One of the first things to know before visiting is that the official currency of Turkey is the Turkish lira (TRY). Whether you're shopping in bustling bazaars, dining at local restaurants, or exploring hidden gems, understanding the Turkish lira will help you make the most of your travel experience.
The best currency to take to Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TRY), as it is the official currency and widely accepted for all transactions. While some places, especially in tourist areas, may accept euros or US dollars, using the local currency will typically provide better exchange rates and make transactions easier.
Despite prices in the tourist shops being marked in Euros, Turkish Lira is always preferred. Any foreign currency needs changing by the merchant, at a worse rate than we can get, in order to pay rent, wages, bills, food and everything else in life.
What money is used in Turkey? The currency is Turkish Lira (Türk Lirası). This is the official tender used in the whole country. You will see how much things cost quoted with TL or TRY and the symbol ₺.
Is it better to take English money to Turkey in pounds?
Whenever you travel abroad, it's best to take the country's official currency with you. That way, you'll avoid unnecessary exchange fees and any additional charges. The local currency in Turkey is the Turkish lira and each lira is divided into 100 kuruş.
What money should you take to Turkey? Cash or Card
Is it better to take cash or card to Turkey?
It's usually best to have both cash and a card when travelling in Turkey. You'll need cash for small shops and markets, taxis and buses, while it's often easier to pay in hotels and restaurants with a card.
On the other hand, to pay expenses in smaller amounts, it is recommended that you have some Lira with you when traveling to Turkey; this will help you not only not have to constantly go to exchange offices to exchange Dollars for Lira but also prevent incorrect payment of expenses with a higher amount in Dollars.
In Turkey, you can pay with the Turkish Lira (TRY). One Turkish Lira cent is called “kurus”. Euros and Sterling are also accepted in many places. But pay attention to what you pay exactly.
Tipping is expected in Turkey and leaving a 10-15% tip on your bill in a restaurant is generally an acceptable amount. When it comes to other areas of the service industry, such as taxis and hairdressers, rounding up the fare is a nice gesture but not obligatory.
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.
How much money should I take to Turkey for a week? 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.
You may see prices quoted as euros in some tourist attractions in Istanbul and you can pay in euros or Turkish Lira. Some vendors in Istanbul may accept euros, but it's always best to travel with lira in your pocket so you can be sure that you can pay everywhere you go.
Will I get charged for using my debit card in Turkey?
Both debit card and credit card payments are accepted all over Turkey, but you may need to pay some extra fees. When paying by card outside the UK, you should usually have the choice between converting to British pounds at the point of sale or paying in lira.
An average restaurant in Turkey is about five times cheaper than in the UK. A meal includes appetizers, bread and sauces and only costs around £3.50 for the main course and a salad. The equivalent in London would cost around £15.
The official currency in Turkey is the Turkish lira, usually abbreviated as TRY or just TL and is generally the best currency to use, however other currencies may accepted in certain larger resorts and cities. You'll see the symbol ₺ used to represent it.
The exchange rate for British pound sterling to Turkish liras is currently 55.5593 today, reflecting a 0.000% change since yesterday. Over the past week, the value of British pound sterling has remained relatively stable, with a 0.335% increase compared to its value 7 days ago.
Is 7,000 Turkish Lira enough to visit Turkey for 2 people for 7 days? Generally it's enough when you don't overspend yourself and don't want to do all at once.
Due to the exchange rate practice, Turkiye has one of the lowest drug prices in Europe. There is a significant difference in the reference price of a product in Euros, which forms the basis for prices in Turkiye, and the actual price in Turkish lira because of the exchange rate.
Food and Restaurants: Prices vary widely based on location and type of dining. Enjoying a meal at an inexpensive restaurant will cost around 50 TRY, while a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant might set you back about 300 TRY. Supermarket Shopping: Prices in supermarkets are reasonable.
