You should use both cash (Turkish Lira) and card in Turkey, as cards (Visa/Mastercard) work in most hotels, restaurants, and larger shops, but cash is essential for markets, street food, taxis, and tips, especially in smaller towns where card machines aren't available. Always choose to pay in Turkish Lira (TRY) on card machines to avoid poor exchange rates from Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) and notify your bank before traveling.
It's generally better to take British Pounds (GBP) to Turkey and exchange them for Turkish Lira (TRY) upon arrival for better rates, as local exchange offices often offer much better deals than in the UK. While some tourist spots accept GBP, paying in Lira ensures better value and avoids hidden markups, especially when using cards with no foreign transaction fees like a Wise or Revolut card, or a dedicated travel card like Hays Travel.
200 is a lot and I'm sure it doesn't feel nice to be taken advantage of just because you're a tourist...but I usually encourage tourists to tip here, even 50 lira will be acceptable and appreciated even though it's literally a dollar.
While typically more convenient, paying with euros in Turkey is generally disadvantageous as many businesses will apply an additional fee or higher exchange rate. Plus, businesses will almost always return change in liras regardless of the currency you pay in.
What money should you take to Turkey? Cash or Card
Is 7000 Turkish lira enough for a week?
Generally it's enough when you don't overspend yourself and don't want to do all at once. Just my advice here is, don't come now and wait at least beyond September. Either make your plans for end of September or October, when the weather is still Okey and the crowd is a bit less.
The amount you tip in Turkey will depend on where you are and what type of services you're buying. As a general rule, expect to tip around 10% of the bill. If you get exceptionally good service, say thank you with a tip closer to 15-20%.
Yes, in the U.S., a 10% tip is often considered low and potentially insulting for standard sit-down restaurant service, where 15-20% is the norm, but it can be acceptable for mediocre service or in regions where tipping culture differs (like parts of Europe). The perception depends heavily on location, service quality, and the type of establishment, with fine dining expecting more and takeaway sometimes expecting less, but a 10% tip generally signals dissatisfaction with service in America.
In neighborhood coffeehouses or small restaurants, a cup of Turkish coffee typically costs 7-20 TRY. In more popular cafés or tourist areas, this price can rise to 40-60 TRY. In luxury hotels and fine-dining restaurants, specially prepared Turkish coffee can exceed 100 TRY.
While the Turkish lira is the official currency and is accepted nationwide, there are businesses that will accept euros, or even request it as the preferred currency. The businesses accepting euros are often bigger and can often be found in larger cities, border areas or tourist hubs.
The 2/3/4 rule for credit cards is a guideline, notably used by Bank of America, that limits how many new cards you can get approved for: no more than two in 30 days, three in 12 months, and four in 24 months, helping manage hard inquiries and credit risk. It's a strategy to space out applications, preventing too many hard pulls on your credit report and helping maintain financial health by avoiding over-extending yourself.
Do you need cash in Türkiye? Credit cards and debit cards are accepted all over Türkiye, but it's also a good idea to have some lira with you. If you're visiting a market like the Grand Bazaar, you may find that cash is preferred.
Typically $25, if it's a place that has multiple people participating in waiting on you(food, runners, tipped out bartenders, bussers) I usually go to about 30% to make sure my my server doesn't lose money by having to pay out other people.
overtipped; overtipping. transitive + intransitive. : to tip (someone) too much : to give (someone) a larger gratuity than is normal or expected. He overtipped the waiter. She always overtips.
As a blanket rule, you don't need to tip anyone who earns a salary or performs a trade. That means you don't have to tip doctors, lawyers, teachers, plumbers or cable technicians. "Not only would it not be expected, it would be highly unorthodox and very awkward," says Farley.
So it's worth getting to know what each Turkish lira note equates to in pounds, so you have a rough idea of costs. While 100 Turkish lira sounds like a lot, for example, bear in mind that it generally equates to a few pounds – or less – depending on the exchange rate.
Do dress modestly; women may be asked to cover their heads and shoulders. Don't visit a mosque during prayer times, especially the main Friday noon Jumu'ah prayer. Don't talk or laugh loudly in a mosque. Don't obstruct or walk in front of a person who is praying.
For example, if the bill is 190 TL, leaving 200 TL is polite. In mid-range restaurants, leaving 5–10% is common. In fine dining or tourist-focused restaurants, 10–15% is considered normal. Always check your bill before leaving a tip.
While it depends where you'll be going and what you'll be doing, it's recommended to take around £40 to £50 per person in spending money with you to Turkey. This makes it around £280 to £350 per person for a week's holiday in Turkey.
