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

If you are bringing cash to exchange, compare rates at the Grand Bazaar and in the Sirkeci area of the Old City; these are described in the discussion as offering some of the best rates. Euros are convenient for excursions, although dollars are also usable if you do not have euros.

If you only have a €500 note, one suggested workaround is making a small purchase at the arrivals duty-free shop: a traveler reports that change may be given in euros. This can help break the large note before looking for an exchange office.

Some travelers suggest not choosing between euros and dollars at all — just bring a 50/50 mix, since if one exchange office won't give a good rate, another will.

Old-series dollar bills can sometimes still be exchanged, but not every exchange office accepts them — it's not just about extra fees, some simply refuse them.

Unlike coastal resort areas, in Istanbul the exchange rate difference between euros and dollars can be significant, since everything is calculated through lira — worth comparing rates rather than assuming the currencies are interchangeable.

Before your trip, you can check current euro/dollar exchange rates on dedicated sites like m.doviz.com/kur or atlasdoviz.com to decide which currency is more cost-effective to bring.

Migros supermarkets in Istanbul may refuse foreign-currency payments: reports mention both US dollars and euros being declined. Use Turkish lira or a bank card for these stores.

If you don't want to carry euro or dollar cash, you can use a bank card and withdraw Turkish lira in Istanbul. The discussion specifically mentions Ziraat ATMs as a no-fee option; keeping some lira cash on hand as needed is convenient.

If you're choosing between euros and dollars just for exchanging, travelers report there is usually no meaningful difference in practice, so it makes sense to bring whichever one is cheaper for you to buy at home.

There is a specific market/small-shop quirk: if a price is marked in euros and you pay without first changing money into lira, some sellers may treat dollars and euros as 1:1. In that case, dollars can be more convenient.

It's better to avoid $50 bills — like old-series dollars, they can cause problems at exchange offices.

At least one exchange office in the Grand Bazaar offers a direct dollar-to-euro rate without converting through lira. Elsewhere, the rate is likely calculated via lira.

When paying with euros or dollars in some stores, change is given in lira at the current exchange rate — handy if you don't want to find an exchange office. This works in stores like US Polo and Nike, and the rate tends to be favorable.

Older dollar bills are sometimes exchanged with an extra fee, whereas euros tend to cause fewer issues. If bringing dollars, opt for newer-series banknotes.

Euros and dollars are accepted almost everywhere in Istanbul, so there's no need to exchange in advance. The only caveat: avoid 500€ notes, as they can be refused or difficult to exchange.

A practical approach is to buy euros or dollars at home and exchange them for Turkish lira once you arrive in Istanbul. Exchange offices are widely available.

You can also fly with Turkish lira already in hand — they're accepted everywhere. But euros and dollars work directly in many places too, so either approach is fine.