Build the Istanbul budget from four buckets: hotel, food, transport, and sightseeing. Exact prices should be dated, but the biggest tradeoffs are hotel area/season, paid attractions, taxi/private transfer use, and restaurant style.
Budget buckets
Do not start with one average number. Start with buckets: where you sleep, how you move, how many paid sights you enter, and how you eat.
For live publication, exact fares and tickets should be checked and dated. The page should make tradeoffs clear even when prices change.
Planning Choices
- Low-cost style
- Public transport, casual meals, selective paid sights. Best with a central or well-connected base.
- Mid-range style
- Balanced hotel, some paid sights, occasional taxi. Most flexible for first-time visitors.
- Comfort style
- Better hotel area, private transfers, nicer meals. Costs rise quickly with convenience.