Getting Turkish Lira for Your Trip
Turkey has become increasingly popular with British travellers, offering a unique blend of East and West, stunning coastlines, rich history, and incredible food. From the bazaars of Istanbul to the beaches of Antalya and the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia, Turkey delivers unforgettable experiences.
The Turkish Lira (₺ or TRY) has been highly volatile in recent years, which actually works in favour of GBP holders - your Pounds go much further than they did a few years ago. However, this volatility means you should be strategic about when and how much you exchange.
Key insight for 2026: Due to the Lira's volatility, the best strategy is to exchange or withdraw money as you need it, rather than taking large amounts of Lira. Use a fee-free travel card and withdraw from Turkish ATMs. Rates in Turkey are generally better than exchanging in the UK.
Best Ways to Get Turkish Lira
- Fee-free travel cards (Wise, Revolut) - Best option. Withdraw Lira from Turkish ATMs at excellent rates. Don't exchange too much at once due to volatility.
- Turkish bank ATMs - Garanti BBVA, İş Bankası, Yapı Kredi, Ziraat. Any charge on a UK card is set by your card issuer, and İşbank machines show it before you confirm. Always decline DCC.
- Turkish exchange offices (Döviz) - Competitive rates in Istanbul and tourist areas. Compare a few before exchanging.
- Paying in GBP/EUR/USD - Some tourist shops accept foreign currencies, but rates are usually poor. Pay in Lira for best value.
- UK bureau de change - Very poor rates for Turkish Lira. Avoid exchanging in the UK.
Using Cards in Turkey
Where Cards Work Well
- Hotels and resorts - All accept cards
- Restaurants - Most in tourist areas accept cards
- Shopping malls - Card-friendly
- Supermarkets - Migros, CarrefourSA, BIM accept cards
- Major attractions - Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, etc.
Where You'll Need Cash
- Grand Bazaar and markets - Cash preferred for bargaining
- Local restaurants and lokantas - Many are cash-only
- Taxis - Usually cash, though this is changing
- Street food - Kebabs, simit, etc. require cash
- Small shops - Especially outside tourist areas
- Tips - Always cash
- Dolmuş (shared minibuses) - Often cash only, but in Muğla province (Fethiye, Bodrum) minibuses are moving to contactless cards
Important: If paying by card, always pay in Turkish Lira, not GBP. Shops may offer to convert to Pounds - always decline as the rate will be terrible.
ATMs in Turkey
Recommended Bank ATMs
- Garanti BBVA - Green logo, widespread and reliable
- İş Bankası (İşbank) - Blue logo, one of Turkey's largest banks
- Yapı Kredi - Blue/yellow, good coverage
- Ziraat Bankası - State bank, green logo
- Akbank - Red logo, reliable
Critical: Decline Currency Conversion
Turkish ATMs aggressively push Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), offering to charge you in GBP. Always decline and choose Turkish Lira. İşbank itself says paying in lira, which leaves the rate to your own bank, is usually the better deal.
ATM Withdrawal Limits
How much you can take out depends on your own bank's daily limit and the cash left in the machine. Several small withdrawals can cost more in fees than one larger one.
Money Tips by Turkish Region
Istanbul
Most card-friendly city in Turkey. Tourist areas like Sultanahmet, Taksim, and Kadıköy have good card acceptance. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar are cash-dominant. ATMs everywhere.
Antalya & Turkish Riviera
All-inclusive resorts handle most things, but nearby restaurants and shops prefer cash. Beach vendors are cash-only. Good ATM coverage in resort areas.
Cappadocia
Tourist hotels and balloon operators accept cards. Local restaurants and cave hotels may prefer cash. Withdraw in Göreme or Ürgüp.
Bodrum & Aegean Coast
Upmarket Bodrum has good card acceptance. Beach clubs and marinas accept cards. Local markets and restaurants prefer cash.
Fethiye & Ölüdeniz
Tourist restaurants accept cards, local places prefer cash. Paragliding and boat trips often want cash payment.
Bargaining and Tipping in Turkey
Bargaining
Bargaining is expected in bazaars and markets. Start at about half the asking price and work up. Cash gives you bargaining power. Fixed prices in shops and restaurants.
Tipping
- Restaurants - 5-10% for good service, or round up
- Hotels - 5-10 TRY for porters, 20-50 TRY per day for housekeeping in nice hotels
- Taxis - Round up to the nearest 5-10 TRY
- Hammam attendants - 50-100 TRY for a good experience
- Tour guides - 50-100 TRY per person for full-day tours
Best Exchange Options for TRY
Top providers by category:
Grand Bazaar Changers
Competition keeps rates good. Compare several.
Garanti BBVA
Major bank with good ATM network.
İş Bankası
Largest Turkish bank. ATMs everywhere.
PTT (Post Office)
Available in smaller towns. Reliable.
Sultanahmet Tourist Area
Tourist premium. Go to Grand Bazaar.
Compare TRY Exchange Rates
See what you'd receive from providers local to you
Frequently Asked Questions
Little and often suits a currency as volatile as the Lira: take cash from Turkish bank ATMs as you need it, using a card that charges no fees, Wise or Revolut for example, rather than carrying a lot of it. Rates in Turkey generally beat those in the UK, where bureaux price Lira very poorly, so avoid buying it before you leave.
Some tourist shops will take GBP, EUR or USD, but the rate they give is usually poor, so you get better value paying in Lira. The same goes for card terminals: if a shop asks whether to convert the bill into Pounds, decline and pay in Turkish Lira. Buying Lira in the UK is best avoided too, as the rates there are very poor.
Widely in the tourist economy: hotels and resorts, most restaurants in tourist areas, shopping malls, supermarkets such as Migros, CarrefourSA and BIM, and major sights like Hagia Sophia and Topkapi all take cards. Keep Lira in your pocket for the Grand Bazaar and other markets, lokantas and local restaurants, street food, taxis, small shops outside the tourist areas, tips and many dolmuş minibuses.
Stick to the main banks' machines, such as Garanti BBVA, İş Bankası, Yapı Kredi, Ziraat Bankası and Akbank. Whatever a UK card is charged is decided by your own card issuer, and İşbank machines display the amount before you confirm. Turkish ATMs push Dynamic Currency Conversion, so always choose Lira, and taking out several small sums can cost more in fees than a single larger withdrawal.
In restaurants, good service earns 5-10% or a rounded-up bill, and taxi fares get rounded up to the nearest 5-10 TRY. Hotel porters get 5-10 TRY and housekeeping 20-50 TRY a day in nicer hotels, hammam attendants 50-100 TRY after a good session, and a full-day tour guide 50-100 TRY per person. Tips are always given in cash.
Exchange offices (Döviz) in Istanbul and the tourist areas give competitive rates, and around the Grand Bazaar competition keeps them keen, so compare several before you commit. Sultanahmet booths carry a tourist premium and are best avoided, while PTT post offices are a reliable option in smaller towns. Bargaining is the norm in bazaars, and cash strengthens your hand.
Nearby Destinations
Planning to visit multiple countries? Check out exchange guides for nearby destinations:
Greece
Bulgaria
Cyprus