With over 1 million tours provided, our guides are always being asked about the best ways to save money on popular attractions around the city.
In this post, we'll use details from our best guides regarding each of the passes available in Istanbul Turkey.
We'll also include advice from popular Istanbul travel groups on Facebook, to give you an idea of what locals and travelers think about these services.
There are a wide variety of tourist passes offered in Istanbul, each offering significant deals on entrance fees for popular activities throughout the city.
Before you make any decisions about which ones to buy, it’ll be important to understand how each service works in order to save as much money as possible.
The main difference between each pass is which attractions are included, but you can usually expect to find deals on admission to some of the following locations and tours:
- Galata Tower
- Topkapi Palace
- Basilica Cistern
- Bosphorus Cruise
- Grand Bazaar Tour
- Hagia Sophia Museums
- Popular museums (Madame Tussauds, Museum of Illusions, etc.)
- Outdoor activities (Zipline, Climbing Walls, Parkour, etc.)
- Public transport cards and airport transfers
- And more!
If you’re interested in any of these activities, chances are you’ll find a low cost pass below that will help you save money on skip-the-line tickets.
We’ll include tips for each service to help you find the right one for your needs, but first let’s take a look at the difference between each pass.
All-Inclusive Pass
This type of pass allows you to access a wide variety of top attractions and activities over the course of 1-10 days.
The more days your pass is active, the less you’ll pay per day, and the more likely it is you’ll be able to use it for everything you want.
These tend to be the most expensive tourist passes, but they also usually offer the best potential to save money.
Depending on how you use these passes, you could save 50% or more off general admission prices.
If you’re planning to fit as many activities as possible into each day of your trip to Istanbul, this will probably be the best type of pass for your needs.
The more attractions you visit, the more money you’ll save!
Prepackaged Pass
If you’re only interested in a few specific activities and you don’t want to get too carried away while visiting Istanbul, you might want to consider this type of pass.
Prepackaged passes provide admission to a predetermined set of attractions for one low price.
Although you won’t usually save as much money with a service like this, they often include deals of 10% - 20% off additional activities that aren’t included with the main pass.
This type of pass typically includes entry to historic attractions and museums, tours, and audio guides. You can also expect a cruise and even a public transport card!
Build Your Own Pass
This is a relatively uncommon type of pass nowadays, but there is at least one such service in Istanbul as of 2024.
A build your own pass is typically active for a much longer period than any other competitors, and it allows you to enjoy a specific concession on every attraction you choose.
Although the concession provided by these passes is typically capped at around 20%, at least you’ll only have to pay for the activities you actually want to enjoy.
This might not be the best option for every traveler, but it’s definitely worth considering if you’re trying to save some money while visiting Istanbul.
Museum Pass
As the name implies, this type of pass covers the cost of admission for a wide range of museums located all over Istanbul for one flat price. This is one of the more affordable tourist passes in the city.
Unfortunately, this service does not include any tours, cruises, or other activities you will find on other tourist passes.
If all you want is to see the best museums in the city, this is an excellent option. However, if you’re interested in doing a bit more than that, you might want to consider something else.
Thankfully, some of the other passes on our list actually include the Istanbul Museum Pass at no additional cost!
Free Pass
You might be shocked to find that there is actually a free tourist pass in Istanbul. Before you get too excited, it should be noted that this service does not include free admission to any notable attractions; instead, this pass offers deals on a wide variety of activities.
This service offers up to 30% off at a variety of shops, restaurants, and other businesses. If you’re interested in saving money without spending any money upfront, this is going to be your best bet.
All-Inclusive Passes
There are currently at least two all-inclusive pass options in Istanbul, and they each include admission to dozens of attractions over the course of multiple days for one low price.
Istanbul Tourist Pass
This pass covers the cost of admission for over 85 popular attractions, tours, and other services throughout the city.
The pass is available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 days, and they advertise that you can save up to 80%.
It’s more likely that you’ll save closer to 50% off, but it’s definitely possible to save even more.
Here are just a handful of the most notable activities included with the Istanbul Tourist Pass:
- Hagia Sophia
- Galata Tower
- Topkapi Palace
- Basilica Cistern
- Whirling Dervishes
- Madame Tussauds
- SEALIFE Aquarium
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
- Sapphire Observation Deck
- LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
- Grand Bazaar Tour
- Safari Theme Park
- And more!
In addition to these attractions, this pass also includes deals on special services such as a mobile hotspot and an unlimited public transportation card.
An airport shuttle is provided at no extra cost, but they also offer a concessionary private transfer if you don’t feel like getting on a coach.
Another thing worth noting about the Istanbul Tourist Pass is that it covers the cost of several outdoor activities for free, including the following examples:
- Ziplines
- Climbing Walls
- Carousel & Ferris Wheel
- Mini Football Experience
- Adventurous Ropes Parkour
- And more!
Here are the prices you can expect to pay for each pass based on the length of its duration:
- 1-Day Pass: €120/Adults | €90/Children
- 2-Day Pass: €150/Adults | €115/Children
- Price per Day: €75/Adults | €57.50/Children
- 3-Day Pass: €180/Adults | €140/Children
- Price per Day: €60/Adults | €46.66/Children
- 4-Day Pass: €195/Adults | €150/Children
- Price per Day: €48.75/Adults | €37.50/Children
- 5-Day Pass: €210/Adults | €165/Children
- Price per Day: €42/Adults | €33/Children
- 7-Day Pass: €235/Adults | €180/Children
- Price per Day: €33.57/Adults | €25.71/Children
- 10-Day Pass: €260/Adults | €195/Children
- Price per Day: €26/Adults | €19.50/Children
Purchase the Istanbul Tourist Pass or learn more.
Things to Consider
As you can see, the lowest price per day is with the 10-day pass, at just €26 for Adults and €19.50 for Children. Many of the attractions included are between €20-€40, but it should be noted that there are also a lot of activities that usually cost less than €10.
Although it would certainly be easy to save a lot of money using a 10-day pass, even if you choose a much shorter option, you can still get a great deal. Here’s a sample itinerary for a 3-day pass to show you what we mean:
Day 1
- Topkapi Palace Guided Tour | €46
- Madame Tussauds | €18
- Hagia Sophia History & Experience Museum | €25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise | €70
Day 2
- Istanbul Segway Tour | €50
- SEALIFE Aquarium | €20
- Spice Bazaar Audio Guide | €10
- Whirling Dervishes Show | €40
Day 3
- Sapphire Observation Deck | €10
- Basilica Cistern Guided Tour | €29
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center | €20
- VR Helicopter - Flyride Adventure | €19
Total Price: €180
Total Value: €357
Total Savings: €177 (50% off)
You might not save as much as they advertise, but even if you only use the pass for a few activities each day, this example shows how it’s possible to save close to 50% off general admission prices.
That saving doesn’t even include the additional concessions offered with the pass, and when you factor those deals into the value, chances are you’ll end up saving much more than half off.
If you still don't feel you saved enough to make the pass worth it, they will work with you to provide an adequate refund. In addition to that, you can also get full refunds up to 3 days before the pass is activated.
The Istanbul Tourist Pass provides access to a very diverse collection of tours, museums, historic sites, outdoor activities, cruises, and family-friendly attractions.
Furthermore, you can use this service in full via the Istanbul Tourist Pass app when you download it onto your mobile phone.
This would be an excellent option for anyone planning to stay in Istanbul for over a week, and it’s especially good for anyone who wants to fill each day with as many fun things to do as possible.
Istanbul e-Pass
Although this all-inclusive pass is similar to others, there are a few notable differences.
The e-Pass provides concessionary admission for over 60 fun activities and attractions, and it’s valid for 2, 3, 5, or 7 consecutive days.
Most of the notable tours, museums, and historical locations included with this service are the same that you will find on almost every other pass in Istanbul, including top favorites like the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower, Basilica Cistern, and more.
Here are some of the other popular attractions included with the Istanbul e-Pass:
- Istanbul Aquarium Florya
- Dolmabahce Palace Guided Tour
- Spice Bazaar Guided Tour
- Istanbul Cinema Museum
- Rustem Pasha Mosque Tour
- Blue Mosque Guided Tour
- Hippodrome of Constantinople Tour
- LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
- Hagia Irene Museum
- Bosphorus Boat Tour
- Madame Tussauds
- Serefiye Cistern
- And more!
In addition to these activities, this pass also offers free and low cost day trips from Istanbul to notable nearby locations such as the following:
- Troy
- Bursa
- Gallipoli
- Pamukkale
- Cappadocia
- Sile & Agva
- Western Turkey
- Sapanca Lake and Masukiye
- Ephesus & Virgin Mary House
- And more!
To be fair, many of these day trips are also included with other tourist passes in Istanbul, so this isn’t necessarily unique to the e-Pass.
Even so, it’s worth noting that if you want to do some sightseeing outside of the city center, there are plenty of options provided by this service.
Here are the current prices for the Istanbul e-Pass:
- 2-Day Pass: €139/Adults | €115/Children
- Price per Day: €69.50/Adults | €57.50/Children
- 3-Day Pass: €164/Adults | €140/Children
- Price per Day: €54.66/Adults | €46.66/Children
- 5-Day Pass: €194/Adults | €165/Children
- Price per Day: €38.80/Adults | €33/Children
- 7-Day Pass: €214/Adults | €180/Children
- Price per Day: €30.57/Adults | €25.71/Children
Purchase the Istanbul e-Pass or learn more.
Things to Consider
Prices for this service are much more affordable than other all-inclusive passes, and it includes most of the same attractions.
Unless there’s something special that only their competitors offer, we recommend this pass if you want to save more money.
The biggest difference between this pass and its competitors is that it doesn’t include as many outdoor activities.
If you’re interested in things like wall climbing or ziplines, you’ll want to pick a different pass.
In addition to that factor, although the Istanbul e-Pass does include deals on popular services such as a private airport transfer and mobile hotspot, it doesn’t have as many extra concessions as you will find on other passes.
That said, here’s a sample itinerary to show how big of a concessions you can get using the 3-day pass:
Day 1
- Topkapi Palace w/ Audio Guide | €47
- Hagia Sophia (Outer Visit) | €14
- Istanbul Aquarium Florya | €21
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise | €35
Day 2
- Dolmabahce Palace Guided Tour | €38
- Dolmabahce Palace Harem Section | €10
- Madame Tussauds | €24
- Whirling Dervishes Show | €20
Day 3
- Serefiye Cistern Guided Tour | €15
- Basilica Cistern Guided Tour | €26
- LEGOLAND Discovery Centre | €24
- Sapphire Observation Deck | €15
Total Price: €164
Total Value: €289
Total Savings: €125 (43% off)
As with other all-inclusive services, the best way to save the most money is to get the pass with the longest duration and lowest price per day.
At around €30 per day, you’d only have to use the Istanbul e-Pass for 2-3 activities each day to get the best possible deal.
We recommend this pass for anyone who wants to pay less upfront and still enjoy access to a lot of the same attractions that their competitors offer.
That said, this service does not include a public transport card and it’s missing a lot of the extra deals provided by other all-inclusive passes in Istanbul.
If you’re interested in those extras, you might want to consider another option on our list.
Istanbul TriPass
This all-inclusive pass works much the same way as others in Istanbul, offering a wide range of services over the course of 3 or 5 days for one low price.
Depending on the duration of your pass, you can expect to save up to 75% off general admission prices.
What makes the Istanbul TriPass stand out from the rest is that it includes a lot of attractions you won’t find on any other pass.
Like other all-inclusive options, it also comes with multiple deals on popular services like mobile hotspots and car rentals.
If this tourist pass has any flaws, it’s the fact that it doesn’t have as much variety as other passes, providing access to just over 30 attractions.
Of course, you can still expect admission to the big historic sites such as Topkapi Palace and Galata Tower, but you might notice a few activities missing that are present on other passes.
Here’s a short list of some of the more noteworthy activities that aren’t offered by any other all-inclusive pass:
- Vialand Theme Park
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
- Derinkuyu Underground City
- Nevsehir Goreme Archeological Site
- The Basilica of St. John and Ayasuluk Castle
- And more!
In addition to these attractions, this pass also includes the following interesting deals:
- 50% off Car Rental
- 10% off at Network (Clothing store)
- 10% off at Divarese (Clothing store)
- 10% off at Derimod (Clothing store)
- 20% off at ARIS Diamond Jewelers
- And more!
Here are the prices you can expect to pay for the Istanbul TriPass:
- 3-Day Pass: €119 per person
- Price per day: €39.67
- 5-Day Pass: €179 per person
- Price per day: €35.80
Purchase the Istanbul TriPass or learn more.
Things to Consider
Although this pass doesn’t provide access to nearly as many attractions as other all-inclusive services, it does include admission to at least a few tours and historic locations that their competitors don’t offer.
If you’re interested in a bus tour or perhaps your family wants to visit the Vialand Theme Park, this is an excellent way to save money on dozens of popular activities.
Here is a sample itinerary to show how much money you can save with this all-inclusive pass:
Day 1
- Izmir Ephesus Ancient City | €55
- Derinkuyu Underground City | €20
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise | €50
Day 2
- Sapanca & Masukiye Day Trip | €35
- Whirling Dervish Show | €30
Day 3
- Galata Tower | €31.75
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour | €45
- Flyzone | €10
Total Price: €119
Total Value: €277
Total Savings: €158 (57% off)
As you can see, it’s actually a lot easier to save more than 57% off using the Istanbul TriPass than it is with other all-inclusive passes.
Even though there aren’t as many things to do, the services they do provide are often more valuable, so you end up enjoying a larger concession as a result.
This is a great option for anyone who wants an all-inclusive pass but isn’t confident in their ability to take full advantage of it.
With fewer included activities that are more valuable, you can save a lot of money without worrying about how much time you’re spending at each location.
Prepackaged Passes
At the moment, there are three prepackaged passes in Istanbul, and they offer a specific set of attractions that you can visit over the course of 5, 7, or 30 days.
Unlike all-inclusive passes, it’s not really possible to save more money by fitting as many activities as possible into each day.
Istanbul Welcome Card
This company currently offers two different cards valid for either 5 or 7 days. The 7-day pass actually doesn’t include as much as the 5-day option, and it costs less because of that.
If you want to take your time visiting some of the most notable attractions in Istanbul, this tourist pass is an excellent choice.
In addition to covering admission to most of the popular historic sites, this service also includes a public transport card (bus, tram, metro) and multiple tours.
Here are the activities included with both the 5 and 7-day Istanbul Welcome Card, as well as the prices for each option:
Deluxe Card (5 Days)
- Topkapi Palace Guided Tour
- Basilica Cistern Guided Tour
- Hagia Sophia Guided Tour
- Grand Bazaar and Spice Market Tour
- Bosphorus Cruise & Audio Guide
- Museum Pass (entry to 13 museums)
- 20-Ticket Public Transportation Card
- 20% off Additional Activities
- €171 per person
Premium Card (7 Days)
- Topkapi Palace Guided Tour
- Basilica Cistern Guided Tour
- Hagia Sophia Guided Tour
- Grand Bazaar and Spice Market Tour
- Bosphorus Cruise & Audio Guide
- 10-Ticket Public Transportation Card
- 20% off Additional Activities
- €91 per person
The extra 20% off promo code is valid for a variety of attractions and services, including the following examples:
- Airport Transfers
- Whirling Dervish Show
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
- Luxury Yacht Tour
- Princes’ Island Ferry
- And more!
Purchase the Istanbul Welcome Card or learn more.
Things to Consider
Although these passes are somewhat limited, they’re still a relatively good deal for travelers who are focused primarily on sightseeing.
If you want to visit attractions like LEGOLAND or Madame Tussauds, you’ll probably need to consider another pass.
That said, one of the nicest things about this pass is that it provides an extra 20% concession for additional activities, which essentially means that the amount you can save using the Istanbul Welcome Card is not limited to the services included.
The Deluxe Card offers more value than the Premium Card, and we recommend it to those who want to get the best deal.
Even so, the Premium Card is still excellent for anyone who wants to go sightseeing in Istanbul at their own pace.
TriPass Basic
This prepackaged pass covers fewer noteworthy attractions than almost any other service in Istanbul.
Even so, if you really want to take your time exploring the city, you might still want to consider the TriPass Basic, because it’s valid for 30 days.
The following activities and deals are included with this pass:
- Galata Tower
- Bosphorus Cruise
- Whirling Dervish Show
- Sabanci Museum
- 50% off Car Rental
- 7.5% off at Boyner
- 10% off at Kiğılı
As you can see, this tourist pass is a bit anemic.
Thankfully, it’s pretty well-priced at just €49.90 per person.
Purchase the TriPass Basic or learn more.
Things to Consider
Although you can save some money with this pass, chances are you’ll save a lot more with one of the other services offered by TriPass (all-inclusive, build your own).
Using their build-your-own pass as an example, if you were to use it to get tickets for each of the activities included with their basic pass, you’d only pay €48.75.
It’s also worth noting that their free pass includes many of the deals that are offered with the TriPass Basic, and that pass has no expiration date.
In other words, you could technically pay less by using a combination of two other passes that are both offered by this same company.
Keep these details in mind as you make a decision about which tourist pass to purchase.
Unlike the TriPass Basic, this pass is actually valid for a total of 60 days, and it allows you to pick only the attractions you want to visit.
The deals offered by this service are much lower than their competitors, as they are capped at just 25% off at most.
Although you won’t save a lot of money with this type of pass, it does provide concessionary rates for a wide range of activities, including the following:
- Topkapi Palace Tour
- Sapphire Observation Deck
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
- Whirling Dervish Show
- Vialand Theme Park
- Istanbul Aquarium
- Galata Tower
- And more!
One notable activity included with this pass that you won’t find anywhere else is a Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour.
You’ll have to pay almost €200 for this, but at least you won’t pay the full price!
There is no official price for this type of tourist pass because the final price depends on how many activities you choose and how much they cost with their respective concessions.
Things to Consider
This is a pass that you might actually want to use in combination with others.
If you’re interested in one of the other Istanbul tourist pass options, but it doesn’t include every activity you want to enjoy, this is a great way to save money on any additional activities of interest.
You’ll also pay less for this pass than some of the others on our list, and it’s nice to have total control over which attractions you will have an opportunity to visit.
The basic Istanbul museum pass includes admission to 13 museums for one low price.
As with most other passes in the city, this one also provides access to some of the most notable attractions.
This service is valid for 5 days, so you’ll want to visit at least 2-3 museums each day if you want to fit all of them into your trip.
Here’s the full list of museums you can visit with this service:
- Galata Tower
- Yıldız Palace
- Topkapi Palace
- Fethiye Museum
- Rumeli Fortress Museum
- Great Palace Mosaic Museum
- Galata Mevlevi Lodge Museum
- Hagia Irene Monument Museum
- Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
- Istanbul Archaeological Museums
- Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology
As of 2024, the price for this pass is 3600 Turkish Lira (around €105).
Purchase the Istanbul Museum Pass or learn more.
In addition to the basic service, there is also an Istanbul Guided Museum Pass. This option is also valid for 5 days, and it includes guided tours of each museum included.
Here are the locations you’ll be able to visit with this version of the pass:
- Blue Mosque
- Hagia Sophia
- Grand Bazaar
- Topkapi Palace
- Basilica Cistern
- Dolmabahce Palace Museum
- Istanbul Archaeological Museums
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Prices are €197 for adults and €187 for children.
Purchase the Istanbul Guided Museum Pass or learn more.
Things to Consider
The Museum Pass is included with some of the all-inclusive and prepackaged passes, so you actually don’t have to purchase it separately if you’re already planning to purchase one of those services.
Even the Istanbul Guided Museum Pass is technically included with the Istanbul Tourist Pass, as they offer the exact same guided tours at the same locations.
While you could purchase this separately, we recommend considering one of the other passes that include the Museum Pass at no additional cost.
Free Istanbul Tourist Pass | TriPass Lite
Yes, technically there is a tourist pass in Istanbul that won’t cost you anything.
It doesn’t provide free admission to any attractions, but it does have a lot of deals at popular stores, restaurants, and other locations.
Here is a short list of the most impressive deals you can get for free with TriPass Lite:
- 10% off at Kiğılı
- 7.5% off at Boyner
- 10% off at Network
- 10% off at Derimod
- 10% off at Divarese
- 50% off Car Rentals
- 15% off Mobile Hotspot
- 20% off at English Home
- 20% off ARIS Diamond Jeweler
You’ll also be able to get concessionary rates at the following attractions:
- Pera Museum
- Sabanci Museum
- Rahmi M. Koç Museum
As you can see, this pass is pretty limited, but that’s to be expected with a service that is entirely free to use.
If you can’t afford any of the passes, this will at least give you an opportunity to save money on shopping, activities, and even a car rental.
Things to Consider
Many of the deals included with this pass are also available on every TriPass at no extra cost, and you’ll also find similar deals offered by their competitors.
If you’re already planning to get another tourist pass, you probably won’t need this. Even so, it’s still going to be useful for a lot of people.
Two standout deals are the car rental and the mobile hotspot. If you’re planning to do any work while in Istanbul, it’s likely you’ll need a hotspot at some point, and this is a free deal to help you save money on the service.
Similarly, if you’re interested in a day trip from Istanbul, the car rental deal would certainly come in handy.
This deal isn’t offered by every competitor, so it’s nice to know you can get it for free!
Is an Istanbul Tourist Pass Worth It?
The answer to this question ultimately depends upon a variety of factors including how much time you have in Istanbul, how many activities you want to enjoy, and other details.
We'll be honest: a tourist pass is not going to be the best option for everyone. That said, there are plenty of travelers who would absolutely benefit from using one of these services.
Here are a few examples of visitors who will likely get the most out of a pass:
- Travelers w/ long stays
- Both couples and families
- Tourists who want to see 3-4 attractions per day
- Anyone who enjoys a lot of the included activities
One nice thing about these services is that most of them offer full refunds if you don't use them, and some even provide partial refunds if you aren't happy with your experience.
In addition to that, some passes also include tickets for public transportation, which makes it much easier to get around the city.
However, it should be noted that you might find yourself tied to the actitivies included with your pass as you attempt to get the best possible deal, which could make it more difficult to see other attractions and areas you might want to discover in Istanbul.
If you're looking to see some of the less touristy neighborhoods and landmarks in this city, a pass might not be the best way to do it, because most of the included services are not off the beaten path.
These are arguably among the most important factors to consider when deciding whether or not a tourist pass is worth the price.
We recommend planning out an itinerary for yourself ahead of time to see if you can fit enough activities into your vacation to save a lot of money. If so, give it a go!
Tips From Locals and Travelers
If you're still unsure about whether or not to purchase one of these tourist passes, perhaps the advice of locals and travelers who have used these services will give you a better idea of what to expect.
Istanbul Travel is one of the best Facebook groups for advice on this and other questions tourists may have.
Here are a few tips we've selected which are perhaps the most helpful of them all.
When asked whether or not the Istanbul e-Pass is worth the price, David made some very good points about the kind of calculation necessary when purchasing a pass.
While he indicates he was able to easily save money using just the Museum Pass, he also notes that these passes often "include" admission to attractions that are already free.
This is another factor that comes into play when deciding whether or not to get a pass, because depending on which attractions you want to visit, you might not even need one!
Here's a great comment from the Istanbul reddit page noting that the Hagia Sophia is now free to visit because it has been converted to a mosque.
Being that this is often one of the more popular attractions included with these passes, it's important to note that you don't even necessarily need tickets to enter.
We don't want to misrepresent reality, so it's important to point out that the experience noted above is actually quite common for tourists traveling to Istanbul.
In many cases, travelers find that they can save more money by simply paying for the individual tickets they want.
This commenter also notes that some attractions will take longer than others to experience, leaving little time for other things, and that can be a problem if you're trying to fit as many activities as possible into one day.
Although a lot of locals and travelers don't think these passes are worth it, there are some who still insist it's a good way to save money.
And to their credit, it is entirely possible to get a decent deal using these services. The only problem is the amount of research necessary to get the best possible deal.
With all that said, we do highly advise checking and even joining Istanbul Travel Tips groups on Facebook if you want more advice on this and other issues.
