Best way to pay and withdraw cash in Istanbul as a tourist
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 5 days ago
TL;DR
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.
What the community said
Letim service works well for payments in Istanbul: you can withdraw cash from ATMs and pay via QR code at major retailers. It's cheaper and simpler than the typical multi-step currency exchange chain.
1 day ago Letim
Large retail stores like Vaikiki accept USD or EUR and give change in Turkish lira, often at a better rate than currency exchange offices.
2 days ago Vaikiki — pay in foreign currency, get change in lira
Paying directly in USD at shops and cafes is another option that works in many places across Istanbul, though the exchange rate may vary by vendor.
3 days ago