Do UnionPay cards work in Istanbul ATMs and stores?
Based on 1 discussions with 2 participants · Last activity: 5 days ago
TL;DR
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.
What the community said
An RSHB UnionPay card worked for topping up an Istanbul Card (public transport card) and at a cafe near Yoros Castle, but was declined at Migros and Şok supermarkets. Results are inconsistent — carry cash as backup.
1 day ago Migros, Şok — declined; cafe near Yoros Castle — accepted
RSHB UnionPay cards are not being read by ATMs across Istanbul, and QR payments are also failing for multiple travelers simultaneously. This appears to be a widespread issue, not an isolated case.
1 day ago
Local shopkeepers in Istanbul have confirmed there are general problems with UnionPay acceptance in the city. Cards that worked in multiple other countries, including Egypt, stopped functioning immediately upon arrival in Istanbul.
1 day ago UnionPay — city-wide acceptance issues in Istanbul