One of Europe's cheapest cities where you can dine out for £7 and beer is £3
Istanbul, one of the most visited cities in the world, has also been named one of Europe's cheapest capital cities for a city break, with meals and beer prices revealed
Turkey's greatest metropolis, Istanbul, famously sprawling across the divide of Europe and Asia, has earned praise as a "magnificent" travel spot and has just been featured on a newfound index touting Europe's most economical city breaks. The vast urban landscape showcases diverse cultural legacies of empires past, comprising an ancient Old City alongside burgeoning modern areas.
Travel insurance experts at Quotezone have flagged it as one of the continent's top contenders for value-for-money city jaunts, spotlighting the exceptional affordability encountered by those dining out in Istanbul. These connoisseurs of travel focused their analysis on the 12 most frequented capital cities throughout Europe including the likes of Paris, Rome, Berlin and Madrid.
They assessed expenses such as tourist taxes, accommodation, eating out, drinking, and public transportation costs. While Istanbul lost out on the number one position to Warsaw in Poland and Zagreb in Croatia, it nevertheless fared impressively in terms of cost-effectiveness.
The report from Quotezone said: "Istanbul ranks as the third best capital city for holidaying this summer, with the cheapest meal prices in the index, despite being 34.74 km away from the airport."
The investigation revealed that one could relish a meal in the city for less than £8. On average, dining out would set you back around €8.65, equivalent to about £7.39.
For those who enjoy a cool beer, the study indicated that the mean price for a local brew in Istanbul stands at €3.17 – roughly £2.71.
Istanbul - the city where East meets West, modernity graces tradition and every corner offers a culinary wonderland for those with an appetite for exploration.
Food enthusiasts will be thrilled to hear that Istanbul presents an exceptional blend of local fare and inventive fusion cuisine, reports the Express.
One establishment soaking up accolades on Tripadvisor is Gulhane Sark Sofrasi. It's not only top-rated but has bagged itself a Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award for 2023.
Seafood lovers, Mediterranean food aficionados, and Turkish cuisine enthusiasts will find a home here in the menu's diversity. Yet, gourmands should plan ahead - recent reviews suggest reservations are essential to avoid disappointment during peak evening hours.
No jaunt through Istanbul's streets is truly savoured without indulging in the customary sip of Turkish coffee. Esteemed as much for its rich, sweet flavour as its place in fortune-telling lore and traditional marriage ceremonies, it's a cultural keystone.
For a genuine caffeine kick in the city's heart, Fazıl Bey's Turkish Coffee within the bustling Kadıköy Bazaar comes highly recommended and is a favourite haunt among the locals.
Beyond its reputation for lively Turkish folk tunes, the café teems with a variety of coffee aromas sure to satisfy any palate.
One traveller reflecting on their visit gushed: "Istanbul is a magnificent city... one full of beauty, history, spectacular architecture, amazing restaurants, views to die for, wonderful little family-owned hotels, exceptionally kind and honest people, fun-filled nightclubs, exotic sounds, exotic smells, and many other fabulous things too numerous to mention.
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Telegraph
4 hours ago
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The 10 best beaches in Cyprus
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Coral Bay offers some dramatic headlands and sea caves to explore, plus the nearby archaeological site of Maa-Palaeokastro. This ancient Mycenaean settlement can trace its origins back to the Late Bronze Age. Getting there: Bus 615 from Tombs of the Kings station or by car. Parking is available by the beach. Porto Pomos Islanders in the know head for the beach at Porto Pomos. This stunning yet relatively unknown stretch of pebbly sand lies next to the charming little fishing harbour at Pomos in the Paphos district. Even city folk from Nicosia come here on holiday. To reach it you drive along the coast road from Polis Chrysochou, with rugged countryside on one side and crashing waves on the others. Swimmers delight in the clear, shallow waters, while the cragged shoreline here makes it a popular snorkelling spot. A small beach café does excellent frappe and there's a restaurant famed for its fresh fish dishes. Getting there: Bus 643 from Polis Chrysochou or by car. Parking is available by the beach. Lara Beach Two unspoilt, crescent-shaped beaches hug either side of the rocky Cape Lara on Cyprus's west coast. They are quiet and way off the beaten track so you'll need a 4x4 type vehicle to reach the beaches comfortably as access roads are bumpy. Lara Beach is best known for being where endangered loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the warmer months. A conservation group monitors the turtles and places the eggs in protective sand-covered nests until they are ready to hatch, at which point baby turtles emerge from the sand and head for the sea. Seeing the baby turtles is a humbling experience. Getting there: Access by car only, preferably 4x4. Parking on headland above beach. Pissouri Bay Pissouri Bay is a bit of a contradiction. While being set in one of the most beautiful and quiet spots along the southern coast, the bay is also where families gather, and waterskiing and surfing folk come to enjoy their sport. Fortunately, the bay's beach is wide and long enough for everyone to enjoy it at their own pace. Pathways from the parking areas provide access, including a couple designed for people using wheelchairs, and amenities include showers. A handful of places to enjoy a bite are close by, while some seriously good restaurants can be found in a nearby luxury hotel and in Pissouri village. Getting there: Bus 630 from Paphos Karavella station, 70 from Limassol station or by car. Parking is available by the beach. Lady's Mile Beach Lady's Mile Beach is a long, gently-shelving expanse of sand which can be found not far from the Curium archeological site between Paphos and Limassol. It is popular with city folk keen to unwind, and horse riding enthusiasts (you will often see horses and riders from the nearby equestrian centre enjoying a hack along the shore). 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Getting there: Bus 631 from Paphos Harbour station, 70 from Limassol station or by car. Parking is available via a tunnel under the road. Governor's Beach A seemingly endless string of bays with backdrops of chalk white cliffs characterise the southernmost shores of Cyprus from around Pissouri through to Zygi. This landscape is particularly evident at Governor's Beach, which with Lady's Mile was a favourite of the governor when Cyprus was under British rule. Here, you can sunbathe on platforms created by the rocks. Watersports abound and the rocks are popular for fishing and snorkelling. The beach has golden sands and shallow waters, making it a popular spot with locals, especially those from nearby Limassol. The fish tavernas here are bustling in summer. Getting there: By car. Parking available by beach. Mackenzie Beach This Blue Flag beach lies to the south of Larnaca's medieval fort, its busy Finikoudes esplanade and the city centre. As such, the beach is popular with locals relaxing at the weekend and holidaymakers from the nearby hotels. The beach is known for its safe, shallow waters and its long stretch of fine, clean grey sand, together with palm trees that provide a tropical backdrop. You can try out activities like windsurfing and sailing here, plus join a diving team for the chance to see one of the world's most famous dive sites, the Zenobia shipwreck, which lies just off its shores. Getting there: On foot from the Finikoudes or by car. Parking available by beach. Nissi Beach The young and trendy tend to head for this Ayia Napa beach, often after a night of clubbing. Here, you'll find a bustling beach of people, sunbeds, parasols and paragliders. Add to the mix water-skiers and windsurfers, and you have a lively holiday spot, with buzzing bars and beachside tavernas adding to the atmosphere. From here you can take the walkway or cycle path to Makronissos Beach, which is a glorious, half a mile-long stretch of sandy beach often frequented by quad bikers. Just inland are the Makronissos tombs dating from early Roman times. Getting there: Intercity Nicosia to Larnaca bus route or by car. Parking available by beach. Fig Tree Bay This long, crescent-shaped sandy beach sits neatly in its own cove on Cyprus's easternmost coast at Protaras. It takes its name from the many fig trees that dot its lush countryside backdrop. The beach was awarded a Blue Flag due to its cleanliness, safe waters and an eco-management programme that has made it one of the finest beaches on the island. In fact, it is often referred to as being one of the best beaches in Europe. Watersports, sunbeds and refreshments are available. A small uninhabited islet lies just off the seashore and can be reached by swimming in the shallow waters. Getting there: On foot from central Protaras or by car. Parking available by beach. How we choose Every beach in this curated list has been expertly chosen by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of areas and styles, from popular city beaches to lesser known corners – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Carole French is Telegraph Travel's Cyprus expert. She was captivated by the island two decades ago and lives in a village surrounded by her own olive groves near Paphos. When not exploring archaeological sites or art galleries she's probably sipping a brandy sour.
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Time Out
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Lisbon is officially home to the world's best luxury hotel
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