Best Ways to Explore Istanbul, Turkey, on a Budget

İstanbul, Turkey
Photo by Engin Yapici on Unsplash

Istanbul, Turkey, isn’t usually considered an expensive destination for tourists compared to some other world’s big cities. However, if your travel budget is thin and you are looking to spend as little as possible, there are ways to make your Istanbul visit even more budget-friendly.

Take Advantage of Free Wi-Fi

Istanbul offers free Wi-Fi access at most big squares and around popular tourist attractions. The speed might not be great, but you at least won’t have to invest in expensive mobile travel plans or buy local SIM cards. 

Get the Istanbulkart

Istanbul is much bigger than most people realize, so you will need to cover large distances to see everything you are interested in. The best and cheapest way to do so is by using Istanbul’s efficient public transportation. To do so, get the Istanbulkart, which is used to pay for rides and is valid for all types of transportation, including buses and subways.

Make Online Bookings and Ticket Purchases

You can buy tickets for the majority of tourist attractions online, and you should. Most of them offer discounts on admission fees with this type of purchase, and you can save yourself a significant amount of money if you plan to visit more of them.

Explore Free Tourists Attractions

There are plenty of tourist attractions in Istanbul that are completely free to enjoy. This includes museums, galleries, parks, and viewpoints. Also, some of the paying tourist attractions offer free admission on particular days, so make sure to do your research.