Should I buy Turkish lira before traveling to Istanbul?
Based on 1 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: today
TL;DR
Buying Turkish lira in Russia is a bad deal — exchange money in Istanbul or en route through a third country instead.
What the community said
Buying Turkish lira in Russia offers a poor exchange rate and is generally not worth it. If you need cash, consider exchanging money in a transit country like Kazakhstan for a better rate.
4 days ago Atyrau, Kazakhstan — alternative exchange point
Foreign bank cards in Istanbul can be unreliable — they may work fine at first (small shops, topping up Istanbul Kart) but stop working without warning.
9 days ago Istanbul Kart — city transit card
If your card stops working abroad, you may only be able to unblock it back home via online banking. Also, make sure to insert the card into an ATM (not just tap) when using it for the first time to properly activate it.
10 days ago