Here’s a complete breakdown of costs per person for all the two weeks of our trip to Türkiye.
Where: İstanbul, İzmir, Çeşme, Kuşadası, Ephesus, Selçuk, Şirince, Pamukkale, Bodrum, Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Göreme, Uçhisar, Avanos, Kaymaklı, Çavuşin & Paşabağ.
Transport: Airlines, Bus, Taxi, Metro
When: For two weeks
Who: One backpacker
Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY)
Note: International flights in and out of Türkiye are NOT included in the costs.
All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate and based on the exchange rate at the time of publishing. Each cost is for one adult. The exchange rate at the time of publishing is assumed to be USD 1= TRY 1.80.
Initial Planning
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Visa upon arrival | $20 | Payable in cash in USD, EUR or GBP only. Turkish Liras are not accepted. |
| Pegasus Airlines | $34.20 | Flight from Istanbul (IST) to Izmir (ADB). TL 60 one way. |
| Turkish Airlines | $47 | Flight from Kayseri (ASR) to Istanbul (SAW). One way. |
| Total Costs | $101.20 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $101.20 | Per person |
Day 1 – Istanbul
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Istanbulkart top-up | TL 30 or $16.70 | To be used for all transportation for two days. |
| Aya Sofya | TL 25 or $13.90 | Entrance Fees |
| Aya Sofya Tour guide | TL 20 or $11.40 | Entrance fees. |
| Basilica Cistern | TL 10 or $5.60 | |
| Lunch at Garden restaurant | TL 23 or $12.80 | |
| Çemberlitas Hamam | €90 or $117 | One hour of massage & sauna |
| Dinner at Fish market | TL 132 or $73.30 | |
| Snacks & water | TL 10 or $5.60 | |
| Toilets | TL 3 or $1.70 | |
| Total Costs | $258 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $359.20 | Per person |
Day 2 – Istanbul
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Ferry from European side to Asian side & back | TL 10 or $5.60 | One way is TL 5. |
| Galata Tower | TL 10 or $5.60 | Entrance Fees |
| Topkapi Palace | TL 25 or $13.90 | Entrance fees. |
| Tour guide at Topkapi Palace | TL 20 or $11.10 | |
| Lunch at Sultanahmet neighborhood | TL 26 or $14.40 | |
| Dinner at Taksim Square | TL 18 or $10 | |
| Snacks & water | TL 10 or $5.60 | |
| Toilets | TL 3 or $1.70 | |
| Total Costs | $67.90 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $427.10 | Per person |
Day 3 – Izmir
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Train from airport to Halkapinar | TL 3.50 or $1.90 | Suburban train |
| Train from Halkapinar to Basmane | TL 3 or $1.70 | Metro |
| Güzel Izmir Oteli | $56 | Single room with bathroom, $28 a night. For two nights. |
| Lunch at Ezo Cafe | TL 16 or $8.90 | Single room with bathroom, $28 a night. For two nights. |
| Dinner & drinks at Alsancak | TL 48 or $26.70 | |
| Snacks & water | TL 5 or $2.80 | |
| Toilets | TL 2 or $1.10 | |
| Total Costs | $96.30 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $523.40 | Per person |
Day 4 – Çesme
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Bus from Izmir to Çesme & back | TL 14 or $7.80 | One way is TL 7. |
| Çesme Castle | TL 5 or $2.80 | Entrance fees |
| Snacks & water | TL 5 or $2.80 | |
| Lunch at Mado cafe | TL 16 or $8.90 | |
| Toilets | TL 2 or $1.10 | |
| Total Costs | $23.40 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $546.80 | Per person |
Day 5 – Izmir to Kusadasi
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Bus from Izmir to Kusadasi | TL 10 or $5.60 | One way is TL 10. |
| Lunch at Metin Usta Cafe | TL 10 or $5.60 | |
| Hotel Stella | €60 or $82 | €20 per night for a single bedroom with bathroom. For three nights. |
| Dinner at Damla Restaurant | TL 55 or $30.50 | |
| Snacks & water | TL 5 or $2.80 | |
| Toilets | TL 2 or $1.10 | |
| Total Costs | $147.60 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $694.40 | Per person |
Day 6 – Ephesus, Selçuk, Sirince
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Bus from Kusadasi to Ephesus & back | TL 10 or $5.60 | One way is TL 5. |
| Taxi from main road to Magnesia Gate | TL 20 or $11.10 | Lower gate to Magnesia gate. Standard rate. |
| Ephesus | TL 25 or $13.90 | Admission fees. |
| Coffee at Ephesus (Lower gate) | TL 6.50 or $3.60 | |
| Bus from Ephesus to Selçuk | TL 2.50 or $1.40 | One way is TL 2.50 |
| Bus from Selçuk to Sirince & back | TL 6 or $3.30 | One way is TL 3. |
| Basilica of St. John | TL 8 or $4.40 | Entrance fees. |
| Ephesus Museum | TL 8 or $4.40 | Entrance fees. |
| Souvenirs & postal stamp | TL 5 or $2.80 | Fridge magnet & postal stamp. |
| Snacks & water | TL 8.50 or $4.70 | |
| Toilets | TL 2 or $1.10 | |
| Total Costs | $56.30 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $750.70 | Per person |
Day 7 – Pamukkale
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Tour to Pamukkale | €45 or $62 | Includes transportation, entrance fees of TL 20, lunch and tour guide |
| Souvenirs | TL 3 or $1.70 | Fridge magnet |
| Coffee at Hierapolis Cafe | TL 5 or $2.80 | |
| Toilets | TL 2 or $1.10 | |
| Total Costs | $67.60 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $818.30 | Per person |
Day 8 – Kusadasi to Bodrum
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Taxi to Kusadasi otogar | TL 20 or $11.10 | One way |
| Souvenirs in Kusadasi | TL 3 or $1.70 | Fridge magnet |
| Bus from Kusadasi to Bodrum | TL 30 or $16.70 | By Aydin bus company, one way. |
| Bodrum Backpackers Hostel | TL 70 or $38.90 | For two nights. TL 35 per night for single bedroom |
| Lunch at Marina Bomonti cafe | TL 26 or $14.40 | |
| Mausoleum | TL 8 or $4.40 | Entrance fees |
| Snacks & Water | TL 5 or $2.80 | |
| Souvenirs in Bodrum | TL 3 or $1.70 | Fridge magnet |
| Bodrum Castle | TL 20 or $11.10 | Entrance fee for castle & museum |
| Dinner at Bodrum Backpackers | TL 10 or $5.60 | BBQ dinner |
| Toilets | TL 2 or $1.10 | |
| Total Costs | $109.50 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $927.80 | Per person |
Day 9 – Bodrum to Ölüdeniz
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Bus from Bodrum to Fethiye | TL 30 or $16.70 | Turkish breakfast |
| Bus from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz | TL 5 or $2.80 | One way in local bus |
| Oba Motel, Ölüdeniz | TL 300 or $166.70 | ‘Ocean Villa’ cottage for 3 nights. TL 100 per night, includes breakfast |
| Dinner at Oba Motel | TL 20 or $11.10 | |
| Snacks & water along the way | TL 15 or $8.30 | çay, chips, water, etc. |
| Toilets | TL 3 or $1.70 | |
| Total Costs | $207.30 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,135.10 | Per person |
Day 10 – Ölüdeniz, Kayaköy
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast | TL 10 or $5.50 | Turkish breakfast |
| Ölüdeniz Boat trip | TL 25 or $13.90 | Booked with Sky Sports |
| Butterfly Valley | TL 8 or $4.40 | Entrance fees to hike around |
| Coke on boat | TL 4 or $2.20 | Extra for drinks on the boat |
| Bus from Kayaköy to Ölüdeniz | TL 2 or $1.10 | Extra for drinks on the boat |
| Dinner at Cloud 9 restaurant | TL 26 or $14.40 | |
| Snacks & water along the way | TL 5 or $2.80 | çay, chips, water, etc. |
| Toilets | TL 2 or $1.10 | |
| Total Costs | $45.40 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,180.50 | Per person |
Day 11 – Ölüdeniz, Fethiye
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Ölüdeniz Paragliding | $180 | With Sky Sports |
| Ölüdeniz Paragliding photo & video CD | TL 120 or $66.60 | With Sky Sports |
| Bus from Ölüdeniz to Fethiye & back | TL 10 or $5.50 | One way costs TL 5 |
| Lunch at King’s Garden restaurant in Fethiye | TL 31 or $17.20 | |
| Snacks & water along the way | TL 5 or $2.80 | çay, chips, water, etc. |
| Toilets | TL 2 or $1.10 | |
| Total Costs | $273.20 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,453.70 | Per person |
Day 12 – Fethiye to Göreme
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast Sultanahmet Restaurant | TL 10 or $5.50 | Full English breakfast |
| Bus from Ölüdeniz to Fethiye | TL 5 or $2.80 | One way costs TL 5 |
| Bus from Fethiye to Göreme | TL 60 or $33.30 | One way costs TL 60 |
| Snacks & water along the way | TL 17 or $9.40 | çay, chips, water, etc. |
| Toilets | TL 6 or $3.30 | |
| Total Costs | $54.30 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,508.00 | Per person |
Day 13 – Göreme
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Lunch at Sedef Restaurant | $25 | See above |
| Göreme Open Air Museum | TL 15 or $8.30 | Entrance fees |
| El Nazar Kilise | TL 5 or $2.80 | Entrance fees |
| Shoestring Cave Hotel | €90 or $118 | €30 per night for a single bedroom with toilet. For 3 nights. |
| Snacks & water | TL 5 or $2.80 | |
| Dinner at Cappadocia Pide restaurant | TL 12 or $6.60 | |
| Total Costs | $163.50 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,671.50 | Per person |
Day 14 – Uçhisar, Avanos
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast in Avanos | TL 10 or $5.50 | Coffee with milk, eggs, bacon, toast etc. |
| Bus from Göreme to Avanos and back | TL 5 or $2.80 | One way costs TL 2.50 |
| Uçhisar Castle Entrance | TL 5 or $2.80 | |
| Bus from Göreme to Uçhisar and back | TL 5 or $2.80 | One way costs TL 2.50 |
| Lunch at Elai restaurant, Uçhisar | TL 42 or $23.30 | |
| Total Costs | $37.20 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,708.70 | Per person |
Day 15 – Kaymakli, Çavusin & Pasabag
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Coffee at Sultan Restaurant | TL 3 or $1.70 | Coffee with milk |
| Bus from Göreme to Nevsehir and back | TL 5 or $2.80 | One way costs TL 2.50 |
| Bus from Nevsehir to Kaymakli and back | TL 6 or $3.30 | One way costs TL 3 |
| Kaymakli Entrance | TL 15 or $8.30 | |
| Tour guide at Kaymakli | TL 40 or $22.20 | |
| Bus from Göreme to Çavusin | TL 2.50 or $1.30 | One way costs Tl 2.50 |
| Lunch | TL 6.50 or $3.60 | Kebab and çay at Cappadocia Kebab Center, Göreme |
| Çavusin Church | TL 8 or $4.40 | Entrance fees |
| Snacks & water | TL 7 or $3.90 | |
| Toilets | TL 2 or $1.10 | TL 1 per use |
| Total Costs | $52.60 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,761.30 | Per person |
Day 16 – Cappadocia to Istanbul
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast at Taksim Square | TL 10 or $5.50 | Full English breakfast |
| Bus from Sabiha Gökçen airport to Taksim Square | TL 13 or $7.20 | One way costs TL 13 |
| Bus from Taksim Square to Ataturk Airport | TL 10 or $5.50 | One way costs TL 10 |
| Toilets | TL 2 or $1.10 | |
| Total Costs | $19.30 | Per person |
| Miscellaneous | $200 | Things we may have missed |
| Overall Costs | $1,980.60 | Per person |