Best things to do in Istanbul Turkey on a budget?

Question

What are some of the best things to do/visit in Istanbul that dont cost too much? Is there any cheap public transportation available?

Thanks guys!

Answer 1

All mosques are free and also have public toilets attached.

Public transport is great - buses, trams, metro and ferries are efficient and cheap (about 1 euro per trip).

Museums (including Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofia and the Basilica Cistern in Sultanahmet) charge about 10ytl (approx £4) but are well worth the experience.

Eating and drinking can be incredibly cheap if you are careful, you can get a basic meal for as little as 10ytl but be aware that the more foreign (ie less Turkish) the menu, the more expensive it is likely to be. This particularly applies to alcoholic drinks - local beer (Efes and Tuborg) is usually about 4ytl in modest establishments and Turkish Raki, gin and vodka are relatively cheap but imported spirits are extortionate and even Turkish wine is over-priced.

Walking around Istanbul is fascinating and costs you nothing except sore feet and a thirst!