How Much Spending Money for a Week in Turkey?

Wondering how much spending money do i need for a week in turkey? You’re not alone, and the answer is simpler than you might expect. How much spending money do you need for a week in Turkey? Turkey has become one of the best-value destinations for British holidaymakers — the lira’s weakness against the pound means your money stretches remarkably far, and the combination of beaches, history, food and hospitality is hard to beat. But “cheap” still needs a budget. Here’s what a week actually costs for spending money (excluding flights and hotel), whether you’re doing the resort thing in Antalya or exploring Istanbul.

The Short Answer

Per person, per week (excluding accommodation and flights):

• Budget: £150-250 (self-catering apartment, local restaurants, public beaches, minimal excursions)
• Mid-range: £250-450 (mix of eating out, a couple of excursions, some shopping)
• Comfortable: £450-700+ (restaurants nightly, boat trips, guided tours, generous shopping)

For a family of four, double the per-person figure roughly (kids cost less on food, more on ice cream — it balances out). Compare with our Spain family cost breakdown to see how Turkey stacks up — it’s typically 20-30% cheaper on the ground.

What Things Actually Cost in Turkey

Prices vary between tourist resorts (higher) and local areas (much lower), but roughly:

• Street food / local lokanta meal: £3-6 (a proper filling lunch)
• Mid-range restaurant dinner: £8-15 per person (with a drink)
• Tourist-area restaurant dinner: £15-25 per person
• Beer (local, e.g. Efes): £2-4 in a bar; wine and spirits cost more (alcohol taxes are high)
• Turkish tea/coffee: £0.50-1.50 — drink it constantly, it’s a highlight
• Beach sunbeds: Often free with a drink purchase; otherwise £3-8/day
• Taxi (short hop): £2-5 — agree the price or insist on the meter
• Dolmuş (shared minibus): £0.50-1.50 — the budget traveller’s best friend

Excursions: Budget for the Big Ones

Turkey’s excursions are the trip highlight for many — and the main budget variable:

• Boat trip (full day, lunch included): £15-30 per person — exceptional value
• Ephesus / Pamukkale day trips: £25-50 per person including transport and guide
• Hot air balloon, Cappadocia: £150-250 — the splurge, worth every penny if you’re going
• Turkish bath (hamam): £15-40 depending on luxury level — non-negotiable, do it in week one
• Water parks: £20-35 per person

Book excursions from local agents in resort (haggle politely — 20-30% off the first price is normal) rather than through your hotel or UK operator, where markups are steep. But keep receipts and check what’s included.

How Much Spending Money Do I Need for a Week in Turkey? The Practicalities

Currency: lira, and how to get it

Pay in Turkish lira — paying in pounds or euros in shops gets you a terrible rate. Get lira from ATMs in Turkey using a fee-free card (Chase, Starling, Monzo) for the best rate; avoid airport exchanges and hotel desks. Our currency exchange guide covers the card strategy in detail. Take some sterling as backup — it’s widely accepted for exchange at good rates in resort areas.

Tipping

10% in restaurants is appreciated (check if service is included), small change for hotel staff, and round up taxi fares. Tipping isn’t obligatory but it’s customary and noticed.

Haggling

Expected in bazaars and markets, not in restaurants or malls. Offer 60-70% of the asking price with a smile, meet in the middle, and walk away cheerfully if it doesn’t work — they’ll often call you back. It’s a game; play it good-naturedly.

Don’t Forget

• Travel insurance: Essential — and check it covers the activities you’re doing (water sports, quad biking often need add-ons). Our family travel insurance costs guide has the numbers.
• Visa: UK citizens don’t need a visa for tourist visits up to 90 days — just a passport valid for 150+ days beyond entry. Check gov.uk’s Turkey travel advice before you go.
• Roaming: Turkey is outside the EU — roaming charges apply on most UK networks. Get a local SIM or eSIM, or sort a bundle before departure (see our roaming guide).

A Sample 7-Day Turkey Itinerary (Antalya Base)

• Day 1: Arrive, settle in, evening stroll and first Turkish dinner. Hamam booking for tomorrow.
• Day 2: Morning hamam (go early in the trip — you’ll want to repeat it), afternoon beach, sunset harbour walk.
• Day 3: Boat trip day — full-day cruise with swim stops and lunch (£15-30, the week’s best value).
• Day 4: Old town exploration — Antalya’s Kaleiçi, Hadrian’s Gate, the bazaar (haggle!). Evening: rooftop restaurant.
• Day 5: Day trip — Perge and Aspendos ruins, or the Düden waterfalls. History without the crowds of Ephesus.
• Day 6: Beach/pool day, properly lazy. Evening market for souvenirs (last-day prices are best).
• Day 7: Slow morning, final swim, pack, one last baklava. Fly home smug.

Useful Turkish Phrases (Politeness Pays)

• Merhaba (mer-HA-ba) — hello
• Teşekkür ederim (tesh-ek-KOOR ed-er-IM) — thank you
• Ne kadar? (neh ka-DAR) — how much?
• Çok pahalı (chok pa-ha-LUH) — too expensive (said with a smile, the opening move in haggling)
• Lütfen (loot-FEN) — please

A few words of Turkish transform interactions — effort is noticed and rewarded with warmth (and occasionally better prices).

Quick Recap: Turkey Spending Money

• Budget per person: £250-450 for a comfortable week; less self-catering, more if excursion-happy.
• Pay in lira: Via a fee-free card at ATMs — never accept “pay in pounds.”
• Don’t miss: The hamam (week one), a full-day boat trip (£15-30), and haggling in the bazaar with a smile.
• Sort before you go: Travel insurance with activity cover, no-visa-needed passport check, and a roaming plan (Turkey is outside the EU).

The Takeaway

For a week in Turkey, budget £250-450 per person spending money for a comfortable trip — less if self-catering, more if you’re excursion-happy. Pay in lira via a fee-free card, haggle in the bazaars, do the hamam, and take the boat trip. Turkey remains one of the few places where a British family can holiday properly without the budget anxiety — enjoy every lira of it.