diyarbakır with breakfast cost £215.13/ 12,717 TL in total. Check it out here.
- In Dogubayzit, Tehran Boutique Hotel cost €74.70/ 3,843 TL, including breakfast. (We loved this hotel, check it out here!)
- Three nights at Hotel Kent Ani in Kars cost £120/ 7,072 TL, including breakfast. The property felt dated, but staff were extremely welcoming. Take a look at it here.
- Two nights at the five-star DoubleTree by Hilton Van cost £160/ 9,456 TL without breakfast. Breakfast was an additional £8 for two people on the final morning. See the hotel here.
Across the trip, mid-range hotels with breakfast generally ranged between £40/ 2,364 TL and £75/ 4,432 TL per night, depending on the location.
Transport
Long-distance transport is still quite affordable in Turkey.
Buses
A bus from Mardin to Diyarbakır cost £10.98 / 650 TL. The bus from Van to Diyarbakır cost £24/ 1,420 TL. A longer journey (a night bus!) from Cappadocia to Istanbul cost £35.24 / 2,060 TL.
Vans, or dolmuş, are cheaper still – we paid 150 TL or £2.54 per person for a 1.5 hour journey.
The Istanbul airport metro cost £7.45 for one person – I had to by an Istanbul card to use the airport metro, so this could hav been cheaper.
Trains
The 30-hour Eastern Express cost 855 TL/ £14.47 for a standard seat (one person) or 1,475 TL/ £24.96 for a couchette (one person).
Agent prices for couchettes were €36/ 1,863 TL per person, depending on age bracket. Standard pullman seats were €21/ 1,087 TL per person.
To travel together in a private four-berth couchette cabin, you must purchase all berths. In our case for the Eastern Express, one berth and one seat were booked as private cabins were unavailable.
For the sleeper train from Diyarbakır to Kayseri, a two-berth private cabin cost 1,595 TL/ £26.99 per person. An agent booking fee brought the total to €84/ 4,348 TL. Tickets were arranged through an agent called Amber Travel, which helped secure availability when they had sold out elsewhere.
A high-speed train from Istanbul to Ankara cost £15/ 886 TL per person, with an additional £5/ 295 TL per person for a first-class upgrade. The journey takes approximately 4 to 5 hours and felt comfortable and efficient.
Taxis for 15 to 20 minutes typically cost between £5.08/ 300 TL and £10.15/ 600 TL, depending on distance and negotiation.
A private transfer from Istanbul Airport to the Asian side of the city cost £40/ 2,363 TL.
Food and drink
Food costs varied sharply depending on location and style of venue.
A full Cappadocia breakfast for two cost £23.39 / 1,380 TL. A cheese-focused Turkish breakfast cost £18.61 / 1,100 TL. In Istanbul, a larger breakfast came to £29.64 / 1,750 TL. Breakfast in Van cost 800 TL.
Dinner for two consisting of pide, bread and dips cost £8.53 / 500 TL. A Georgian restaurant meal in Istanbul cost 2,285 TL / £47.15. An Indian restaurant in Cappadocia cost £26.69 / 1,574 TL.
Train food remained inexpensive. Two bowls of lentil soup and two teas cost £5.75 / 340 TL.
Groceries for train supplies including dates, spreads, crackers, chocolate and water cost £11.74 / 690 TL for one person.
Coffee prices varied significantly. Two coffees in Cappadocia cost £10.76 / 635 TL. Two coffees at Caribou Coffee in Ankara cost £6.38 / 375 TL. Espresso Lab in Istanbul cost £7.28 / 430 TL. A stop at Verona Café cost 385 TL / £6.50.
Alcohol prices were noticeably higher than food. A glass of wine cost £5.92/ 350 TL in Cappadocia and £6.77/ 400 TL in Istanbul. A pint of local beer in Kars cost £5.08/ 300 TL.
Overall, a simple local meal for two ranged between £8.46/ 500 TL and £25.39/ 1,500 TL, while international restaurants and alcohol pushed totals higher.
Activities and attractions
Entrance fees have increased sharply at major tourist sites, many of which now quote prices in euros.
Smaller museums and less touristy sites (including the fantastic Ani) typically ranged from €3/ 154.88 TL to €8/ 413 TL, usually paid in TL at the daily rate.
Major attractions were significantly higher. Göreme Open Air Museum cost €20/ 1,032 TL per person. Hagia Sophia cost €25/ 1,290 TL per person. Galata Tower cost €30/ 1,548 TL per person.
Private guides quoted around €500/ 25,810 TL for a full-day tour.
A group day tour covering Kars, Ani and Lake Çıldır cost £12.70/ 750 TL per person.
In Doğubayazıt, entry to Ishak Pasha Palace cost £10.16/ 600 TL, and visiting the Noah’s Ark site cost £20.32/ 1,200 TL.
A few hours in Van with an unofficial guide arranged through a hotel owner, including the cat sanctuary and Van Castle, cost £42.33/ 2,500 TL.
A return trip to Deyrulzafaran Monastery, including waiting time, cost £20.32/ 1,200 TL.
In Cappadocia, activity prices were charged per person. A hot air balloon flight cost €80/ 4,129 TL, a hammam scrub cost €55/ 2,839 TL, and a cooking class with evening meal included cost €70/ 3,613 TL.
Miscellaneous costs
Laundry in Diyarbakır cost £26/ 1,535 TL and proved more complicated to organise than in larger tourist centres.
A 10GB Airalo eSIM cost £13/ 767 TL for one person. I’d recommend downloading this before arriving in Turkey, as the airports usually don’t have free WiFi. You can browse Airalo SIM cards here.
Overall cost ranges
Mid-range accommodation averaged between £40/ 2362 TL and £75/ 4,429 TL per night.
Intercity buses ranged from £11/ 650 TL to £34.88/ 2,060 TL depending on distance.
Sleeper trains ranged from £14.48/ 855 TL to £27/ 1,595 TL per person, with agent fees typically between €26/ 1,342 TL and €36/ 1,858 TL per ticket, and in one case €84/ 4,335 total for a private booking.
Meals for two ranged from £9.69/ 500 TL for simple local food to £33.87/ 2,000 TL or more in higher-end or international venues. Coffee for two ranged between 375 TL/ £6.35 and 635 TL/ £10.75. A glass of wine ranged between 350 TL/ £5.93 and 400 TL/ £6.77, while a pint of beer cost around 300 TL/ £5.08.
Major tourist attractions now sit between €20/ 1,032 TL and €30/ 1,548 TL per person, with private guides quoted at around €500/ 25,803 TL per day – although they may be cheaper in less touristy areas.
FAQs about Turkey travel costs
Is Turkey still cheap to visit in 2026?
Local transport, regional hotels and traditional restaurants remain good value in TL. Major attractions priced in euros feel significantly more expensive than a few years ago. Alcohol and organised tours now sit closer to Western European prices.
Are trains cheaper than buses in Turkey?
Standard train seats can be very affordable, particularly on long routes. Sleeper cabins cost more and sell out quickly. Buses run more frequently on many routes and can be similarly priced depending on distance.
How much should you budget per day in Turkey?
For a mid-range trip staying in private rooms, using buses and trains, and eating a mix of local and casual restaurant food, budgeting between £50 and £100 per person per day is realistic. Adding premium activities such as balloon flights or private guides increases this considerably.
Are major attractions in Turkey priced in euros?
Many headline attractions now quote entry fees in euros, particularly in Istanbul and Cappadocia. Payment is usually taken in TL at the daily exchange rate. Smaller regional museums still charge lower fees, often equivalent to a few euros.
