How Much Does a Family Trip to Turkey Cost? A Real Budget Breakdown
How much does a family trip to Turkey cost? See our real budget breakdown for a 14-day Turkey itinerary with flights, tours, hotels and activities.
EUROPETURKEY
3/8/20265 min read
Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission — at no additional cost to you. We only recommend hotels, tours, and experiences we’ve personally used and loved.
A Real Budget Breakdown for a Family of Three
One of the reasons Turkey is becoming such a popular destination for UK families is simple: it offers incredible variety without the price tag of many European holidays.
You can explore world-class historical sites, dramatic landscapes, vibrant cities and unique experiences — all within one trip.
But how much does a real family trip to Turkey actually cost?
To give a realistic picture, this guide breaks down the actual costs from our family trip to Turkey, travelling as two adults and one child during the August school holidays in 2024.
Our Turkey Route
Our trip followed one of the most popular travel routes for families visiting Turkey, combining cities, ancient history and some of the country’s most famous landscapes.
We travelled: Istanbul → Izmir / Ephesus → Pamukkale → Cappadocia → Istanbul
This route works particularly well for families because it mixes cultural sightseeing with memorable activities and varied scenery.
If you're planning a similar journey, you can read our full route here: The Ultimate Family Itinerary for Turkey (10–14 Days)
Our Turkey Trip Cost Overview
For our family of three, the core travel costs came to £6,369 This included our international flights from the UK, a multi-destination tour with accommodation, tours, flights and 9 meals across Turkey with internal flights and transfers included, plus five additional nights in Istanbul at the end of the trip.
That works out at roughly £2,123 per person. For a trip covering multiple destinations, internal flights, guided tours and organised logistics, this is still very competitive compared with many European package holidays during school holidays.
Flights to Turkey: £960 for Three
Flights are often the biggest variable when planning a trip. We flew from the UK with Wizz Air, and the total cost for our three return flights came to £960.94, which worked out at roughly £320 per person return. This price included checked luggage and administration fees.
Budget airlines can offer excellent value on routes to Turkey, but it’s worth remembering that extras such as luggage, seat selection and priority boarding can quickly increase the final price. Even so, flights to Turkey are often significantly cheaper than many Mediterranean destinations during peak summer travel periods.
Accommodation and Tour Cost: £3,765
The largest part of our trip cost was the tour and accommodation package, which came to £3,765.
This covered the main section of our journey through Turkey and included:
multiple hotel stays across several cities
internal flights within Turkey
airport transfers
guided tours at key historical sites
transport and logistics between destinations
For families travelling across several regions of Turkey, having the transport and itinerary organised in advance can make the trip much easier and less stressful.
If you're trying to decide whether a tour is worth it or whether to organise everything yourself, we explain the pros and cons in detail here: Turkey Tours vs DIY Travel for Families
Extra Hotel Nights in Istanbul
At the end of our tour we added five extra nights in Istanbul at the Ramada Silveri Hotel, which cost £426. This gave us the opportunity to explore the city at a slower pace before flying home. Adding a couple of extra nights at the end of a tour can be a good way to balance a structured itinerary with some independent exploration.
Cost Per Day
Looking at the trip in daily terms helps put the cost into perspective. For a trip lasting around 14 days, our total core travel cost works out at approximately: £368 per day for the whole family
or
£123 per person per day
That includes flights, accommodation, internal travel and transfers. Considering the number of destinations and experiences included, this represents excellent value compared with many summer package holidays in Europe.
Food Costs in Turkey for Families
Food in Turkey is generally very affordable, particularly when compared with Western Europe.
We found plenty of options for families, ranging from casual cafés to traditional restaurants.
Typical prices we saw were:
Street food snacks
Pretzels (simit): £1–£2
Corn on the cob: £1–£2
Ice cream: £2–£3
Casual meals
Kebabs or grilled meat dishes: £6–£12
Pizza or pasta: £7–£10
Kids meals: £5–£8
Restaurant meals
Family dinner with drinks: £30–£60
All our hotels included breakfast, which helps keep daily food spending relatively low. A realistic budget for food is £40–£70 per day for a family of three.
If you're wondering what children will actually eat in Turkey, we cover that in more detail here: Food in Turkey With Kids
Monument and Activity Costs
Many monument entry fees were included in the tour price, but we did pay for several additional experiences along the way.
One of the most fascinating historical sites in Istanbul is the Basilica Cistern, an enormous underground water reservoir built during the Byzantine period. Walking between the columns in the dim lighting makes it one of the most atmospheric places to visit in the city. Entry for our family cost around £50.
Read more: Visiting the Basilica Cistern with Kids
In Cappadocia, the most famous experience is a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the valleys and fairy chimneys. Watching the landscape slowly appear beneath hundreds of balloons is something we will never forget. Our family balloon flight cost £434.
Read more: Cappadocia Balloon Ride with Kids
If you don’t want to fly, you can still enjoy the spectacle by joining a balloon watching tour, which takes you to several viewpoints as the balloons launch at sunrise. This cost £20 and is a great option for families who prefer to stay on the ground.
Read more: Cappadocia Balloons vs Balloon ride
Another unexpected highlight was in Pamukkale, where we tried paragliding over the famous white travertine terraces. Seeing Pamukkale from the air was an incredible experience and surprisingly accessible for families. Our flight cost £180.
Read more: We Took Our Kids Paragliding Over Pamukkale
These experiences are optional, but they were some of the moments that made the trip particularly memorable.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is essential for family trips. We recommend comparing policies through Just Travel Cover, which searches multiple insurers and helps you find policies suitable for family travel. A typical policy costs around £50–£100 for a family depending on the level of cover.
Total Approximated Trip Cost
When you include food, activities and insurance, a realistic budget for a similar trip looks like this:
This keeps the overall price around £2,123 per person for a two week multi-destination family adventure across Turkey.
Is Turkey Good Value for Families?
In our experience, yes — very much so.
Turkey offers:
excellent hotels
warm weather for much of the year
fascinating history and culture
family-friendly attractions
good flight availability from the UK
lower daily costs than much of Western Europe
For families looking to balance adventure, culture and affordability, it can be one of the best destinations available.
Final Thoughts
A family trip to Turkey doesn’t have to be expensive.
With careful planning, budget flights and well-priced accommodation, it’s possible to enjoy a high-quality international trip for less than many standard European package holidays.
Our total trip cost came to just over £5,000 for a family of three before daily spending, delivering an unforgettable journey across multiple destinations.
If you’re planning a similar adventure, these guides will help you get started: