Hostels in Turkey

No matter if you just want to go on a city trip, a beach holiday or travel around the country for several weeks, Turkey is a great destination. Situated on the border of Europe and Asia, Turkey has something to offer to each kind of traveler.

For a long time, hostels in Turkey were scarce outside of Istanbul. Over the last few years, however, many new hostels have popped up all over the country. Most hostels can still be found in Istanbul and Cappadocia, but most other major destinations in Turkey have at least one hostel as well. As a rule of thumb: the farther east you travel, the fewer hostels are available. However, in most places with no hostels, there are most likely some other budget accommodations. Be sure to check in advance.

There is a big variety of hostels in Turkey and some of them are very unique. In Cappadocia you can find hostels that are built inside a cave. In Istanbul you can find many party hostels as well as more quiet hostels. It is wise to choose your Istanbul hostel by area, as Istanbul is a huge city and travel distances from one neighborhood to another can be long.

Istanbul is a great destination for a longer city trip. You can easily spend one week and still have the feeling that you only scratched the surface. Istanbul not only is home to many world famous sites, but also has many quarters with a nice vibe to drink a coffee or take a stroll down to the market.

Izmir is another big city on the west coast. It is not as popular as Istanbul, but is also a pleasant city to spend a few days. Bodrum and Antalya are other popular destinations on the west coast and tend to attract more visitors that are mostly interested in a beach holiday. Bodrum, however, does offer some historical sites as well.

Pamukkale and Ephesus are two major destinations in Turkey that tend to be visited as a day trip. It is possible, though, to stay for a night in the area as long as you find a hostel here. Cappadocia lies a bit further inland and is definitely too far for a day trip. Long distance buses can bring you there, or you may book a cheap flight. There are several hostels in the area that you can use as a base to visit Cappadocia.

The further east you travel in Turkey, the fewer tourists you will encounter. You can meet some more seasoned travelers though. Destinations in the east of Turkey include Trabzon, Gaziantep and Diyarbakir. Trabzon in the northeast of Turkey offers a different landscape than the rest of the country. Diyarbakir is a cultural city in the southeast of Turkey. As it is part of Kurdistan, you will certainly experience a different culture than in the rest of Turkey. The Diyarbakir locals are very warm and welcoming and their city is nice to walk around. However, as the situation in Kurdistan recently became less stable, it is wise to check the latest political situation before traveling to Diyarbakir and/or Kurdistan.

Turkey has something to offer to every kind of traveler. Now more than ever, you will be able to find hostels or budget accommodations almost everywhere in Turkey.

Handwritten by local expert for Turkey hostels Martin Straatman