Do Russian cards (MIR/UnionPay) work in ATMs and card terminals in Istanbul?

From messages by 3 participants in 2 sources · Last activity: 51 days ago

TL;DR

Russian cards are hit-or-miss in Istanbul. ATMs at Vakıfbank and Ziraat tend to work better than POS terminals. RSHB UnionPay card is a reliable option for cash withdrawals.

What the community said

An RSHB UnionPay card was usable for QR-code payments even in small local shops. Payments did not work at Migros, so bring a backup payment method there.

RSHB UnionPay, Migros

ATMs are more reliable than POS terminals for Russian cards. Vakıfbank and Ziraat ATMs are among the most likely to accept them.

Vakıfbank, Ziraat ATMs

PTT (Turkish postal service) transfers can be done via their app, but branches are sparse in Istanbul. A RSHB UnionPay card is a practical alternative for ATM cash withdrawals.

PTT, RSHB UnionPay card

Card terminals in Istanbul often reject Russian cards. If tap-to-pay fails, try inserting the chip, and vice versa. Asking the cashier to switch the acquiring bank on the terminal can sometimes make it work.