You love the idea of backpacking Turkey. But you’re thinking that it’s such an expensive undertaking that you would rather not even think of it. Right?
What if I told you could go backpacking in Turkey even if you’re on a tight budget? In this post, I share with you my frugal travelling tips for backpacking Istanbul, Turkey.
But before that, why should you travel to Istanbul?
Turkey is a land of many peculiar and beautiful attractions. From captivating archaeological sites to breathtaking landscapes, you can’t get bored. So, if you’re planning a holiday alone or with your family, the destinations are thrilling, fascinating and avail a rare opportunity to create authentic memories to last a lifetime.
Let’s get right into:
What’s the cost of visiting Turkey?
If you’re coming from countries that are more developed than Turkey, you’ll find that the cost of living there is nearly half of the western countries. There are accommodation and food varieties to fit any kind of budget you might be working with.
For instance, the daily budget for a lower backpacker is approximately $25 to $30. With that amount, you’re guaranteed to get groceries, a dorm bed and even some to visit several destinations.
Let’s look at some of the specifics you should bear in mind while planning a trip to Turkey while on budget.
Food: As I mentioned earlier, there nearly all types of food menus for any kind of budget. If you prefer to wine and dine in high-end restaurants or simply want to do with street food, the choice is all yours.
Transportation: if you’re on a tight budget, then you could consider using the public transportation system which is affordable. Depending on the distance you’re covering, you could spend as little as $1 per trip. Yes, you read that right, $1 per trip.
Another option is to use taxis whose rates are 0.5 euros per km then add on the start rates. Although a bit more expensive, the benefit of taxis is that they’re efficient and come with added comfort.
Accommodation: Since you’re working with a tight budget, you could consider going for hostels that range between $10-$15 per night. Alternatively, there are affordable hotels in Turkey although that will come at a slightly increased cost. Personally, I prefer this option as I’ve found it to be more comfortable and descent than the other alternatives.
The following are some of the expenses you can expect to incur. Dinner for one $5-$10, coffee $3, transport from the airport $2-$30, public transport $1-$2 per ride,hostel $10-$15, kebab $1-$2.
Other options to cut down on your expenses
The points I’ve shared above should give you a general direction of what you can expect in terms of daily expenses.
Next. I want to show you the things you can do while backpacking Turkey and still have the time of your life.
Here are your options:
Consider cooking for yourself: Cooking your own meals is way cheaper than going out into an eatery. Of course, it might mean spending some time performing related chores but at the end of the day, you end up saving more. So, head out to the market, shop for groceries and the food items you need to cook for yourself.
Here is another pro-tip. You can even take wit you packed food when going for your fun expeditions. That way, you won’t have to incur additional expenses. But if you’ve to eat out, you consider affordable delicacies like doner kebabs that will cost you a couple of dollars.
Haggle and haggle some more: You’re a tourist and the local shop owners have a perception that tourists come with truckloads of money ready to spend. You bet on it that the asking price isn’t the final one. If you show a bit of determination, the vendors will always come down a couple of notches so that you agree on a reasonable price. In most cases, quote a third of the price you’re given and work your way up.
Take with you a water bottle: Water is life and so you just can’t do without it. But here’s how you can work around it so that you’re not spending a lot buying bottle after bottle of water. Instead, have a sizable water bottle and refill it when you’re living for your expedition. Depending on the amount of water you drink per day, you may find that you’re hardly spending any cash on buying water. While out and about, you can ask the restaurants to refill the bottle for you, and in most cases, they’ll be more than happy to do so.
The balance between free-to-enter sites and paid ones: There are some tourist destinations in Turkey where you don’t have to pay a dime in order for you to be allowed in. Try and do a blend of both free-to-enter tourist attractions as well as those that require you to pay. You’ll end up spending a little less than when you prioritize to visit only those attractions sites that require you to pay.
Final Thoughts
Who said that travelling and seeing the world is only a privileged reserve of a few? Because in a real sense, it doesn’t have to be. In fact, it should never be that way. You can book Istanbul hotels at the affordable prices today and start preparing to experience Turkey in ways that will go down memory lane.
