Banking & Money — page 2

Does a Russian UnionPay card work in Istanbul — for payments and ATM withdrawals?

ATM withdrawals work reliably (e.g. at Vakıfbank ATMs, ~250 RUB flat fee per transaction). Card payments are hit-or-miss — roughly 50/50.

3 sources · 55 days ago

Do UnionPay cards work in Istanbul ATMs and stores?

UnionPay cards are unreliable in Istanbul — most ATMs and supermarkets don't accept them, though they may work in some cafes and at Istanbul Card top-up terminals.

1 source · 4 days ago

Best way to pay and withdraw cash in Istanbul as a tourist

The Letim service lets you withdraw cash from ATMs and pay via QR code in major stores — more convenient and cost-effective than exchanging through intermediary currencies. Some large stores like Vaikiki accept foreign currency and give change in lira at a decent rate.

2 sources · 12 days ago

Do currency exchange offices in Istanbul accept old US dollar bills?

Most exchange offices around the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul refuse old US dollar bills or offer very unfavorable rates. Bring new-series bills to avoid problems.

2 sources · 9 days ago

Which ATMs in Istanbul accept UnionPay cards without fees?

Ziraat Bank ATMs accept UnionPay without their own fee; Vakıf and İş Bankası also reportedly work. Your card issuer may still charge a flat fee per withdrawal, so withdraw larger amounts.

2 sources · 24 days ago

Should I bring euros, dollars, or Turkish lira to Istanbul?

Bring euros or dollars and exchange them in Istanbul — both are widely accepted. Avoid 500€ notes as they can be hard to exchange.

2 sources · 22 days ago

How to get cash Turkish lira in Istanbul via money transfer services like KoronaPay?

You can send a transfer to yourself via KoronaPay and pick up cash Turkish lira (or USD/EUR) at a Turkish post office. Rates are often better than exchange offices, but cash availability at a specific branch isn't guaranteed.

1 source · 4 days ago