Admission costs in Istanbul

When I was in Istanbul 2 years ago foreigners were chargad much higher entrance fees to the main Istanbul sites than the locals. However, I read quite a while ago the Turkish government removed the dual pricing and now the fees are supposed to be much lower. Is that true? Also, is it worth investing in ISIC card? Any special discounts for ISIC holders in Istanbul?

Thanks for your input,
bostjan

Most of the big sites said "no student discounts".

So what if they charge us more? I'm sure the average person in Istanbul earns less than I do. I didn't care less in Czech Republic or Ecuador...

& at 10 lira = £3.77 to get in to a big site well that's dirty cheap to me. So less whining please - I can't believe that the guidebook called it a "steep entry charge" - tight arses...

I travelled through Istanbul earlier this year with my Turkish partner - he paid 3 lira to get into the Cistern, while I paid 10 , but in Hagia Sophia there were no student or Turkish citizen discounts at all. Is the ISIC card and international student card? it might be helpful on some occasions, even to buy bus tickets - there will be signs in all the major sites on which discounts that are available and if in doubt, just ask when you're at the ticket gate

Thanks for quick answers!

#1

I just wanted to check whether the fees have dropped. Lower fees = visiting more sites, while higher fees = visiting less sites. That's all. Because paying 5 or 6 times 10 lira entrance fees isn't that economical anymore...

#2

Yep, ISIC = International Student Identity Card ;-)

For those who have visited Aya Sofya recently - has the interior already been restored? Two years ago the reconstruction was in full swing...

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>I just wanted to check whether the fees have dropped. Lower fees = visiting more sites, while higher fees = visiting less sites. That's all. Because paying 5 or 6 times 10 lira entrance fees isn't that economical anymore... <hr></blockquote> Either you are on one stupidly tight budget or from some very cheap country because even for 10 sites = £37 is dirt cheap compared to what you pay in most other countries. Anyway...

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>For those who have visited Aya Sofya recently - has the interior already been restored? Two years ago the reconstruction was in full swing...<hr></blockquote> It looks badly in need of repair to me. The centre of the dome has a giant building frame from floor to ceiling. Disappointing to not be able to take popper pics but we still spend around 2hrs in that amazing place...

Ria what's cheap to you may not be cheap to someone else, and calling someone a "tight arse" and "on a stupidly tight budget" and accusing them of being from a cheap country adds nothing positive to this forum. Get off your high horse and if you have nothing positive to add keep your comments to yourself.

Oh please, get of your own high horse. You would be entitled to your little nag if all I did was slate the OP but I've actually given information too. I have just come across too many tightarse backpackers that will do anything to save money with the result they don't actually seem to experience anything. I'm not saying OP is one of them but I can't think of many industrialised countries where £3.7 would be considered expensive.

Ah, well:

1. I've already visited some sites in Istanbul, which means I would decide to revisit them if the prices would be lower than 10 lira each.

2. 10 lira entrance fee is neither dirt cheap nor super expansive. It's somewhere in between, but certainly cheaper than Western Europe and especially London. Anyway, for the reference: the entrance fee for the world famous museum Prado, Madrid is 4 € (3 € if you're student). It's even free on Sundays. It's what I would call a bargain. On the other hand - Topkapi palace 2005 fees: 12 lira for the palace 8 (or 10 lira) for the jewelry 10 (?) for the harem = 30 lira. Is that dirt cheap? Yeah, if you work for example in London and than you can easily preach anyone how poor he is.

3. The daily budget strangely depends on how long do you plan to travel... 5 days? A month? Two months?

4. I made an inquiry about the admission fees and I didn't whine how unfair it is that I have to pay 2, 3 times more than the Turks.

5. You did answer my questions and I appreciate that. Thank you!

Enough said.

Have a nice day!

The Hagia Sophia still was having some reconstruction work earlier this year and it didn't look like it'd be finishing soon.

LOL! I've been visiting Istanbul off and on for 25 years and there has always been scaffolding inside the Aya Sofia... don't expect it to be gone any time soon!

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>LOL! I've been visiting Istanbul off and on for 25 years and there has always been scaffolding inside the Aya Sofia... don't expect it to be gone any time soon! <hr></blockquote>

Well, I saw some Hagia Sophia's pictures in various new books and it looked as if the interior was free of scaffolding. That's why I thought all the scaffolding might be only a recent addition...

My first visit to the Ayasofia was about 30 years ago and even back then it had the scaffolding inside. I have started to consider it part of the site.

Also, the state-sites no longer have different rates for locals and foreigners. I think when the rates were equalized they also lost the student discount. People who still paid 'foreign' rates this year were cheated by the staff.

Finally, I think people should keep their big trap closed concerning what is expensive or cheap according to . other people.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Well, I saw some Hagia Sophia's pictures in various new books and it looked as if the interior was free of scaffolding. That's why I thought all the scaffolding might be only a recent addition... <hr></blockquote> I've seen those too & there is an exhibition inside that shows it like that.

However we were there 3 weeks ago & there was giant scaffolding in the middle...

I just got back yesterday and the scaffolding is still there! BTW the entrance fee is a whopping 20 lira!! (more expensive than almost anything in Paris, even the first floor of the Eiffel Tower!