Turkey Currency 2026: Lira, Cards, ATMs & Exchange Tips
Current exchange rates
| Currency | Turkish lira (TRY) |
|---|---|
| 1 USD | 49.74 TRY |
| 1 EUR | 55.73 TRY |
| 1 GBP | 66.53 TRY |
Updated 2026-10-25 04:20:04 UTC · Source: ExchangeRate-API
Daily reference rates, not a guaranteed bank or cash-exchange quote. Meals and taxi budgets are illustrative, not live prices.
✓ Last reviewed: 29 September 2026 — Verified and updated by İlyas Bayrak, licensed Turkish guide (licence 070867), with the My Turkey Adventure editorial team. Prices, opening hours, transport fares and visa rules reflect the latest 2026 guidance. Quick Answer: The official currency is the Turkish Lira (₺, TRY) , and while Visa and Mastercard are accepted across nearly 85% of urban merchants , you will definitively need cash for local markets, tips, and rural regions. To avoid massive conversion fees, never exchange more than $50 USD at the airport arrivals hall; instead, use local Döviz (exchange) offices in the city center or withdraw from a local bank ATM using a travel card—remembering to always decline the ATM’s Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) offer so you are billed in local currency. On my tours in Turkey, credit card use is widespread at 95% (Visa/Mastercard). However, I always recommend keeping cash in the vehicle in small TL notes (50 TL, 100 TL, 200 TL) for tipping, village markets, taxis and toilets at historic sites. At ATMs, when the screen asks whether to charge you in your home currency or in Turkish lira, I always tell guests to choose "Without Conversion" (TRY). "With Conversion" lets the ATM bank apply its own dynamic exchange-rate margin, which is usually far worse than your card's rate. For withdrawals with foreign cards, I suggest state-owned bank ATMs, which generally charge lower usage fees than many private-bank machines. Fees change often, so check the amount shown on screen before confirming. Visa and Mastercard are generally accepted in Turkey (Amex may not be accepted in some places). Carrying Turkish Lira (TL) in small-denomination notes is recommended for taxis or local markets. What is the Official Currency in Turkey? The official currency of the Republic of Turkey is the Turkish Lira . You will typically see it written with the international currency code TRY or symbolized locally with the ₺ sign (which is uniquely placed before o