Can you use the euro in Turkey? Your Turkish currency guide

Planning a trip to Turkey is exciting. You're probably thinking about the incredible sights, the Grand Bazaar, and the fantastic food. But before you go, one of the most important things to think about is how to handle your travel money.

You might be wondering what currency Turkey uses for daily spending and if you should consider paying with British pounds or even euros while you’re there. Understanding the local payment system and knowing the most cost-effective ways to convert your money can help you save a lot of your holiday budget.

In this guide for UK travellers, we break down everything you need to know about the Turkish currency, the practicality of using euros and pounds, and how to pay safely and affordably in Turkey.

Exchange and transfer fees, fair usage limits, and T&Cs apply.

The information provided is accurate as of 20 November 2025.

The content of this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. If you have any questions about your personal circumstances, please seek professional and independent advice. Revolut is not a financial adviser.

What money does Turkey use?

The national and official currency of Turkey is the Turkish lira (Türk lirası), which is universally abbreviated to TRY and symbolised by ₺.

While Turkey is a major international travel hub, drawing millions of visitors from across the UK and the Eurozone, the Turkish lira is the only legal currency. All goods and services are officially priced and settled in TRY. It's the only currency accepted everywhere, from rural villages to public transport in city centres.

Using the local currency simplifies your payments and helps you stick to your budget without the confusion of on-the-spot conversion estimates.

Turkish lira facts and figures (TRY)

Knowing the denominations will help you manage your money easily, especially when you’re paying with cash or calculating tips. One Turkish lira is divided into 100 kuruş.

The banknotes you'll encounter are:

• ₺5, ₺10, ₺20, ₺50, ₺100, and ₺200

The coins are:

• 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and ₺1

Familiarising yourself with these notes and coins before you travel is a simple way to feel more confident when handling payments at markets or small local shops.

Can you pay with euros or pounds in Turkey?

This is the central question for many UK travellers, and the answer is this: while you can use euros in Turkey, you often shouldn’t.

Because of the high volume of international tourism, you'll find places in popular destinations such as Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, and coastal resorts that are willing to accept foreign cash, including the euro and the British pound.

Where foreign cash is accepted (and where it isn't)

In touristy areas, some places do accept euros (EUR), US dollars (USD), and GBP.

Foreign cash is often accepted by:

• Large, international hotel chains
• Tour and excursion operators
• High-end jewellery or carpet shops in tourist hotspots
• Some major restaurants and resort bars

Foreign cash is generally not accepted (or should be avoided) for:

• Local markets and street food vendors
• Taxis and most forms of public transport
• Small, independent retailers or bakeries
• Any service not inside a major city or tourist area

If you try to pay in euros or pounds in these situations, you'll likely be met with refusal, or the vendor will reluctantly accept it using an exchange rate heavily skewed in their favour.

When a Turkish vendor accepts EUR or GBP, they must later take that money to an exchange office to convert it into their operating currency, TRY. To compensate for this hassle, and to protect themselves against the volatility of the Turkish lira's exchange rate, they apply a safety margin to the price.

This margin often translates into you paying a 5–15% mark-up on the item that you wouldn’t have to worry about if you paid in Turkish lira.

If you want a clear and fair conversion rate, always insist on paying in Turkish lira. A multi-currency card like ours automatically handles the conversion process for you, giving you a significantly better rate.

How to get Turkish lira

If you decide that Turkish lira is the best currency to use, your next question is how and where to exchange your GBP for TRY. The method you choose affects the rate you get and the fees you pay.

Avoiding airport and hotel exchange prices

As a rule of thumb, you should always aim to avoid exchanging large amounts of currency at airports and hotels.

These locations are convenient, but they charge a significant premium. Their exchange rates are deliberately set to be less competitive, meaning you receive far fewer lira for your British pounds than you would elsewhere. Similarly, you often get worse rates when you change money before you leave the UK than you can find once you arrive in Turkey.

It's sensible to exchange a very small amount, just enough for a taxi or a snack when you land, but reserve the bulk of your exchange for better rates in the city centre.

ATMs vs exchange offices (döviz bürosu)

Once you're in a city like Istanbul or Izmir, you have 2 main options for getting lira: a licensed exchange office or an ATM:

• Exchange offices (döviz bürosu): these dedicated currency exchange offices are common in city centres and generally offer clearer, more competitive rates than banks or airport desks. Always check the rates posted on their boards and be wary of any office that advertises a 0% commission but displays a very poor exchange rate. The commission is simply built into the rate itself.
• ATMs: for most customers, using an ATM with a multi-currency card offers the best combination of speed, clarity, and convenience. Your card provider, for example us, handles the currency conversion, usually at a much easier to understand rate than traditional exchange services.

When using an ATM, there's one important concept to master: dynamic currency conversion (DCC). If the ATM asks if you want to continue the transaction in British pounds (GBP) or Turkish lira (TRY), always choose TRY. Choosing GBP allows the ATM operator (not your card provider) to apply its own (often highly unfavourable) exchange rate. By selecting TRY, you opt for your card provider’s clearer, more competitive rate.

No ATM withdrawal fees within plan limits. T&Cs apply. Third parties may charge ATM fees.

Should you use cards or cash in Turkey?

Turkey is well-served by card networks like Visa and Mastercard. However, a combination of cash and card is the most practical way to pay, ensuring you're prepared for every situation.

When to use your card

Your multi-currency card is your primary tool for security and large payments, including:

• Accommodation: hotels, resorts, and pre-booked apartment costs
• Large retail: shopping malls, duty-free stores, and major chain restaurants
• High-value transactions: any item over a few hundred lira where you prefer the security of a card transaction over handling large quantities of cash
• Online bookings: domestic flights, trains, and tours are safest booked online with a card

When to use cash

Keep some Turkish lira cash on you for smaller, necessary expenses like:

• Tipping: from servers to spa attendants, tips are typically given in cash (10–15% in restaurants is standard)
• Bargaining: when shopping at markets like the Grand Bazaar, cash is essential for haggling, as vendors won't negotiate on card payments
• Taxis: local shared taxis (dolmuş) and many independent city taxis rely purely on cash
• Small purchases: street food, small coffee shops, local corner shops, and public toilet fees often require lira coins or small notes

As a general rule, travellers often carry between ₺1,000–2,000 in small denominations for daily use, keeping the rest of their money safe on their card.

Why use a multi-currency travel card?

For UK customers planning a trip to Turkey, using a specialist multi-currency travel money card like ours is a cost-effective and safe way to manage your finances.

Many traditional banks charge high fees for foreign transactions and ATM withdrawals, quickly eating away at your holiday budget. Our approach is to provide clear and competitive rates, making us your essential companion for seamless travel.

You can manage and exchange over 30 currencies in-app, including GBP, EUR, and TRY, meaning you only need one card for ‌all your trips and at home.

Turkey’s currency has historically been subject to periods of high volatility, meaning the value of the lira compared to the pound can change rapidly, impacting the purchasing power of your money while abroad. You can learn more about it on our TRY historical rates, exchange GBP to TRY before your trip when you’re happy with the rate, and keep it in your account until your trip.

To see how competitive our rates are, check any currency conversion, including GBP to TRY, on our dedicated currency converter page.

Final tips for keeping your money safe in Turkey

Safety and security are important when travelling. Modern digital accounts like ours provide tools to keep your money safe.

The protection measures we take for your account include:

• Instant freezing: if you misplace your card or suspect theft, you can instantly freeze it in-app with a single tap. If you find it, you can instantly unfreeze it.
• Security measures: you have full control over your card’s security settings, including enabling/disabling contactless payments, online transactions, and ATM withdrawals. We also use geo-blocking to provide an extra layer of protection when your card is used in a different location to your phone.
• Virtual cards: for booking hotels or flights online, use a single-use virtual card. After the transaction, the card details expire, protecting your main account details from potential fraud.

To protect yourself from being robbed, avoid withdrawing large sums late at night.Only take money out in small amounts and from secure ATMs attached to major banks.

Learn more about how we protect your money.

Get started with Revolut for your next trip to turkey

Make us your travel money card for seamless spending abroad, and manage Turkish lira and over 150 other currencies in-app.

Getting started is quick and easy:

1. Download the Revolut app from the App Store or Google Play and sign up for Revolut.
2. Follow the in-app process to complete your profile and verify your identity.
3. Add money to your account in British pounds (GBP) via transfer or a linked card.
4. Once in-app, you can create a Turkish lira currency Pocket and exchange the amount you plan to spend. Or, simply start spending from your usual GBP balance in Turkey — we'll handle the conversion instantly.
5. Order your physical card (delivery fees apply) and, if needed, add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay to start spending immediately.