Travel · Middle East / Europe
🇹🇷Turkey
High inflation means rates change fast — use mid-market cards and withdraw Lira locally.
Turkey's lira has experienced significant inflation, making the real-time exchange rate critical. Zero-forex cards like Wise or Starling give you the live mid-market rate. Pre-loading TRY or exchanging at home locks in potentially poor rates. Always pay in TRY — DCC is common and very costly.
Best cards for Turkey
ATM guide
ATMs plentiful in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and tourist areas. Garanti BBVA, İş Bankası, and Yapı Kredi ATMs accept foreign cards. Flat fees of TRY 20–50 typically. ATM withdrawal limits vary — typically TRY 3,000–10,000. Avoid airport exchange desks.
Card acceptance
Good in cities and tourist areas. Grand Bazaar and smaller shops prefer cash. Restaurants and hotels are broadly card-friendly in Sultanahmet, Karaköy, and resort areas.
Money tips for Turkey
Always pay in TRY — the lira's volatility makes DCC particularly costly in Turkey.
Exchange rates fluctuate significantly — use a real-time app (Wise, Revolut, Google) to check before any large transaction.
Grand Bazaar: cash preferred; bargaining is expected; don't use card if you want the best price.
Dolmuş (shared minibuses): cash only.
Istanbul transport: İstanbulkart top-ups at metro stations accept foreign card.
Cards and options to avoid
Any card with forex fees — inflation makes rate accuracy critical
Frequently asked questions
Cash in Turkey
Cash for bazaars, local restaurants, and transport in non-tourist areas. TRY 500–1,000 as backup.
Local currency
Wise Card
Mid-market rate with transparent fees — one of the lowest true costs for spending abroad.