Türkiye (Turkey)
Money in Turkey: currency, ATMs, cards and tipping
Turkey uses the Turkish lira (₺, TRY). Pay by contactless card almost everywhere, but carry ₺500–1,000 in small notes for tea, markets, small eateries, toilets and tips. Withdraw from big-bank ATMs in lira and decline the machine's conversion. Tip 5–10% in restaurants, round up in taxis.
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GuideTürkiye (Turkey)
Key facts
- Currency
- Turkish lira (₺, TRY); 100 kuruş to the lira
- Rate used on this site
- About ₺56 to €1 (2026 estimate)
- Cards
- Contactless works in most shops, restaurants, hotels and taxis
- Cash still needed
- Tea and street food, markets, small lokantas, public toilets, tips, dolmuş
- ATM fees
- ₺100–300 per withdrawal is common at foreign cards
- ATM rule
- Use Ziraat, İş Bankası, Garanti or Akbank; choose lira; decline conversion
- Restaurant tip
- 5–10% if service is not already added
- Taxi tip
- Round up to the nearest ₺10–20
- Hotel tip
- ₺100–200 for housekeeping or a porter, per service
- Euro quotes
- Hotels, tours and balloon firms often quote in euros; paying in lira by card is often cheaper
Summary table: by wallet, month and cost
Prices in lira rise several times a year, so treat every figure here as a 2026 estimate and recheck before you travel. The table below shows what each payment method is good for, how the season changes your cash needs, and what a typical day costs.
| Situation | Best payment | What to carry | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul, mid-range hotel, restaurants | Contactless card | ₺500–1,000 cash | ₺5,700–11,000 per day |
| Small lokanta, market, tea house | Cash | ₺20–600 notes | ₺20–600 per item |
| Taxi, dolmuş, ferry, Istanbulkart top-up | Card or cash | ₺50–200 in coins and small notes | ₺46.20 per Istanbulkart ride |
| Museum and palace tickets for foreigners | Card, priced in euros | Backup cash | €25–55 per sight |
| Cappadocia balloon or guided tour | Card, often quoted in euros | Some cash for tips | €150–350 |
| High season (Jun–Aug, Bayram weeks) | Card plus more cash | ₺1,500–2,000 | Hotel and tour prices peak |
| Low season (Nov–Mar, coast) | Card | ₺500–1,000 | Many coast businesses close |
2026 estimate, per person, at about ₺56 to €1. Lira prices rise several times a year — recheck before you go.
Step by step: getting and using money
Step 1 — Know the currency. Turkey uses the Turkish lira (₺, TRY), divided into 100 kuruş. The lira has been weak and inflation has stayed in the double digits, so prices on menus and tickets change during the year. Convert with the site's currency converter before you commit to a big purchase.
- Step 2 — Arrive with a little cash. Change a small amount at the airport for the first taxi or bus, or withdraw from an ATM in the arrivals hall. Rates at airport exchange desks are usually worse than an ATM withdrawal.
- Step 3 — Withdraw from a big-bank ATM. Ziraat, İş Bankası, Garanti and Akbank machines are widespread and reliable. Choose English, select lira, and decline any offer to convert the amount into your home currency — that conversion is done at a poor rate.
- Step 4 — Carry small notes. ₺20, ₺50 and ₺100 notes are what you need for tea, simit, markets, toilets and tips. Breaking a ₺200 note at a tea stand is difficult.
- Step 5 — Use contactless cards for the rest. Hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, museums and most taxis take contactless. Tell your bank you are travelling so the card is not blocked.
- Step 6 — Keep a backup. Carry a second card from a different network and keep it separate from your wallet. If one is swallowed by an ATM, you can still pay.
- Step 7 — Top up transport cards. The Istanbulkart and similar city cards are loaded at machines that take cards and cash; a loaded card saves queueing for single tickets.
- Step 8 — Pay in lira when a price is quoted in euros. Hotels, balloon firms and some tours quote in euros, but the card charge is settled in lira; check the total on the terminal before you tap.
Notes and pitfalls
Dynamic currency conversion is the most common way to lose money. When an ATM or card terminal asks whether to charge you in lira or in your home currency, always choose lira. The same rule applies at hotel desks and tour offices.
- ATM fees of ₺100–300 per withdrawal are common for foreign cards — check your bank's fee too, and withdraw larger amounts less often.
- Some ATMs limit a single withdrawal to ₺2,000–5,000; you may need two transactions.
- Street vendors, small lokantas, dolmuş drivers and public toilets are cash-only.
- Museum and palace tickets for foreign visitors are priced in euros and paid in lira at the day's rate — check the current figure at the gate.
- Keep the receipt from any card payment; disputes are easier to resolve with one.
- Do not change money on the street; use a bank, an exchange office with a posted rate, or an ATM.
- During Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı, banks and exchange offices close for several days; withdraw before the holiday starts.
- Tipping is not automatic in most places; check whether 'servis' is already on the bill.
Tipping: how much and where
Tipping in Turkey is expected but not rigid. In restaurants, 5–10% is normal when service is not already added; in tourist areas 10% is common. If the bill shows a service charge, you do not need to add more. Leave the tip in cash on the table or add it to the card total when the terminal allows.
| Service | Typical tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant | 5–10% | More in tourist areas; skip if service is included |
| Café or tea house | Round up | ₺10–20 is plenty |
| Taxi | Round up to ₺10–20 | Or say 'üstü kalsın' (keep the change) |
| Hotel housekeeping | ₺100–200 per day | Leave it daily, in cash |
| Porter or bellhop | ₺100–200 per bag | Hand it over directly |
| Tour guide | ₺300–600 per day | More for private guides |
| Hamam attendant | 10–15% | Often expected; agree the price first |
| Barber or hairdresser | 10% | Common in cities |
2026 estimate. Amounts in lira; adjust for inflation and the size of the bill.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Turkey?
The Turkish lira (₺, TRY), divided into 100 kuruş. Cards are widely accepted, but carry small lira notes for tea, markets, small eateries, toilets and tips. Prices rise several times a year, so recheck figures.
Should I use cash or a card in Turkey?
Use contactless cards for hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, museums and most taxis. Carry ₺500–1,000 in small notes for street food, markets, dolmuş, public toilets and tips. Withdraw lira from big-bank ATMs and decline conversion.
How much should I tip in Turkey?
Restaurants: 5–10% if service is not included. Taxis: round up ₺10–20. Housekeeping: ₺100–200 per day. Guides: ₺300–600 per day. Hamam attendants: 10–15%. Check the bill for a service charge first.
Which ATMs should I use in Turkey?
Big-bank machines — Ziraat, İş Bankası, Garanti, Akbank — are the most reliable. Choose English, select lira, and decline any offer to convert to your home currency. Foreign-card fees of ₺100–300 per withdrawal are common.
Can I pay in euros in Turkey?
Many hotels, balloon firms and tours quote in euros, but the payment is usually settled in lira at the day's rate. Paying by card in lira is often cheaper than handing over euro cash, because the vendor sets the euro rate.
Is it safe to use my card in Turkey?
Yes, contactless payment is standard in cities and resorts. Keep a backup card from a different network, cover the keypad, and check the terminal total before tapping. Tell your bank you are travelling so the card is not blocked.
Do I need cash during Bayram holidays?
Yes. Banks and exchange offices close for several days around Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı, and some ATMs run low. Withdraw lira and buy transport tickets before the holiday begins.
Deep dive
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