Istanbul Airport is magnificent, modern, and massive. But the food and drink prices there? Absolutely malevolent.
Istanbul Airport Named World’s Most Expensive For Food & Drinks…The Prices Are Insane
One Mile At A Time flagged a 2024 study in Corriere della Sera found that Istanbul Airport ranks double the second-most expensive European airport when it comes to concessions (the study averaged the price of a coffee, water, croissant, sandwich, and cappuccino). Think €22.50 for a turkey sandwich, €15.50 for a pistachio croissant (dubbed “Dubai croissants”), and even €32 for a doner kebab with rice. At Burger King, a Double Whopper meal with fries and a drink rings in at €26.50.
Other items have posted outrageously steep prices: nearly €20 for a beer, €7 for a banana, and €28 for a tiny serving of lasagna that one Italian traveler compared to “a brick with grated cheese and a pseudo-basil leaf.” Reddit users have piled on, noting that prices are two to four times higher than Frankfurt Airport, and mocking the idea that passengers will simply “pay whatever it costs.”
https://twitter.com/klemensstrasser/status/1878800548822220878?
What Gives With These Prices?
While travelers may be held hostage at airports, even by airport standards, Istanbul is absurd. Factors to blame may include state control of airports (leading to a lack of competition and preferred vendors with kickbacks), high rent, and the weakening lira (though, as you can see above, prices are in Euros, not TYL).
As a side note, pricing is so odd in Turkey…it was so expensive last trip compared to my previous trip. While the lira continues to weaken, inflation keeps pushing prices higher. I would speculate there’s a rich black market “hard” currency like the USD, EUR, and GBP, much like in Argentina pre-Javier Milei.
I’ve never even looked at prices in Istanbul since, no matter what cabin or airline I am flying, I have lounge access with Priority Pass or my Star Alliance Gold status. This absurd pricing makes lounge access in Istanbul all the more important. In fact, in some cases, a Priority Pass membership to access the IGA Lounge might be cheaper than a meal for four…
CONCLUSION
Istanbul itself is full of more affordable, delicious food…this airport isn’t. If you’re headed through IST, grab snacks before security—or brace yourself to be shocked from hop to layover. Yes, the terminal is architecturally dazzling, but that does not justify over $30 for a combo meal at Burger King…
Have you noticed the high prices at Istanbul Airport? Do you bring your own food?
I transited this airport a couple weeks ago. It doesn’t really bother me since I never buy food at airports, just the free lounge stuff. What bothered me more is having to watch the fat muslim women in their stupid outfits wandering around the airport. I notice that the older they get, the fatter they get and they all seem to develop odd half-limp half-waddle gait when they walk.
That’s the real worst thing about that airport.
Agree, while I’ve never been there I can only imagine the mess down below on these “women”. Dirty, hairy people who couldn’t spell hygiene, even in their medieval language.
But I give them credit for screwing the saps that visit them. Midnight Express should have been warning for Americans to never go there.
Nothing like starting the week with a pair of mindless racists exchanging nonsense.
Happy week, everyone.
Shouldn’t you be dodging ICE while prepping for Taco Tuesday mi amigo?
Do you talk like this in real life? Or just anonymously on the internet?
Genuine props for not pretending that you’re not a racist. Most racists chicken out instead of doubling down. I don’t agree with your views but I suppose you’re not pretending to be something that you’re not although you’d garner respect if you stuck to the relevant topic Matthew writes about.
Douchebag Dave Edwards, proving with your every comment that your nickname is absolutely accurate and completely deserved and that you have nothing better to do with your pathetic waste-of-oxygen life than to post abhorrent and revolting comments here over and over again every single day. Thank you for confirming once again that MAGAs are stupid hateful racist morons. Trolling or not, the extent and frequency of your comments are indicative of severe psychiatric and/or addiction problems. Your insults, undoubtedly projection, speak much more to your (lack of) character than to anyone (on these anonymous comments) you attack. You should crawl back under whatever rock you crawled out from you SHPOS.
It’s a place for wealthy Russians to spend their rubles on the foods they’re not getting at home? Just a guess.
That’s the operative theory I’ve heard: Due to sanctions against Russia as well as Iran, a lot of fliers have little choice and wind up blowing money in IST. If we short-term transit in the future, we’ll pack sandwiches and a thermos with powdered coffee/tea and for longer transits, go through security and eat outside of the airport which, I read, has a number of affordable and better food options nearby.
That would be an interesting aspect for Matt to review although due to his lifestyle it’s unlikely he’d bother: What’s walking distance nearby airport food like? I have fond memories in Ukraine of some wonderful restaurants nearby the airports back then hanging out outside the airport after arrival.
True. I suspect too that a lot of the international junk style foods have been substituted by knock off chains in Russia. America really has made some addicts over the years! The Taco Rebellion might give the same satisfaction . : )
“What’s walking distance nearby airport food like?”
A question that only someone who has never been there would ask.
There is no food, or anything else, within “walking distance nearby” of the big Istanbul airport. It’s in the middle of nowhere, or at least it’s surrounded by lots of empty space. Heck, much of the airport itself isn’t within walking distance – it’s a bit of a hike just to get form the terminal out to where the taxis are. No food or anything else out there, at any price.
Merci kind sir. I had been going on from what I read on Yelp and AI (well, our tech overlords won’t replace us this month at least!).
Absolutely awful. Wish you were wrong. I suppose next time we’ll go and if we don’t have lounge access, will either schedule an excursion for a 20+ hour layover OR pack food, sandwiches, and a thermos with powdered coffee/tea.
My 90 y/o father-in-law (hello matt!) is transiting back through ZRH next month and will have 5 hours to kill. We’ll give him some chocolate, kanapkeh (sandwich), snacks, and a thermos. He will object to paying $10 for a glass of beer because we don’t have Francs (crappy exchange rate here at my bank) plus he’s too old to get a credit card.
I love how I asked Swiss friends “Any affordable options in ZRH? My 90 y/o father-in-law is going?” and they said “Well, he can just use a credit card.” Some people are utterly thick. I said he won’t have a CC.
@Matthew – You mention that prices have increased a fair bit since your previous visit. When was that? I was there last September and will be returning next month so I’d rather be prepared for any sticker shock.
Aren’t the prices listed already sticker shock?
By the way in response to your comment above, what defines “racism”? Believing Mexicans run taco joints isn’t in my mind, nor is avoiding ICE in 2025.
Telling me as a white American I need to go back to Cracker Barrel (ok, bad reference) or go buy a house with my 2.3 kids isn’t either.
It’s just a leftist term to call out anyone who doesn’t believe the same garbage they push. No, men F’ing men will never be normal, nor will sex with animals or cutting your junk off.
But in their attempt to make it normal they use the term.
Nope, you’re a racist. I thought you had the intestinal fortitude to at least own that rather than scurrying away when called out. I’m a centrist straight married white guy of Northern European heritage and I don’t need to throw out slurs and make cheap shots to make myself feel better. I’ve never been a liberal and don’t see that changing. I’m just secure enough in who I am to live my life without worrying about judging everyone else. People who do judge are looking for excuses for their failures instead of taking personal responsibility.
All I can say is 98% of the general public would love to have my “failures in life”. I’m not the typical 1% a##hole but I have a damn good life after working hard and making tough life choices that allowed me to retire at 55 with millions of miles I use multiple times a month to travel for pleasure.
I never grew up and am damn proud I never did, I laugh at homo and race jokes and have zero concerns about it, obviously unless I’m surrounded by them. But I avoid the ghetto for the most part so the ones I deal with are either serving me, or have the same beliefs about “their people”. Hell, I love being around successful minorities that break the stereotypes that they are helpless without the government or Democrats carrying them through life.
The last election demographics showed it’s a growing group that is embracing conservatives and their beliefs.
Dave, I’m genuinely curious where you travel with all those miles. You seem to refer to every place outside of the US as a shithole, so is all your travel domestic, or are there countries you deem worthy of a visit?
@jerry
90% domestic, back to the same places occasionally, new places and my 2nd home in the Western US. But I do the Caribbean occasionally including other countries that are mostly Americanized and speak the only true language in the world. But usually I’ll find cheap mileage flights to places like Rapid City and enjoy a few days discovering new places and meeting new people. Also 6-8 NFL games a season in different cities.
I did do London a couple years ago and found positives and negatives. The pub scene was great, the NFL game was a blast and the transportation system was fine. But the influence of all the terrorists they left in was disappointing with their horrible food shacks all over town. A cautionary tale for America.
Other than maybe Fiji or Bora Bora there isn’t anywhere else outside the US I’m interested in. Still so much to see in this incredible country, even in the liberal states.
Thanks for asking.
@Dave Edwards
Thanks for sharing. I like the pubs in London too. I also went to a bar once at a truck stop in Rapid City and had a damn good evening.
Here’s the thing Christian – “Racist” has been so overused by your side to describe anyone who doesn’t agree with them that it has lost all seriousness.
More than that though, you calling me a racist is just your opinion and has no weight on my mind at all. I find it amusing that my jokes have gotten you in a bit of a tizzy, but your opinion of me doesn’t matter, not in the slightest. Don’t get me wrong, I chuckle a bit when I read your whining comments, but that’s about it.
So enjoy the jokes. What can stop me? Nobody will stop me.
Sch*tt Hsuan, proving with your every comment that your nickname is absolutely accurate and completely deserved and that you have nothing better to do with your pathetic waste-of-oxygen life than to post abhorrent and revolting comments here over and over again every single day. Thank you for confirming once again that you and other MAGAs are stupid hateful racist morons. Trolling or not, the extent and frequency of your comments are indicative of severe psychiatric and/or addiction problems. Your insults, undoubtedly projection, speak much more to your (lack of) character than to anyone (on these anonymous comments) you attack. You should crawl back under whatever rock you crawled out from you SHPOS.
BTW, re: “Nobody will stop me.”, that’s called megalomania you moron. And Matthew could (and should) stop you in a millisecond if he chose to (and perhaps if he didn’t value clicks so much).
And re: “has no weight on my mind at all”, that’s called projection you racist idiot, it obviously has great weight on your mind (you spent time to address it) and every bit as much weight as your comments have on anyone else’s mind.
Dave, put up every distraction if you must. Live in the fear which you have become indoctrinated . The evils of this country are flowing from one person that cannot be called a man, because a genuine man owns his errors and moves on, not mired in retribution.
Maybe if your side had not tried to utterly destroy that man’s life, he wouldn’t be so hard on you. You deserve it though.
Sadly your hatred on a man who never did one thing that personally affected you negatively is disappointing. But does make sense in the context of a liberal that feels most are inferior to them and incapable of succeeding in life without the government controlling their life at every turn.
Trust me, you, I or Matt aren’t special and anyone of sane mind and health could become successful in America in our lifetime and in the future. Sure good parenting help but many overcome that as well by finding other role models in life.
Dave, no hatred in my words. I think we are all able to be better.
$54 for a Shake Shake burger combo!
It’s crazy. I took a picture of the Shake Shack last time I was there but didn’t check out the prices.
First 15 comments and still zero about the prices in IST. Nice audience! 🙂
Fine. They’re a terrible ripoff and only the foolish or desperate would pay them.
Happy?
Reading comprehension must not be your strong point, multiple comments about them above.
Yea, they suck but you’ll live. Not much more to than the pictures posted show. It’s a ripoff and it’s not changing. Your choice to visit or not, and to eat some possibly bug infested stuff from a turbanhead on the street before getting to the airport. Or pay the price and stop crying.
Wow! The duo Adolf & Benito are on fire today!
And in 24 hours the duo of Pedro & Ricardo will be making my tacos.
Note, soap and water is your friend.
@Dave Edwards
+1 Made me genuine laugh.
You may have missed my comment that was followed up with hateful comments but I specifically asked about prices above.
This is not new! Way back in 2008, we flew from Sabiha Gokcen and the prices were outrageous, even by airport standards, way back then.
It really looks like lounge access pays for itself at IST.
An airport to avoid at all costs. In addition to the offensive pricing, nothing is on time because it’s so huge, you will likely need to run/walk miles during your connection, and you’re at the mercy of one of the airlines with the worst customer service in the world if anything goes wrong (Turkish). Avoid, avoid, avoid.