The city is the most important business center in the country due to its large plazas and vast business network. It makes a significant contribution to the country's economy. For this reason, when you come to Istanbul, it is always possible to find easy and fast solutions for your money, banking, and currency-related urgent business.

When you go on a trip to discover Istanbul, you will see that this city is a paradise for tourists with various activities. This means that you will never want to stop walking around the city and shopping because of your needs on the trip. Of course, you can also use the credit card option to spend money peacefully on your travels. Still, you can easily reach the Exchange Offices in Istanbul or withdraw the Turkish Lira from bank ATMs.

Exchange Offices in Istanbul

Istanbul has created opportunities to quickly meet its economic needs with its dense population, constantly evolving structure, and becoming a focal point for tourists. Although most luxury businesses in Istanbul accept payments in dollars and euros, it is often an easier and more reasonable option to pay in Turkish Lira. Although credit and debit cards are options that are becoming very common today and shelving the use of cash, you should also remember that in some places, you will only be able to use cash. Therefore, converting your currency to the Turkish Lira will be a convenient and easy option for discovering Istanbul and spending money.

There are usually exchange offices in the busiest tourist centers and popular places to get Turkish money easily in Istanbul. Considering that you will need money most of the time to discover Istanbul, it may be the most reasonable option to change your currency to Turkish currency by finding a foreign exchange office near you before you get to your destination. To meet your exchange office needs in Istanbul, let's look at the information you need to know in advance.

  • First of all, exchange offices start their services at 09:00 in the morning and usually close at 08:00 in the evening. Exchange offices in Istanbul are privately owned places, so it is necessary to consider that there may be changes from place to place during the opening and closing hours.

  • Exchange offices generally provide services on weekdays, but sometimes the request for services may require working on weekends. It is possible to find out the hours of the nearest exchange office by calling or by going to the offices.

  • There are many religious and national holidays in Turkey. If you want to discover Istanbul, it will be good to check these holidays and celebration days on your arrival dates. Currency exchange offices may be closed on these specific dates, or they may be working for half a day.

  • In Istanbul, you will find currency exchange offices at airports, and if you wish, you can meet your need for Turkish Lira as cash when you first land in the city. The airport currency exchange offices are open 24 hours a day, and you can get service no matter what time your landing takes place. At Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, you can reach the exchange offices in the sections of the Solid International Hall Leading to the Passenger Terminal, the Solid International Hall After Passport Control, the Solid Reception Hall Arriving, and the Foreign Passenger Baggage Reception Hall.

  • The location of exchange offices in Istanbul may also vary depending on the preferred places of tourists. For example, you can find more foreign exchange offices in Kadıköy, Fatih, and Şişli districts.

Banking in Istanbul

It may also be possible to use the debit or credit cards you used in your country after arriving in the city. If you are using a particular banking service in your own country, you should check if there is a branch of your bank in Istanbul before you arrive. Thanks to your accounts in these banks, you can withdraw your currency as Turkish money directly from ATMs. If you want to use İşbank and Yapı Kredi Bank of Turkey, you can use the banking service facility seven days a week.

It may be possible to perform the transactions you can handle at the exchange office using banking services. Thanks to these banks, you can complete your money transfer and exchange transactions by contacting certain branches. It may be good for you to check how much commission will be charged during the currency exchange to the Turkish Lira before completing your foreign exchange transactions from banks.

You can find currency exchange offices and ATMs of certain banks at Istanbul airports. For example, there are ATMs of international banking institutions such as Akbank, Bank Asya, Deniz Bank, Finansbank, Garanti Bank, Halkbank, HSBC, ING Bank, Kuveyt Turkish Participation Bank, Şekerbank, TEB, Turkish Business Bank, Vakıfbank, Yapı Kredi Bank, Ziraat Bank at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

 

Frequently Asked Question

Which currency is official in Istanbul?
Istanbul uses Turkey's official currency, which is Turkish Lira.
When do exchange offices open in Istanbul?
Exchange offices start the day at 9 AM in the morning.
When do exchange offices close in Istanbul?
Exchange offices close their gates at 8 PM in the evening.
Do I need an exchange office to exchange currencies in Istanbul?
No, you can exchange your money in banks scattered around the city.
Where to find currency exchange offices in Istanbul?
Currency exchange offices can be found in tourist districts such as Kadikoy and Beyoglu, but they also can be found at Istanbul’s airports.