💵 Money in Türkiye: lira, cards, cash and tipping

The currency is the Turkish lira

The official currency is the Turkish lira, written TL or TRY. Prices on menus and tickets are in lira. I am not publishing an exchange rate — it moves — so check a reliable rate on the day and look at the alış (buy) and satış (sell) figures on the board.

You will still hear people say “lira” in everyday speech. Small coins and notes go faster than you expect at a bakkal or a street stall, so keep some broken change: “Bozuk paranız var mı?”

Cards and cash

In cities, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and most shops, cards are widely accepted, including many foreign debit and credit cards. Contactless works in a lot of places. You should still carry some cash for neighbourhood markets, bazaar stalls, dolmuş minibuses, some small cafés, bakkals and tips.

If a terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, that is dynamic currency conversion. Decline it and pay in Turkish lira; your own bank’s rate is usually better.

“Kartla ödeyebilir miyim?” is the polite way to ask. “Fiş alabilir miyim?” gets you a receipt, which is useful if you need to check a payment.

Exchange offices and ATMs

Licensed exchange offices are called döviz bürosu. They are common in tourist areas and city centres. Compare the posted rates and ask for a receipt. Airport and hotel desks are convenient but often give a weaker rate — changing a little for the taxi on arrival is fine, and leaving the rest for a city-centre office is usually wiser.

ATMs (bankamatik) are everywhere in towns and cities and generally accept major international cards. Banks and ATM operators may charge a fee; your own bank may charge another. I will not invent a typical fee. Use machines attached to a proper bank when you can, shield your PIN, and be wary of anyone who “helps” at the machine.

If an ATM offers to withdraw in euros or dollars and convert for you, take the lira amount instead.

Tipping — custom, not a law

Tipping is a custom, not a legal requirement. Always look at the bill first: “Servis ücreti dahil mi?” means “is the service charge included?” If a service charge (servis ücreti) is already on the bill, an extra tip is optional.

If service is not included and you were happy, rounding up or leaving around 5–10 percent in a restaurant is a common habit, not a rule. In a taxi, rounding up to a convenient note is typical if the service was fine. Hotel porters and housekeeping are sometimes tipped in cash, in lira, at your discretion.

This is everyday practice as travellers and locals describe it, not an official tariff. When in doubt, be polite, pay the bill, and add a little only if you want to.