Best Travel Money Card for Turkey

Turkey is a popular destination for holidaymakers seeking sun, sand and cheap nights out. If you don't want to take cash with you, a travel money card can be a great option. You'll enjoy fee-free access to your money and better security than if you were travelling with wads of cash. We've broken down the best travel money options for Turkish getaways.

Which currency is used in Turkey?

The Turkish lira. Notes come in values of TL1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 liras. Each lira is divided into 100 Kuru?, with kr1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 coins available. Visa and Mastercard debit/credit cards are accepted in many places, though it's best to take cash if you're heading out of large towns or visiting markets.

Best pre-paid travel card for Turkey

The best pre-paid travel money card for Turkey currently is the Post Office Travel Money Card. You'll enjoy a locked-in rate and can check your balance, reload it and transfer money between currencies on the Travel app. Other excellent Turkish travel money cards are the Transferwise Turkish lira card and WeSwap debit card, which are ideal for users who regularly travel or need to swap their money between different currencies often.

Make sure you do your own research before travelling, as new products regularly enter the market that might offer you better rates or benefits. A comparison website will help you do this easily.

Can I exchange British Pounds in Turkey?

Yes, and it can often get you the best rates. You'll find Currency Exchange Offices (called Döviz Bürosu) in most large towns, tourist areas and markets. You can also exchange UK sterling in larger post offices and some banks, though many banks will only exchange US dollars and offer poor rates.

You can also exchange your money at international airports, though these will almost always offer bad rates. To avoid getting caught out, bring some lira with you in case you don't immediately find a place to exchange your home currency.

Can I bring traveller's cheques?

It's not wise to bring traveller's cheques to Turkey, as they're not welcomed by many banks. Those that do allow you to cash them charge incredibly high fees for the service, which can be up to 20% of the amount of the cheque. If you don't want to carry cash, travel money cards or your own debit/credit card are much better options.

Using GBP in Turkey

Lots of travellers report that restaurants and shops in Turkey will accept sterling. However, there's no official guidance around this, so always carry lira to avoid getting ripped off or stuck using an expensive bank card.