Can you withdraw Turkish lira and pay with foreign bank cards in Antalya, Turkey?

In the discussion on 2 October 2026, one participant reported that Letim top-ups, withdrawals and other transactions had stopped working during the summer. Another traveller reported successfully using a physical Letim card for payments in Turkey in 2025. Rules change — confirm with an official source before you travel.

On 3 October 2026, a traveller reported successfully withdrawing Turkish lira with a Rosselkhozbank UnionPay card, although a withdrawal fee was charged.

Turkish lira can be withdrawn with a Rosselkhozbank UnionPay card at VakıfBank Bankamatik ATMs without an ATM-side fee. Rosselkhozbank may still charge its own fee, and the exchange rate depends on the card’s currency and terms.

Rosselkhozbank UnionPay payments have been reported as successful at Şok, Tahtakale, LC Waikiki, and Çağlarsoy stores in Turkey.

A Rosselkhozbank UnionPay card can be used for payments and cash withdrawals only at terminals and ATMs displaying the UnionPay logo. Acceptance is not universal: it was declined at a petrol station and a small beach-side stall.

A recent report confirms UnionPay worked for a 100-lira airport luggage-trolley payment. According to the traveler, conversion via a CNY account gave a better rate.

Before travelling, it is recommended to activate a Rosselkhozbank UnionPay card in Russia by topping it up at the bank’s ATM or making a purchase for any amount. In Turkey, insert the card into the terminal using the chip rather than tapping contactlessly.

A recent report confirms a Rosselkhozbank UnionPay card worked smoothly for an online Pegasus Airlines ticket purchase.

Non-residents can issue a virtual card through the Ininal e-wallet service — one of the most popular options for payments and purchases in Turkish lira (alongside Papara, which also allows creating a virtual card in-app).

If you have a working Visa or Mastercard issued by a foreign bank, you can generally use it for payments in Turkey; if needed, you can also withdraw Turkish lira from an ATM.

Papara had its license revoked by Turkey's central bank, but an Ankara court overturned that decision. Some travelers still use it, though caution is advised given the instability of Turkish fintech services in general.

Rosselkhozbank cards (USD and CNY accounts) may work at Turkish ATMs for lira withdrawals, but acceptance varies by ATM and bank — some terminals decline the transaction.

YuMoney (formerly Yandex.Money) card usability in Turkey is uncertain — travelers ask whether it works for payments and ATM withdrawals, but no confirmed reports are available. Best to have a backup payment method.