How to Plan Weekend and Day Trips from Istanbul

Living in Istanbul is amazing for many reasons, and one reason is the easy and inexpensive traveling options to other cities! So I thought that today I could share with you some advice on how to plan weekend and day trips from Istanbul.

While I lived in Istanbul, I traveled to over 10 other countries, all while either studying or working full-time (and on a low budget).

Istanbul is close to many countries in Europe, as well as Asian and Middle Eastern destinations, which makes it easier for any student to visit many countries while living here.

Let's no wait any longer! Here you have some advice for planning the best day trips from Istanbul!

Travel with just a carry-on

Many of the cheap flights offer an even cheaper option if you don't take checked-luggage (Eco option on Pegasus). Save some money and enjoy traveling lighter! I traveled to Germany for a week one spring with only a backpack, and it was fun to rise to the challenge of packing economically and efficiently.

Check the best flight deals from Istanbul

Book flights from Pegasus. I signed up for the Fly Pegasus emails, and they have a deal almost every week that includes huge savings on their already-cheap flights. The flight I booked to Germany for my spring break was 50% off - making a round-trip flight less than $70! Choose your dates and destination early on, and keep an eye out so you can snag the cheap flight when the deal is released.

Besides flying Pegasus, I flew Atlas Global to London one November and enjoyed their free meals (be prepared to pack your own food on Pegasus) and great service. If you are having a hard time finding deals, check out Skyscanner.com to see if any other airlines are cheaper to your destination.

Choose to travel to inexpensive cities or countries

I traveled to Athens, Greece, with a friend for a 48 hour trip in June, and we loved how we could go to the beach, travel through local gardens, and tour the flea markets for an authentic but very inexpensive tour of a new country. You can read everything on my post "Athens - A weekend in the paradise of the Gods".

Bulgaria is also a cheap place to visit, as the food prices are very low (and you can take a bus to Bulgaria instead of flying, if you so wish).

Take advantage of visiting your other Erasmus friends

Grab a sleeping bag and enjoy free accommodation by "couch-surfing" among friends. This is a great way to save money and see new places, as well as visit your friends and see what their lives look like in other countries. One fall I traveled to London, which is a very expensive city, but I got a great deal on Atlas Global and slept on my friend's dorm-room floor. This made it possible for me to travel to this great city and plan the best side trips from Istanbul without getting into debt!

Book cheap accommodation with friends

Use sites as Hostelbookers or Hostelworld to get inexpensive accommodation when you can't find a friend's floor to sleep on. When traveling with a group of friends, see if splitting an apartment will be cheaper per person. When I took a trip to Nice with three other friends, we found that an apartment would be cheaper for us, and we enjoyed the cheap option of cooking in our place instead of eating-out for every meal.

Have breakfast and cook some meals in the place you stay

Buy breakfast items from the grocery store and eat at your apartment or hostel to save some cash. See if a hot water source or coffee pot is available, because buying coffee from a cafe every day really adds up. This is an easy and great way to really cut down on your spending and open up more money for excursions/admission tickets.

Take a free walking tour

Always see if a free walking tour is available at your destination. Even when figuring in a tip to pay to the guide, this is a high-value way to see the city and learn about the history! I've been to Cologne twice (both flying from Istanbul) and have taken the free walking tour both times. I learned so much and got to chat with other visitors to the city, which really enriched my visit.

I'm so thankful for the many places I was able to travel to from Istanbul without overspending my monthly income! The tips I give above were instrumental in making this happen. Enjoy studying abroad and traveling to new places!

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