Can I pay by card in Turkey, or do I need cash?

Cards are accepted almost everywhere in cities, including restaurants, shops, museums and most hotels. Contactless is common. Cash is still handy for small local shops, markets, some minibuses, tips and public toilets, so keep a modest amount of Turkish lira on you.

When a card machine or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, choose Turkish lira instead. The conversion offered at the terminal usually comes with a worse rate. Bank-branch ATMs generally have lower fees than the independent ones in tourist areas.

In Istanbul, get an Istanbulkart for public transport. You top it up at station machines, and many of them now accept cards as well as cash. One card can be shared by a group by tapping once for each person.