Not everybody who visits a beautiful place like Istanbul, has the money to stay at hotels, or afford a pricy staying place in general, with guided tours. Or maybe you just don’t like hotels, and you enjoy the aura of those cheaper, but sometimes friendlier accomodations, and the ridiculously nice people, who usually run those places. Either way, one thing is for sure, if you recognized yourself for any of those reasons, hostels are probably a good choice for you. But how do you choose the perfect one? Location is obviously an important factor, especially if you want to go on daily Istanbul tours.
You don’t want to spend your holiday going through the city every day, in order just to get to the location you wanted to visit. Another important factor is obviously the price. Price ranges are varying, but you can surely find one that’s affordable to you, and located just at the right spot for your plans. Let’s see some of the hostels that has a good reputation, going from the cheapest, towards higher, but probably still affordable prices.
Route 39: Located close to the city center, route 39 offers one of the lowest prices, you can get a dorm here for as low are 5-6 bucks for a night, and a private from 20 dollars starting. They have free wi-fi, free landry, and good security, and have and got a high rating for their facilities. They also got special deals for Erasmus Students. If you want to spend most of your time in the city center, or go on daily sightseeing tours, this might be a good choice for you.
Best Island Hostel: Located at a mere 1.9 km away from city centre, Best Island Hostel offers an affordable, friendly experience. It’s a place that your turkey tour operator should definitely mention to you. With its 3 floors, on each one with a studio flat, Best Island Hostel can welcome you, and your friends. Each flat consists a bed room, and they have an open kitchen with an oven, it also has split air conditioning. It offers dorms from 6-7 bucks, and privates for 15 dollars. It’s a cheap, and comfortable choice for budget travelers.
Soho Hostel Istanbul: Soho hostel Istanbul is located 2.4 km away from city centre. It is near the Taksim Square in Beyoglu, a popular local spot. It offers dorms from around 8-9 bucks, and privates for 20 dollars per night. It offers 24 hours security, games room, cable tv, 24 hours reception, parking, and postal services. It’s a good option for budget travelers, and with the spared money, you can hire an istanbul guide if you like, or spend it in bars, or restaurants that are only a walking distance away from this spot.
Green House – Taksim: Green House is a nice little restored house, built in traditional architectural. Security maybe not the greatest (still decent), but it’s at a good location, at Taksim, which is famous for its buzzing night life. It also offers free wi-fi, 24 hours reception, parking, and postal services. You can get a dorm room there for a night, for as low as 8-9 dollars. Privates start at around 15.
Magic Bus Istanbul: Magic Bus Istanbul with its 2.3 km distance from the city center, is in walking distance from the main sight seeings that no turkey tour could be complete without, and some of the best bars in Instanbul. You can have a dorm for about 10 dollars here, the privates start at 15 dollars. It offers 24 hour reception, vending machines, lockers, key card access, free wi-fi, elevator, and parking. Another good choice for the low-end budget travelers.
Mavi Gesthouse: Mavi Gesthouse is a friendly little guesthouse located in the Old City, in the heart of Istanbul. Most of the famous sights are in walking distance. The location is great, you have bus stations, airport shuttle stops, and even ferries stations in a close distance. Perfect base for anybody who has an Istanbul sightseeing day in their mind. The hostel offers dorms for around 12 dollars, and private rooms starting around 16 dollars per night. The place also offers currency exchange, free wi-fi, fax service, luggage storage, cafetaria, a kitchen, meeting room, and lockers. It is a good low-middle end option for tourists.
Stray Cat Hostel: Stray Cat Hostel is a comfortable, but still affordable, nice, medium priced hostel. It offers a great value for your money. It is 2.5 km away from the city center, it offers a great athmosphere, with great security. It is only ten minutes away from the best clubs and pubs. It offers 24 hour reception, bycicle parking, 24 hour security, air conditioning, free city maps, kitchen, safety deposit box, luggage storage, and tours travel desk. Its prices start at around 15 dollars for a dorm, and you can also have some private rooms for that price. It’s one of the better reviewed hostel in all of Istanbul, a huge bang for your buck.
Hush Hostel Lounge: Hush Hostel Lounge is located 5.8 km away from the city center, and it is supposedly ideal for travelers who are seeking the true spirit of Istanbul. It has great reviews, and it offers a hotel-like experience. If you want to have the best of both worlds (hotels, and hostels), this might be a good choice for you. You can get dorms here as low as 13-14 dollars, and privates starting from 16-17 bucks. For that price, they offer 24 hour reception, air condidioning, free wi-fi, luggage storage, house keeping, and free city maps. It’s a good choice for those who are on the budget, but still seek affordable comfort.
Cheers Midtown: Cheers Midtown is a cozy Hostel located in the heart of Istanbul. It is 1,7 km away from the city center, and you can have dorms for around 15 dollars, and privates for about 20. The place offers 24 hour reception, air conditioning, ATM, free wi-fi, luggage storage, parking, and even a pool table. It is a 10 minutes walk away from the famous Galata bridge that should be a part of any decent Istanbul guide book, and a must see of this beautiful city.
Kevin’s Hostel: Kevin’s Hostel is a little farther away from the city center, at a roughly 6 km distance. It offers 24 hour reception, air conditioning, airport transfers, luggage storage, lockers and key card access. It has nice, almost hotel like private rooms. Its dorms start at around 16 dollars, and the privates at around 40. It’s a good option for those like an almost hotel-like athmosphere for their private rooms.
Istanbul Harmony Hostel: Istanbul Harmony Hostel is located is located in the middle of the city, at a mere 1.2 km distance away from city center. It is one of the best rewieved hostel in Istanbul, with a good reputation. It is the perfect base to explore the city’s most famous sights, and be at walking distance from the best bars, pubs, and restaurants at the same time. The hostel offers 24 hour security, a bar, common room, lockers, elevator, free wi-fi, air conditioning, and safety deposit boxes starting at around 20 dollars for dorms, and 35 for the privates per night.
Metropolis Hostel: Metropolis Hostel is one of the best hostel in Istanbul for a budget traveller. It has six mixed bed dorms, double bed private rooms, 3 bed rooms, and even 4 bed private rooms if you want to find cheap accomodation for you and your friends. All that starting at 20 dollars for the dorms, and around 30 dollars for the privates. It offers great security, at possible the best location, and high quality service for the guests. It is possibly the best bang for your buck type of deal you will find in all of Istanbul. The Hostel is 10 minutes away from the Grand Bazaar, just 20 minutes away from the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, and it only takes 20 minutes from you, to get to the Asian side by a one of the historical boats. The Hostel offers the usual services, 24 hour security, air conditioning, airport transfers,but also has an outdoor terrace, parking, lockers, house keeping, free parking, a restaurant, games room, free city maps, and it has breakfast included deals as well. It is truly one of the best hostels in the city.
Old City Esma Hostel:
If you truly want a hotel like experience, Esma hostal is the place to go. In 1954, It was built by an architecht who belong to Italy, who also built the Hilton. This classical 50’s style celings, beautiful windows, circular stairs, wooden doors as well as small terrace in the middle of a spacious environment. It is 1.4 km away from the city center.The mentioned terrace offers an unbelieavable view, you can see the Hagia Sophia, and the Bosphorus from there. Sightseeing without going anywhere. Its prices start from 40 dollars. For that money, with the hotel-like experience, you get the usual services, like air conditioning, luggage storage, breakfast service, but on top of that, you also get extras like a 24 hours kitchen, 24 hours hot water, car rental, wake-up service, breakfast service at the above mentioned terrace, tours desk, and even cable/satelite tv. It is one of the better hostels in the city.
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