Turkey travel budget planning starts with what can be verified. Ministry sights priced in euros run from 6 to 40 euros each, an İstanbulkart ride was 46.20 lira on 17 October 2026, and the Central Bank selling rate on 16 October 2026 was about 49.4 lira to the dollar. We give no daily total, because no official source publishes hotel or restaurant prices.

Last verified: 18 October 2026. Exchange rates come from the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT), inflation from TÜİK, sight prices from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Directorate of National Palaces, and the İstanbulkart fare from İBB. Every conversion below uses the CBRT selling rate of 16 October 2026. Prices change, so check the official page before you go.

The Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul lit up at sunset — The Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul at sunset.

Exchange rates and why lira prices go stale

The Central Bank published these rates for 16 October 2026, in Turkish lira.

Currency	Buying	Selling
US dollar	49.3573	49.4463
Euro	55.5179	55.6180
British pound	65.6633	66.0056

Source: CBRT indicative exchange rates, 16 October 2026.

Older guides that quote 33 to 35 lira to the dollar are out of date. Prices in lira also rise quickly. According to TÜİK figures released on 5 October 2026, consumer prices were 29.73 percent higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, and 1.84 percent higher than in August. The same release put annual increases at 27.62 percent for food and non-alcoholic drinks, 35.10 percent for transport and 39.99 percent for housing, water, electricity and gas. This is why the Ministry prices many sights in euros, and why a lira price from last year can be wrong today.

What the main sights cost

These are foreign visitor prices as listed by the Ministry and the National Palaces. Conversions are our own, at the CBRT selling rates above.

Sights priced in euros

Sight	Price	About in lira	About in dollars
Ephesus Archaeological Site (includes the Experience Museum)	40 euros	2,220 lira	45 dollars
Ephesus Terrace Houses	15 euros	830 lira	17 dollars
Ephesus Museum, Selçuk	10 euros	560 lira	11 dollars
Basilica of St John	6 euros	330 lira	7 dollars
Hierapolis and Pamukkale site	30 euros	1,670 lira	34 dollars
Hierapolis Archaeological Museum	30 euros	1,670 lira	34 dollars
Archaeological Site of Troy	27 euros	1,500 lira	30 dollars
Aphrodisias	12 euros	670 lira	13 dollars
Göreme archaeological site	20 euros	1,110 lira	22 dollars
Kaymaklı Underground City	13 euros	720 lira	15 dollars
Ihlara Valley	15 euros	830 lira	17 dollars
Göbeklitepe (also valid for Karahantepe)	20 euros	1,110 lira	22 dollars
Mount Nemrut	10 euros	560 lira	11 dollars
Sümela Monastery	20 euros	1,110 lira	22 dollars
Galata Tower, Istanbul	30 euros	1,670 lira	34 dollars
Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum, Istanbul	25 euros	1,390 lira	28 dollars
Alanya Castle	12 euros	670 lira	13 dollars

Sights priced in lira

Sight	Price	About in euros	About in dollars
Topkapı Palace combined (palace, Hagia Irene, Harem)	2,750 lira	49 euros	56 dollars
Topkapı Harem only	1,050 lira	19 euros	21 dollars
Hagia Irene only	1,050 lira	19 euros	21 dollars
Dolmabahçe (Selamlık, Harem, Painting Museum)	2,000 lira	36 euros	40 dollars
Dolmabahçe, Yıldız and European-side kiosks	2,750 lira	49 euros	56 dollars

The Hagia Sophia mosque has its own entry rules, and we could not confirm its fee on an official page.

Sample sightseeing totals by route

Adding sights adds up. These totals are our sums of the prices above and cover tickets only, not hotels, food or transport.

Route	Sights included	Total
Istanbul	Topkapı combined, Dolmabahçe, Galata Tower, Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum	4,750 lira plus 55 euros, about 7,810 lira, 140 euros or 158 dollars
Cappadocia	Göreme archaeological site, Kaymaklı, Ihlara Valley	48 euros, about 2,670 lira or 54 dollars
Aegean	Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Pamukkale	85 euros, about 4,730 lira or 96 dollars

A Cappadocia balloon flight is a separate cost. One reseller table in 2026 listed a standard shared flight at 150 to 180 euros per person. See our Cappadocia hot air balloon guide for prices, cancellations and what is included.

Roman architecture of the Library of Celsus at Ephesus under a blue sky — Roman architecture at Ephesus.

Getting around Istanbul

According to the İstanbulkart site of İBB, the card costs 165 lira, about 3.34 dollars, and a full single ride with an İstanbulkart was 46.20 lira on 17 October 2026, about 0.93 dollars. Contactless Mastercard, Troy and Visa cards can also be used, with the fare based on the single-use ticket price. Our getting around Turkey guide covers the rest.

Shoppers walking through a vaulted covered bazaar in Istanbul — A covered bazaar in Istanbul.

Costs we cannot verify

We found no official source for hotel, restaurant, intercity bus, flight, rental car or tour prices. We would rather say so than publish a range with no source, so this guide does not give a daily total.

The one official benchmark is spending. TÜİK reported that visitors who stayed overnight spent an average of 113 dollars per night in the second quarter of 2026, and citizens living abroad 79 dollars, according to press reports of the release. That figure covers all spending by visitors, not just accommodation, so it is not a hotel price.

Build your own Turkey travel budget

Use this table to build a budget from verified numbers and written quotes.

Cost	Where the number comes from	What to do
Sights	The tables above	Add up the sights on your route
Local transport in Istanbul	İBB fare, 46.20 lira per ride	Multiply by your rides
Accommodation	No official price source	Ask for written quotes for your dates
Food and drink	No official price source	Check menus and ask your operator or hotel
Intercity transport	No official price source	Compare quotes for your dates, see our Istanbul to Cappadocia guide
Tours and activities	Operator quotes	Ask what each quote includes
Extras and tips	Your own plan	Set aside a buffer

Seasonal price differences

We have no verified percentage for how much cheaper Turkey is in winter. Prices differ by town and operator, so ask for a quote for the same trip in two different months. Our best time to visit Turkey guide covers the weather and holidays that affect demand.

What is not ideal about budgeting for Turkey

Two currencies: many sights are priced in euros and others in lira, so the total moves with the exchange rate.
Fast price changes: lira prices rose 29.73 percent over the year to September 2026 according to TÜİK, so published prices go stale.
Unpublished costs: hotels, food and tours have no official price list, so you need quotes.
Averages mislead: the 113 dollar nightly figure is spending per visitor, not a price for a room.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need for Turkey?

We do not give a single daily figure because no official source publishes hotel and restaurant prices. Add up your sights from our tables, then add written quotes for lodging, food and transport. The statistics office reports average spending of 113 dollars per night for overnight visitors.

What is the exchange rate for the Turkish lira?

The Central Bank selling rates on 16 October 2026 were 49.4463 lira to the US dollar, 55.6180 to the euro and 66.0056 to the British pound. Rates change daily, so check the Central Bank or your bank before you convert money.

Are Turkish attractions priced in euros?

Many are. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism lists Ephesus at 40 euros, Pamukkale at 30 euros and Galata Tower at 30 euros. The National Palaces price Topkapı and Dolmabahçe in lira. Check the official page for each site, because prices and currencies can change.

Is Turkey cheap?

We cannot say from official sources alone. Sights are listed at 6 to 40 euros each in many cases, but hotel and restaurant prices have no official list. TÜİK reports 29.73 percent annual price inflation for September 2026, so lira prices change quickly.

How much is the Istanbulkart?

According to the İBB İstanbulkart site, the card costs 165 lira, and a full single ride with an İstanbulkart was 46.20 lira on 17 October 2026. Contactless Mastercard, Troy and Visa cards can also be used. Fares change, so check the official tariff.

Plan your Turkey trip with local operators

Ready to plan? Browse the Turkey operators directory and filter by region to compare operators. Ask each for a written quote that shows what is included. For currency and cards, see our Turkey money guide.

For what to see, read places to visit in Turkey, things to do in Istanbul and our itineraries guide. For where to sleep, see where to stay in Turkey. The wider Turkey travel guide lists all our planning guides.