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A stay in an Istanbul hostel is the best way to spend your nights while seeing this rich and historic city.

Situated on both the European and Asian side of the Bosphorus inlet, Istanbul is bisected by the continental divide and is the only major city to be situated on more than one continent. The historic areas of Istanbul were also added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 and the city was chosen as Europe's official "Cultural Capital" to be recognized in the year 2010.

Istanbul's hostels, while not quite so rich in history, are interesting places in their own right and worth considering no matter what your travel budget. Cultures come together at hostels and meeting people and sharing stories is a pastime enjoyed by almost all who stay a night. Travelers accumulate many stories on their trips across continents, and Istanbul is a likely last stop before a return home.

The relatively inexpensive accommodations of a hostel may actually extend your trip if you've been blowing money in France or Germany, a flight to Turkey will allow you to stay twice as long for half the cost of a week in Paris or Berlin.

Beds in a shared room in an Istanbul hostel start at 9 Euros for a night and do not increase too much from there. For a private room you might pay as much as 25 for the night, but there are private rooms available for as little as 10-14 Euros.

The privacy and security of a private room in an Istanbul hostel can be a very good investment. There is a certain comfort to being able to lock your valuables in your room while you are out seeing Topkapi Palace or the Blue Mosque. Private rooms are generally the first to sell out however, so book your room in advance.

If you cannot get a room to yourself, don't want to pay the extra charge or want to be able to mingle with new people more readily, most hostels provide cabinets with lockable latches as a way to secure your belongings. You may want to bring your own padlock, however, most hostels make you rent one from them or buy one if you forgot your own.

The Bosphorus inlet runs through the center of the city, but a vast majority of Istanbul hostels are located on the southwest side of the water, near the opening to the Marmara Denizi. You'll find much of Istanbul's nightlife in this area, from a bar and club scene that can be much like you'll find in Western Europe, to a more exotic nightlife of laid-back hookah bars and belly dancing shows.

If you're really intent on experiencing the local flavors as directly as possible, try the local alcoholic drinks. Turkey's most traditional drink, Raki, is one of the oldest distilled drinks and is made from fermented grapes, plums and other fruit. Although no one knows for sure where the name came from, one theory is that it came from the word for "sweat," and Raki is "the drink that makes you sweat."

Hostels in Turkey (Istanbul)