The currency in Türkiye is the Turkish lira (TRY, ₺). Whether you normally pay in pounds, dollars, euros or any other currency, understanding how money works in Türkiye will help you make the most of your budget.
The Turkish lira: the basics
The lira is divided into 100 kuruş. At the time of writing, banknotes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 ₺, and coins range from 1 kuruş to 1 ₺. The lira has lost value against the euro and the US dollar for years, so local prices change often: many hotels, tours and museums in tourist areas quote their prices in euros. For visitors, Türkiye still offers very good value, especially for food and transport.
Where to change money
- Exchange offices (döviz bürosu): the best option. You'll find them all over Istanbul, especially in Sultanahmet, around the Grand Bazaar and in Taksim. Most charge no commission and offer competitive rates; compare the buying rate on the board before you hand over your money.
- Banks: they also exchange currency, but opening hours are more limited.
- Airport: the rate is worse. Only change what you need on arrival.
- Hotels: the rate is usually poor. Best avoided.
Tip: euros and US dollars are the easiest currencies to change. Bring clean, undamaged notes and change them at exchange offices in town, where you'll get the best rate. Pounds sterling are also widely accepted at exchange offices in the big cities.
Credit and debit cards
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and tourist shops. A few tips:
- Always ask to be charged in Turkish lira, not in your home currency. This avoids dynamic currency conversion (DCC), which almost always comes with a worse rate.
- Check with your bank before you travel so your card isn't blocked for use abroad.
- Cards with no foreign transaction fees (Wise, Revolut and similar, or travel cards from your own bank) are ideal for Türkiye.
ATMs
ATMs are everywhere. The most reliable belong to the big banks: İş Bankası, Garanti, Yapı Kredi and Ziraat. Withdraw lira directly. Most ATMs charge foreign cards a fixed fee per withdrawal, shown on screen before you confirm, so it is usually better to take out larger amounts less often. As with card machines, if the ATM offers to convert the amount into your home currency, decline and choose lira.
Tipping in Türkiye
- Restaurants: around 5–10% of the bill if service is not included (10% or a little more for excellent service).
- Taxis: round up the fare (a large tip isn't expected).
- Hotels: a small tip for the porter, and something for housekeeping at the end of your stay.
- Tour guide and driver: at your discretion, depending on how satisfied you are.
- Hammam (Turkish bath): 15–20% for the attendant.
How much money to bring to Türkiye
Türkiye is affordable compared with Western Europe. As a rough guide, per person per day:
- Budget: €40–60 / day (hostel, street food, public transport).
- Mid-range: €80–120 / day (budget or standard hotel, restaurants, entrance tickets, the occasional tour).
- Premium: €150–300 / day (boutique hotel, private guide, food experiences).
Entrance tickets to the major sites are the exception: they are priced for foreign visitors and add up quickly. For a full breakdown, read how much a trip to Türkiye costs.
For a trip with everything organised and no surprises, take a look at my private tours in Türkiye, where the price is fixed from the start.