The best currency to take to Turkey is the local currency, the Turkish lira. It is the most accepted currency in Turkey. Although you can pay with euros in some places, you’ll always get a better deal paying in the local currency. Get Turkish lira from ATMs using your debit card or travel card. Visa and Mastercard cards are widely accepted, especially in the big cities.
Yes, you can use your debit card in Turkey. In general debit cards are accepted at most local businesses including shops, restaurants and bars. However it is always a good idea to carry a small amount of cash as certain smaller businesses may not accept card. Be aware that your bank may charge you overseas fees. It can be a good idea to open a separate account with a bank or e-money provider that has low or no overseas fees that are designed for travel.
Much like a prepaid travel money card, a travel debit card lets you spend your own money. You can use a debit card over the counter and to withdraw money from an ATM where Visa and Mastercard are accepted throughout the country.
Credit cards give you a line of credit to use for emergencies, large purchases or over-the-counter transactions. Remember that your purchases will collect interest though, so either use interest-free days by paying your account in full each month or take up a card with a low or 0% purchase rate. Using your credit card at an ATM will cost you a high cash advance fee as well as interest and international ATM fees.
You’ll also want to pick a card that doesn’t charge currency conversion fees as these will add up each time you use your card to pay in a foreign currency. Credit cards designed for overseas use often come with additional perks such as complimentary travel insurance and rewards programs that could come in handy.
A travel money card is a fairly safe way to take money abroad. However, unlike a debit card, it is not linked to your bank account to prevent identity theft. If it is lost or stolen, a replacement can be sent to your holiday address. Once you’ve received and activated your card, you can top it up and use it as you would a debit card in merchants and shops across the world. Once you are home, you can continue to use it or simply withdraw all the remaining funds.
It’s far more convenient (and it can be cheaper) to use your travel-friendly debit card or prepaid travel card to make ATM withdrawals rather than a traveller’s cheque when you need cash. Traveller’s cheques must be cashed at banks and they are not accepted at exchange offices or businesses.
Always have lira on you when you’re out and about in Turkey as you’re bound to run into situations where a business won’t accept your card. Cafes, small eateries and tea houses are all cash-only. Larger stores are likely to take cards but some of the best experiences such as shopping in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar are largely a cash affair.
If paying by cash or traveller’s cheque even is old hat by your standards, then you should consider using a digital banking app on your travels. These apps, including big names such as Starling, Revolut and Monzo, provide a straightforward way to make payments while abroad without incurring any transaction or withdrawal fees.
There are numerous banking options for spending in Turkey, however there are three front runners currently: Monzo, Revolut and Starling.
Yes, you can use Monzo in Turkey. As Monzo cards (both physical and virtual) are Mastercard-enabled, they can be used in Turkey as Mastercard is widely accepted at shops, restaurants, hotels etc. You can make fee-free purchases with Monzo and can withdraw cash at ATMs, which is free up to £200 every 30 days, as Turkey is not in the EEA. If you go over this withdrawal limit, a 3% charge will be applied to each withdrawal. Monzo automatically converts to the Turkish lira using Mastercard’s exchange rate, without adding any mark-ups or hidden charges.
Yes, you can use Revolut in Turkey. Revolut cards can be used for all card purchases and withdrawals wherever Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Revolut does support spending and withdrawals, however it’s only fee-free on weekdays (£1000 limit on purchases, £200 limit on withdrawals). This is because on weekends, Revolut applies a markup of 1% on both purchases and withdrawals overseas for all standard-plan users. For all purchases, Revolut will automatically exchange to Turkish lira at the current exchange rate.
Yes, you can use Starling in Turkey. Whether physical or virtual Starling Bank cards can be used anywhere that accepts Mastercard payments, including shops, hotels, restaurants, online shopping, ATMs etc. With Starling, you can spend up to £10,000 per day fee-free and you can withdraw up to £300 per day (6 withdrawals maximum per day). For all purchases, Starling Bank automatically exchanges to Turkish lira at the Mastercard exchange rate.
Turkey is a value destination for British travellers. Like all places in the world, Turkey is as cheap or expensive as you want it to be.
| Istanbul | Budget | Mid-range | A royal experience |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Dürüm kebab (street) £3 | At a mid-range restaurant £6–12 per dish | 5-star restaurant, mains from £25 per dish |
 | Hostel dorm £6+ per night | 2-star hotel £25+ per night | 5-star hotel £100–£500 per night |
 | Stroll through the Grand Bazar free | 1-day sightseeing tour, £60 per person (includes lunch) | Private photo tour of Istanbul £200 per person for 4 hours |
*Prices are approximate and based on summer seasonality and are subject to change.
The pound sterling has strengthened against the Turkish lira in recent years. If you believe this trend is set to continue, you can take advantage of weakening lira by using your card for the card scheme exchange rate, which is close to the market rate.
| Year | Average annual exchange pound sterling (GBP) to Turkish lira (TRY) |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6.4336 |
| 2019 | 7.2572 |
| 2020 | 9.0194 |
| 2021 | 12.2048 |
| 2022 | 20.3679 |
| 2023 | 29.6731 |
| 2024 | 39.115 |
*2024 rate is for 1 January to 21 March 2024.
Transactions on Visa, Mastercard and American Express branded credit cards and debit cards use the card scheme exchange rate. This is as close to the market rate as you’re likely to get when you exchange funds from pound sterling to Turkish lira. Travel cards use a different rate. The financial institution which provides the travel card applies a margin when you exchange funds between currency wallets.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Turkey. American Express cardholders may have issues with card acceptance, especially outside the major cities. There is an abundance of ATMs in Turkey and if you think you’re going to have an issue using your card in a particular destination, make a withdrawal and use cash instead.
There are debit cards that waive the currency conversion fee as well as the international ATM fee. This is preferable to using a travel card in Turkey as no prepaid travel cards support the Turkish lira.
| Travel money option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards for travel |
|
|
| Prepaid travel money cards |
|
|
| Credit cards for travel |
|
|
| Traveller’s cheques |
|
|
| Cash |
|
|
This table is a general summary of the travel money products in the market. Features and benefits can vary between cards.
While you can buy lira in most high streets or online travel shops, you will get a better deal if you wait to purchase lira in Turkey as the rate is likely to be worse than what you’ll get from an exchange office or ATM when you arrive. You can compare travel money services here.
If you have a no currency conversion fee and no international ATM fee card, ATMs are the best way to get lira in Turkey. When you use your card to withdraw cash, you’ll get the card scheme foreign exchange rate, which is a better rate than what you’ll get at exchange offices or banks. If you have cash to exchange, most exchange offices will buy pound sterling and sell you lira. You can find these businesses in tourist areas, for example, Taksim in Istanbul, and unlike banks, you may not pay a commission. Avoid exchanging cash at the airport, the rates are poor.
You can use a Visa or Mastercard debit card, credit card and travel card to get cash from Turkish ATMs. Most ATMs give you the choice of withdrawing Turkish lira or euros. Lira is the currency of Turkey, so you’ll need to use lira for cash purchases to avoid losing out by “over the counter” foreign currency exchange rates.
You won’t have any problems using your Visa and Mastercard credit card and debit card in Turkey, but a thousand things could happen to your card when you’re away. So you should always have more than one way to access your money in Turkey, or anywhere for that matter. A debit card is ideal for ATM withdrawals, especially so if the product waives the international ATM fee.
Meanwhile, a credit card gives you a line of credit that can come in handy for large or emergency purchases. Remember that most credit card purchases will incur interest though, which can heighten your expenses.
Turkey is the gateway to Europe and the meeting point between the East and the West. Travel cards are not the best product to take to Turkey. However, if you’re travelling to the eurozone as well, these products may be worth comparing. Use the right product for the right situation and you’ll save yourself enough for an extra beer, meals, souvenirs or even a night out by the end of your trip.
Compare travel money products that let you spend in foreign currencies and make cheap ATM withdrawals so you can avoid giving your bank a slice of your budget that should be spent enjoying yourself.
Compare all your travel money options in one place and see how far your money can go in the land of smiles.
Learn more about your options for spending travel money in Colombia.
Discover the best ways to spend travel money in Belgium.
Discover the best ways to spend travel money in Fiji.
Get a multi-currency card instantly by visiting a Post Office branch, but watch out for the fees.
Here’s all you need to know about the travel debit card that wants to make travelling and spending money abroad hassle free.
The cheapest and easiest ways to use travel money cards, debit and credit cards in the UAE.
Everything you need to know about withdrawing and spending money in Spain. What currency do I need? Do I need a travel card?
Taking a travel card is less stressful than taking a regular bank card and there’s also savings to be had. Find out if a prepaid travel card is right for you before booking your trip abroad.