Turkey travel money tips
Heading to Turkey? Here's a quick rundown of how to handle money on the ground — tipping etiquette, when to use cards versus cash, the best ATMs to use, and the most common pitfalls travelers run into. The local currency is the Turkish Lira (TRY, ₺).
Tipping
5–10% in restaurants if not included, round up taxi fares, 20–50 TRY per bag for porters.
Cards vs cash
Cards widely accepted in cities and tourist areas. Cash needed in bazaars, dolmuş minibuses, and small towns.
Payment methods accepted
ATMs & cash tip
Use bank ATMs (Garanti, İş Bankası, Yapı Kredi) and always decline TRY-to-USD/EUR conversion at the machine.
Heads-up
- Lone-traveler 'shoeshine drop' and 'invitation to a bar' scams target Istanbul's Sultanahmet and Taksim — politely walk away.
- Inflation is high — check the dated price sticker, not last year's guidebook.
About the Turkish Lira (TRY)
The Turkish Lira (TRY, symbol ₺) is the official currency of Turkey. Knowing the live TRY rate against your home currency helps you sanity-check menu prices, taxi fares, and souvenir markups while traveling.
More travel tips
See all country tips →Tips are general guidance for travelers, not legal or financial advice. Customs vary — confirm with local sources for important plans.