Turkish Lira: how much to take and where to change?

A smart traveler prepares money wisely – not too much, not too little. This updated guide helps you plan your Turkish Lira (TRY) strategy for Istanbul travel in 2026 with money-saving tips, real examples, and current best practices.

Tip: Local vendors prefer exact change especially for small purchases like water, simit & transit tickets.

Money is one of the main issues if you are going to visit a foreign country for the first time. And even though today, with any bank card, you can travel freely without worrying about cash (provided that there is something on the account), it would not be superfluous to find out in more detail what the Turkish currency is and what to do if you have only USD or EURO on your hands.

👉 In many cases, ₺1,000–1,500 per day is a comfortable amount if you’re paying many things in cash. Cards cover most bigger expenses

What Money to Bring Before You Travel

Best to Bring:
✅ Euros (€)
✅ US Dollars ($)

Why: Exchange rates in Istanbul are generally better for €/$ than for other currencies like rubles or local currencies — and you’ll get more favorable rates than exchanging your home currency at airports.

❌ Not Recommended:
• Exchanging large amounts at Istanbul Airport — rates are poor & commissions hidden in small print.
• Exchanging from lesser currencies like ruble

Best Ways to Get Lira in Istanbul

ATM Withdrawals — Fast & Easy

• Available everywhere — airport, metro stations, main streets.
• Many machines offer English language support
• Many ATMs charge 4–10% fees or fixed withdrawal charges, especially for foreign cards.
• Always choose to be charged in Turkish Lira (not your home currency) when prompted

Best ATMs

• Suggested banks with frequent better fees: Garanti BBVA, Yapi Kredi, Akbank — ATMs attached to bank branches often feel safer and may have clearer fee notices

Exchange Offices (Döviz Bürosu) — Best Everyday Rate

• Popular areas with plentiful offices:
  – Sultanahmet
  – Taksim
  – Grand Bazaar streets
• Typically better rates than banks/hotels
• Easy and fast – no passport usually neede

Do’s & Don’ts:

• Compare posted rates before handing over money
• Avoid flashy “No Commission” signs – rates may be hidden unfavourable.

In Turkey, currency exchange, as well as in Istanbul itself, does not stand out with anything remarkable. Banks, ATMs and exchange points are scattered throughout the city, where you can sell or buy currency. In common tourist places the exchange offices are also available.

Hotels & Airport Exchange – Only Emergencies

• Rates are usually poor:
  – Airport kiosks are convenient but overpriced.
  – Hotels often charge high markups.

Best advice:

• Exchange just enough at the airport to get to your hotel comfortably (metro/taxi), then go find a better rate in the city.

When Cards Are Enough & When Cash Is King

💳 Cards Accepted Almost Everywhere:

– Hotels
– Restaurants
– Museums & attractions
– Modern shops/supermarkets

👉 Always carry a small amount of cash for:

– Street food & small cafes
– Public transit machines (if they don’t take cards)
– Tips & small vendors
– Local markets where prices are negotiable and vendors prefer cash.

🛡️ Safety Tip: Carry multiple cards from different banks (Visa & Mastercard are widely accepted; AmEx less so).

Your Money Checklist Before You Land in Istanbul

Where to withdraw cash from a bank card in Istanbul

When traveling, it is preferable to take VISA and Mastercard cards (both options), but the latter is a little more profitable. American Express, Union Pay, JCB and Maestro cards are also accepted.

All ATMs, in addition to Turkish, offer English, and sometimes other languages. If a choice is not prompted immediately, the language may switch automatically as soon as you enter your PIN.

For one operation at an ATM, you can get an amount in lira equal to $400 or €350. Also, some ATMs allow you to withdraw dollars and euros, but not all. This information is displayed in large print or written directly on the case itself.

FAQ – Turkish Lira & Money in Istanbul

What does Lira look like?

The modern Turkish lira replaced the gold coins of the Ottoman lira, which were in use until 1927. In the new version, only commemorative coins were minted from gold and silver, the rest got more mundane metals.

• The Turkish lira was put into circulation at the end of October 1923 after the reform carried out by Mustafa Ataturk.
• Since January 2009, coins on 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 kuruş and 1 lira have been operating in the country. Paper money: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. All coins, except for 1 lira, are called kuruş (kurush), and 100 kuruş are equal to 1 lira.
• Since 2012, the currency has its own officially registered symbol – ₺. The symbol resembles a strikethrough Latin capital letter “L” meaning “Lirası” from Turkish and “Lira” from English, as well as a small “t” from Turkish “Türk”, and “Turkish” from English.
• The designation TL and the code TRY are also relevant.

For the manufacture of coins in 1 kuruş, an alloy of copper and zinc is used. For the rest of the coins, an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel is used in different percentages.

The denomination of 50 kurush and 1 lira is bimetallic with a more complex design. Although they use the same composition of copper with the addition of nickel and zinc, but by varying the proportions, this made it possible to highlight the central part and the ring with different shades.

On one side of the coins, Ataturk’s profile and the name of the state flaunt. If before the reform of 2009 the faces of the Ataturk were different, now they have become the same everywhere.

On the back is the denomination, part of the national ornament and the year the coin was minted.

They also differ in size, and the higher the dignity, the greater the mass:

• 1 kurush – 2.2 g.
• 5 kurush – 2.9 g.
• 10 kurush – 3.15 g.
• 25 kurush – 4 g.
• 50 kurush – 6.8 g.
• 1 lira – 8.2 g.

With banknotes, it is more interesting, because with the growth of number, the political leader is increasingly turning his face from profile to full face. However, he has not yet turned around completely, prudently saving a couple of degrees for the future.

On the reverse side, outstanding representatives of the arts, crafts and sciences of Turkey were honored to decorate the national currency.

The size of paper money does not differ much, and therefore it is easier to select them from a pile by color:

• 5 lira – brown.
• 10 lira – red.
• 20 lira – green.
• 50 lira – orange.
• 100 lira – blue.
• 200 lire – pink.

And now about the pitfalls

Payments in Euros or US Dollars can be twice higher than in Turkish Liras, although the difference is not immediately obvious. For example, where you can pay ₺6, you will be charged €2. Another example: the price of orange juice is 5 lira, 1 dollar or 1 euro.

From this it is easy to come to the conclusion that you can carry dollars and euros, but it is always more profitable to pay in lira. If you plan to pay by card, you don’t have to worry about the financial issue at all, the main thing is that there is a needed amount on the account.

Travel Tips

1. Pay for goods and services with a card so as not to lose interest on cash withdrawals.
2. To feel safe, get several cards from different banks. VISA and Mastercard are both international payment systems, with which there will definitely be no problems.
3. It is undesirable to carry large amount of money with you, as well as to leave them in a hotel room. Using the card is not only more convenient, but also safer.
4. It is preferable to take Turkish lira with you, but you can also take dollars and euros.
5. Outside the tourist areas (in villages and cities unpopular among travelers), payment is accepted only in national money.
6. It is better to exchange the remaining lira for your currency in Istanbul, since it will be much more difficult to do this at home.