- Currency
- Turkish lira (TL, ₺); about 55 TL to €1 in October 2026
- Cards
- Visa and Mastercard almost everywhere, contactless common
- At the terminal
- Always choose to pay in lira
- Cash
- Keep some for taxis, small cafés and tips
In Nişantaşı (Nisantasi) and most of central Istanbul you can pay almost everything by card or phone, in Turkish lira. When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and choose lira: the conversion rate it offers is usually worse than your bank’s. Bank ATMs and exchange offices are the best ways to get cash; airport and hotel exchange desks give lower rates. Keep a little cash for taxis, small cafés and tips.
How do I pay in Istanbul?
| Method | Where it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Visa or Mastercard | Shops, restaurants, cafés, hotels, malls, museums | Choose lira, not your home currency, on the terminal |
| Phone or watch (contactless) | Most places that take contactless cards | Small shops may have older terminals |
| American Express | Hotels and larger shops | Less widely accepted; carry another card |
| Cash in lira | Everywhere | Needed for some taxis, street food, small tips |
| Euros or dollars in cash | Some shops and hotels | Prices are converted at a poor rate; pay in lira |
Why choose lira at the card terminal?
Many terminals and ATMs offer to convert the amount into your home currency on the spot. This is called dynamic currency conversion, and the rate it uses usually includes a margin of several percent. If you choose TL (or “Türk Lirası”), your own bank does the conversion, which is almost always cheaper. The same applies to ATM withdrawals.
ATMs
- Use the ATMs of Turkish banks, which are on every main street in Nişantaşı and Osmanbey and in the metro stations. Menus are available in English and several other languages.
- The ATM operator may add a fee for foreign cards, and your own bank may charge too. The screen shows the operator’s fee before you confirm.
- Independent ATMs in tourist areas often charge more than bank ATMs.
- Withdrawal limits per transaction can be low, so you may need two withdrawals for a larger amount.
Exchange offices
Exchange offices (döviz bürosu) are common on the main avenues and usually give better rates than banks, airports or hotels. Most charge no commission: the difference is in the buy and sell rates on the board, so compare a couple. Bring clean, undamaged euro or dollar notes, and count your lira at the counter.
Taxis, transport and tipping
- Taxis: some accept cards, many prefer cash. Taxi apps can charge your card. Ask before you set off if you want to pay by card. See our taxi card.
- Istanbulkart: top it up at the machines in stations with cash, or with a card at the machines that accept cards. See practical tips.
- Tipping: if the bill has no service charge, leave around 10 percent in restaurants; in cafés, a few lira; in taxis, round up. Tips can often be added to a card payment; if not, leave cash.
If your home cards may not work abroad
Cards issued in some countries, including cards from Russian banks, may not work in Turkey, and the situation has changed several times in recent years. Ask your bank before you travel. Visitors in this situation usually bring cash in euros or dollars and exchange it in Istanbul; if you carry a large amount, check the customs declaration rules for entering Turkey.
Costs and refunds
Prices in shops include VAT. Visitors who live outside Turkey can claim part of it back on goods they take home: see tax-free shopping. For what things cost, from a coffee to a taxi from the airport, see Istanbul trip costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay by card everywhere in Istanbul?
Almost everywhere in central Istanbul, including Nişantaşı: shops, restaurants, cafés, hotels and museums take Visa and Mastercard. Keep a little cash for some taxis, street food and tips.
Should I pay in lira or in my own currency?
In lira. When a terminal or ATM offers to convert to your home currency, the rate usually includes a margin of several percent. Choose TL and let your bank convert.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Istanbul?
At an exchange office (döviz bürosu) on a main street. They usually give better rates than banks, the airport or hotels. Compare the buy and sell rates on the board.
Can I pay in euros or dollars?
Some hotels and shops accept them, but they convert at a poor rate. Paying in lira, by card or with cash, is cheaper.
Do taxis in Istanbul take cards?
Some do, but many drivers prefer cash. Ask before the ride, or use a taxi app that charges your card.