Currency, transport, domestic flights & daily costs in Istanbul
Planning a trip to Turkey—especially to Istanbul—has never been easier. Thanks to numerous direct flights from Italy, the country is now one of the most accessible and fascinating destinations for European travelers.
Turkish Airlines connects Istanbul Airport (IST) daily with major Italian cities such as Rome, Milan, Venice, Bologna, Naples, Bari, and Turin. Low-cost carriers like Pegasus Airlines and AJet (formerly AnadoluJet) also operate regular flights to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) from Bergamo, Bologna, Rome, and Naples, offering flexible and budget-friendly options.
But to travel smart and save money, it’s essential to understand a few practical aspects—from currency management to transportation, domestic flights, and common tourist pitfalls.
Turkish Lira: exchange, withdrawals & what to avoid
The official currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TRY). Exchange rates fluctuate, but in 2025 they generally remain very favorable for eurozone travelers.
⚠️ Important warning about ATMs
Avoid airport ATMs and private machines like Euronet: fees are extremely high and often unfair. For example, withdrawing 15,000 TRY (~€300) can cost up to €40 in fees.
✅ Safer alternatives
Use ATMs from reliable Turkish banks:
- Ziraat Bankası (state-owned, widely available)
- Halkbank and VakıfBank (state-owned, reliable)
- Türkiye İş Bankası (may charge ~3%)
- Garanti BBVA (higher fees, ~5% + DCC conversion risk)
These ATMs offer direct exchange (DCC), but the advice is: refuse the automatic conversion and always choose the local currency (TRY), letting your bank handle the exchange.
Public transport in Istanbul: efficient and smart
Istanbul has one of the most efficient urban transport systems in Europe and Asia, including metro, trams, buses, ferries, and funiculars.
The easiest way to use it?
Simply tap your contactless credit card at the turnstiles. Each ride costs around €0.86 (15 TRY).
No need for an Istanbulkart in most cases. We personally used a single Mastercard contactless card for all travelers without any issues.
Domestic flights in Turkey
Turkey is a vast country, and distances between destinations can be significant.
For example:
- Istanbul → Cappadocia (Göreme): ~750 km / 10+ hours by bus
- Istanbul → Izmir / Bodrum / Kusadasi: 7–10 hours by road
For short itineraries, flying is often the best option.
Major domestic carriers include:
- Pegasus Airlines
- SunExpress
- AJet
- Turkish Airlines
Istanbul airports:
- Istanbul Airport (IST): modern, international hub, main base for Turkish Airlines
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW): located on the Asian side, used mainly by low-cost airlines
Flights last around 1–1.5 hours, and if booked early, fares range from €30 to €70 per segment.
Private drivers and local guides
For us, comfort is not a luxury—it’s part of the travel experience. That’s why, when exploring Turkey, we chose to rely on private drivers for our longer transfers, and it genuinely made a difference in how we experienced the country.
Through a local operator (Anas Crecca Travel), everything was arranged with surprising ease and reliability. The journeys themselves became part of the trip, not just a way to move between destinations. For example, the transfer from Antalya to Pamukkale—almost three hours on the road—or from Pamukkale to Fethiye, about 2 hours and 40 minutes, were carried out in fully equipped luxury vans. Comfortable seats, air conditioning, minibar, and in some cases even onboard entertainment turned what could have been tiring drives into relaxed, scenic travel moments.
Equally important is the value of hiring local guides in Turkey. Beyond simply providing directions, they completely change the way you experience the country. A professional guide helps you navigate busy cities like Istanbul, suggests authentic restaurants away from tourist traps, and reveals hidden spots you would likely miss on your own. Most importantly, they add cultural and historical context, sharing stories, traditions, and insights that make each place far more meaningful.
In short, combining private transfers in Turkey with knowledgeable local guides is one of the best ways to travel efficiently, avoid stress, and enjoy a more authentic and immersive experience of the country.
Cost of living in Turkey: what to avoid in tourist areas
One of the first things we noticed while traveling through Turkey is that the cost of living can change dramatically depending on where you are. Outside the main tourist hubs, the country is still relatively affordable, but in the most visited areas—especially in Istanbul, Cappadocia, and popular coastal towns—prices can quickly rise and sometimes feel disproportionate to what you’re getting.
In tourist-heavy restaurants, it’s not unusual to see a dinner for four people reaching or even exceeding €150. These places often target international visitors with simplified menus and a quality that can be inconsistent. The experience isn’t necessarily bad, but it rarely reflects the more authentic and reasonably priced Turkish cuisine you can find just a few streets away.
What worked best for us was simply stepping outside the obvious tourist zones or following recommendations from local guides. In smaller neighborhood restaurants, the difference is striking: we’ve had full dinners for five people (including our guide) for around €25 in total, and the food was not only cheaper but also noticeably better and more genuine.
A similar dynamic applies to small street experiences, like Turkish ice cream (dondurma). In highly touristic areas such as Cappadocia, vendors often turn serving into a performance, which is fun at first but can significantly increase the price. It’s common to see tourists paying between 300 and 500 TRY (€10–15) for a single cone, especially in central locations.
We experienced this firsthand as well, paying 800 TRY for three cones without even getting the full show. The ice cream itself was good, but the price felt clearly inflated compared to local standards.
The key takeaway is simple: in Turkey, what to avoid in tourist areas are restaurants and experiences that feel overly curated for visitors. Asking prices in advance, moving a few streets away from main squares, and trusting local advice can make a huge difference—not only for your budget, but also for the authenticity of your trip.
Traditional Turkish food and street food in Istanbul
One of the most enjoyable parts of traveling through Turkey is discovering its incredibly rich traditional cuisine and street food culture, which is present everywhere—from small neighborhood eateries to bustling streets in Istanbul.
Classic Turkish dishes such as kebab, meze (a variety of small side dishes), soups, and sweets like the famous baklava are not only delicious but also surprisingly well prepared, even in the simplest local restaurants. One of the strengths of Turkish cuisine is exactly this: you don’t need a fancy place to eat well.
During our trip, one of the foods we enjoyed the most was Gözleme, a traditional Turkish flatbread made from a simple dough of flour, water, olive oil, and salt. It is rolled out thin, filled with different ingredients depending on taste, and cooked on a very hot iron griddle. The most common fillings include spinach and feta cheese, or cheese combined with pastrami (thinly sliced dried beef). Freshly made, it’s simple but incredibly satisfying—perfect for a quick meal on the go.
Street food in Turkey, especially in Istanbul, is a world of its own.
Walking through the city, you’ll constantly come across vendors selling: roasted corn, chestnuts (even in the middle of summer), and of course the iconic Simit.
Simit is a circular bread coated in sesame seeds that is often eaten for breakfast or as a quick snack throughout the day.
What makes street food in Istanbul so special is its accessibility and authenticity: it’s everywhere, it’s affordable, and it’s deeply connected to everyday local life. Eating on the street here isn’t just convenient—it’s part of the cultural experience itself.
Tipping culture in Turkey: when and how much to leave
Understanding the tipping culture in Turkey is useful to avoid confusion during your trip, especially in restaurants, hotels, and everyday services. While tipping is not mandatory, it is widely appreciated and, in some situations, subtly expected.
In restaurants—particularly in tourist areas or mid-to-high range venues—it is common practice to leave around 5–10% of the bill if the service has been good.
Some places already include a service charge, so it’s always worth checking the bill for terms like “servis” or “hizmet” before adding extra.
For taxis, tipping is not required, but rounding up the fare is a simple and appreciated gesture.
In public bathrooms, a small symbolic fee of around 5–10 TRY may be requested.
In hotels and similar services—such as porters, housekeeping, spa staff, or traditional hamam attendants—a tip between 20 and 50 TRY is generally considered appropriate, especially in higher-end establishments.
Tour guides are also commonly tipped at the end of a tour.
A typical range is 50–100 TRY per person, depending on the length of the experience and the quality of the service provided.
Overall, tipping in Turkey is not an obligation, but rather part of the local etiquette. Leaving a small gratuity when appropriate is a simple way to acknowledge good service and is often appreciated in return.
Travel documents for Turkey: what you need to know
Before traveling, it’s important to understand the basic entry requirements for Turkey, especially for European travelers.
For Italian citizens and most European nationalities, no visa is required for tourist stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Entry is granted with a valid passport or, in many cases, a valid national ID card. No additional permits are needed for short-term tourism.
One interesting aspect of Istanbul is that there are no internal border controls between the European and Asian sides of the city. Moving between the two is completely free and seamless, allowing travelers to explore both continents as part of the same urban experience.
That said, it is always recommended to check updated travel regulations before departure, especially if your trip extends beyond tourism or if rules change over time.
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