Turkey Travel Money Guide
Turkey accepts cards in cities and tourist areas, but the lira's volatility means many merchants prefer cash or even euros/dollars.
Capital: Ankara · Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY)
Paying by card
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted. Always pay in TRY — DCC is rampant and aggressive.
Cash and ATMs
Use Garanti, İş Bank, or Akbank ATMs. Some ATMs let you withdraw in EUR or USD — only do this in emergencies, the rates are poor.
Tipping
5-10% at restaurants. 10-20 lira for porters and small services.
Scams to avoid
The 'shoe shiner drops his brush' Istanbul scam, inflated bar tabs in Taksim, and rug-shop hard sells. Always confirm prices upfront.
What TRY amounts are worth
| TRY | USD | EUR | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 TRY | 0.20 | 0.18 | 0.15 |
| 50 TRY | 1.02 | 0.90 | 0.77 |
| 100 TRY | 2.04 | 1.80 | 1.54 |
| 500 TRY | 10.20 | 8.99 | 7.70 |
Rates are European Central Bank reference rates for 29 Sept 2026 (published each working day around 16:00 CET; the UAE dirham uses its official US-dollar peg of 3.6725). The live converter loads the latest rate when the page opens.
Over the 30 days of ECB data to 29 Sept 2026, one US dollar bought 1.56% more TRY and one euro 0.95% fewer.
Before you go
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in TRY; the conversion it offers usually includes a wide margin.
- Tell your bank you are travelling and carry two cards on different networks in case one is declined.
- Check your card's foreign transaction fee and put it in the budget converter's fee field.
Budget the trip with the travel budget converter, see all TRY rates, or browse more country guides.