Money & Payments in Istanbul (2026)

Good to know

Good to Know

Card acceptance is widespread in Istanbul, but always carry cash for street food, small vendors, and tipping—many locals rely on tips to supplement low wages.
ATM fees vary significantly by bank. Avoid dynamic currency conversion and always withdraw in Turkish Lira to get the best rate. Some banks (Halkbank, PTT) historically offer fee-free withdrawals, but status changes; check the fee screen before confirming.
Tipping is not mandatory but culturally expected. It's always appreciated, even small amounts. Always tip in cash; card machines rarely offer tip-adding options.
Most ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard, but inform your home bank of travel dates. Check your bank's foreign transaction fees before withdrawing cash.
Exchanging money at the airport incurs worse rates; use ATMs in central Istanbul neighborhoods (Sultanahmet, Taksim, Karaköy) instead. Bring small bills for tipping and casual purchases.

Account Types

Current Account (Mevduat Hesabı)
Description
Checking/current account for everyday cashless payments. Most common for expats.
Time Deposit Account (Vadeli Hesap)
Description
Interest-bearing deposits over fixed-term period with higher rates
Multi-currency Accounts
Description
Available through some banks; many offer USD, EUR, GBP accounts

Major Banks For Expats

İşBank
Notes
Large private bank, English support, competitive fees
Garanti BBVA
Notes
Advanced digital banking, strong international presence, dedicated expat desks
Ziraat Bank
Notes
Largest government bank, extensive branch network, stable option for non-residents
VakıfBank
Notes
Tailored expat banking services
Akbank
Notes
Private bank with good digital platform
Yapı Kredi
Notes
Fourth-largest private bank, known for Western Union services
DenizBank
Notes
Competitive interest rates, English website and staff
HSBC Turkey
Notes
International bank, good for frequent international transactions

Tipping Norms

Tour Guides: TRY 0.00
Tour Drivers: TRY 0.00
approximately 150–300 TRY per day for the group (not per person)
Bars And Cafes: TRY 0.00
General Culture: Tipping is not legally mandatory but is culturally expected in service industries. Turkish wages are relatively low, and staff rely on tips to supplement income. Small tips are always appreciated.
Currency Note: Tip in Turkish Lira. Staff may accept foreign currency but find it inconvenient to exchange.

Taxis

Longer Trips: For airport transfers and longer rides (e.g., IST to Sultanahmet), a more substantial tip of 150–300 TRY (approximately 8.50–17 USD) is generous and appreciated if the driver was helpful.
Public Transport: No tip expected for buses, ferries, or minibuses (dolmuş).
Standard Practice: Round up the fare to the nearest convenient amount. For example, a 142 TRY fare becomes 150 TRY, or pay 100 TRY for a 97 TRY fare.

Hotels

Porters: TRY 10
per bag
Housekeeping: TRY 20
per day for clean rooms; more if room service used

Restaurants

Payment Method: Always tip in cash, left in the bill sleeve or given directly to the server. Credit card machines in Turkey typically do not offer tip-addition options.
Fine Dining Upscale: TRY 0.00
Casual Local Eateries: Round up the bill or leave a small amount (e.g., 50–100 TRY for an 850 TRY bill).
Mid Range Restaurants: TRY 0.00
Service Charge Note: Check your bill for an automatic service charge (servis ücreti or servis dahil), typically 10–15%. If added, you are not obligated to tip further, though an extra 5% in cash for exceptional service is a kind gesture.

Spas And Hamams

Massage Scrubbing Services: TRY 0.00

ATM Information

Availability: ATMs are widely available throughout Istanbul, including at the airport and in central neighborhoods.
Card Acceptance: Most ATMs accept Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro from international cards.
Language Support: Most Istanbul ATMs offer English-language options.
Withdrawal Limits: Typical per-transaction limits are 4,000–10,000 TRY; many banks impose daily limits of 10,000 TRY.

Fee Structure

Bank Charges: Your home bank may charge 1–3% foreign transaction fees for ATM withdrawals abroad.
Operator Fees: Most Turkish ATMs charge withdrawal fees ranging from 50–150 TRY (approximately 1–3 USD) or 7–13.98% of the withdrawal amount, depending on the bank.
Fee Free Options: Some banks historically offered fee-free withdrawals: Halkbank and PTT ATMs are reported to still be fee-free as of mid-2026; Ziraat Bank charged fees as of May 2026 (previously free). HSBC and ING have sometimes offered fee-free options but status varies by location.

Avoiding Unnecessary Charges

Safer Banks: State-owned banks typically charge less than private banks.
Use Bank ATMs: Prefer ATMs inside bank branches over standalone machines.
Plan Withdrawals: Withdraw larger amounts less frequently to minimize transaction-fee exposure.
Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion: Always refuse ATM offers to convert to your home currency. Withdraw in Turkish Lira (TRY) only. DCC charges unfavorable markups and extra fees.

Card Acceptance

Overview: Card payment is very common and widely accepted in Istanbul, especially in malls, restaurants, hotels, and tourist areas. Visa and Mastercard dominate. However, many establishments prefer or only accept cash, particularly small shops, street vendors, bazaars, and some local eateries.
Digital Payment Note: Contactless payment is accepted in many Istanbul venues, but popular US-based mobile wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay are not available in Turkey due to local banking laws.

Where Cards Work

Shopping malls and large retail stores
Mid-range and upscale restaurants
Hotels and accommodations
Museums and major attractions
Bars and cafes

Where Cash Preferred

Street food stalls and vendors
Traditional bazaars and markets
Small local shops and kiosks
Taxis (though some accept cards)
Casual local eateries (lokantas)

Foreigners can open Turkish bank accounts. Major banks offer expat-friendly services with English support, online onboarding, and specialized expat desks.

Deposits Insurance

Savings guaranteed by bank up to 100,000 TRY

Account Opening Process

Online pre-registration increasingly available; appointment-based visits also common. Turkish banks offer services in English from internet banking to customer support. Processing typically straightforward once documents submitted.

Requirements For Residents

Valid passport
Turkish Tax Identification Number (TIN) — free, obtainable at any local tax office
Proof of address: utility bill (electricity, water, gas, internet) or notarized rental agreement
Turkish phone number

Requirements For Nonresidents

Turkish Tax Identification Number (TIN)
Passport
Minimum deposit typically required (some banks: 30,000 TRY for 3 months; others: 6,000 USD)
Power of Attorney from Turkish Consulate for non-resident foreigners (rare)

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About Istanbul

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.

Money & Payments in Istanbul

Good to know

Good to Know

Account Types

Current Account (Mevduat Hesabı)

Time Deposit Account (Vadeli Hesap)

Multi-currency Accounts

Major Banks For Expats

İşBank

Garanti BBVA

Ziraat Bank

VakıfBank

Akbank

Yapı Kredi

DenizBank

HSBC Turkey

Tipping Norms

Taxis

Hotels

Restaurants

Spas And Hamams

ATM Information

Fee Structure

Avoiding Unnecessary Charges

Card Acceptance

Where Cards Work

Where Cash Preferred

Deposits Insurance

Account Opening Process

Requirements For Residents

Requirements For Residents

Requirements For Nonresidents

Requirements For Nonresidents

Sources cited for this category

Money & Payments in other Middle East cities

More About Istanbul