Turkey, which is on two continents, is a country with a lot of history and culture. There are many old customs and modern ways of life that blend together easily. You can enjoy the cosmopolitan energy of Istanbul with its old churches and bazaars, as well as the otherworldly scenery of Cappadocia and the ruins of Ephesus. The blue seas of Antalya make the Turkish Riviera shine, and the food is as rich and varied as the country’s history. Travellers need to know how to use the local cash Turkish Lira, find cash and ATMs in Turkey, and decide how to pay. This guide will teach you about money so you can safely enjoy Turkey’s beautiful sights and friendly culture.
You may also enjoy reading Ultimate guide on how to travel on a budget in 2025.
Where can I find ATMs in Turkey?
Turkey has more than 26,000 ATMs. More than 25 business and specialised banks, some of which are foreign banks, run these. In Turkey, you can get cash from ATMs in cities and probably a few in smaller places.
You can find ATMs at:
- The big airports,
- Squares and markets,
- The main tourist streets in every big city,
- Shopping centres,
- Alleys for food,
- ATMs at banks,
- A few business buildings.
It will be difficult to find ATMs in:
- Islands,
- Small airports,
- Bus stops in the region,
- In between the villages,
- Around the edges of small towns, away from the main streets,
- Many religious places,
- Many remote resorts and retreats.
Best ATMs to use in Turkey for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Turkey are those owned by popular banks such as:
Ziraat Bank,
ING,
Halkbank,
PTT,
HSBC, and
Kuveyt Turk.
There are also other banks with ATMs that take debit and cards from other countries like Akbank YapiKredi, TEB, QNB, albeit with a fee.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Turkey, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in TRY).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate and you pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion also.
- If you ‘Decline’ – ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees while withdrawing cash in Turkey, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in TRY’.
If you’d like to understand more, read ATM fees abroad: Charges to use cards at foreign ATMs explained.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Turkey?
Yes, many types of foreign cards are easily accepted at ATMs in Turkey.
For a detailed guide, read Money and Currency in Turkey.
What are the ATM opening hours?
ATMs – In most cases, yes, they are open around the clock, every day of the year 24×7. You should have no trouble getting to any of them at any hour of the day or night because many of them are self-contained ATMs. Depending on the location, some bank branches may only be open from 9 am to 3 pm.
What do they call ATMs in Turkey?
“ATM” or “Bankamatik” are common words to use, or you can just look for the name of the bank.
PIN type
Turkish ATMs mostly accept PINs with 4 numbers. Longer PINs may work on some ATMs, but 4 numbers is the norm.
Plus, a lot of stores still used old machines that need a magnetic stripe on the card, not just a chip-and-pin card. So get those from home.
Languages at ATMs in Turkey
In Turkey, ATMs let you choose between Turkish and English. Some offer extra languages, such as German, French, and Russian.
If you don’t know these languages, translate the ATM screen in real time with Google Translate’s camera feature. Warning: These translations aren’t always right, so please be patient and don’t rush.
Do ATMs in Turkey work similarly as other countries?
Evet (yes in Turkish)! There are new ATMs in Turkey that look and work like ones in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and India. Some ATMs take your card all the way inside while you use it, so don’t forget to take it out again when you’re done.
Join the discussion, read and share cash related travel experiences on ATM Fee Saver’s Community Travel Forum at Money & Travel in the Middle East.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Turkey?
ATMs in Turkey dispense the official currency Turkish Lira (TRY). A handful of banks at some of their ATMs allow withdrawing USD, EUR and few other currencies.
ATM withdrawal limits in Turkey?
ATMs in Turkey have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of TRY 4,000 to TRY 10,000 (Turkish Lira). Many banks have daily withdrawal limits of TRY 10,000 per day.
ATM Fees in Turkey?
There are some fee-free ATMs in Turkey. Majority of the bank ATMs charge between 7% and 15% of the withdrawal amount per transaction as ATM Fees to foreign cardholders. Some of the bank ATMs do not charge ATM fees to foreign cards. So, there are some fee-free options in Turkey for a foreign cardholder. However, nearly all the ATMs (including the fee-free ones) will offer to provide currency conversion which will add additional charges. So make sure you ‘Decline Conversion’ when withdrawing cash from an ATM in Turkey.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Turkey – something every traveller handling cash in Turkey should be aware of. These are:
- Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
- Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Turkey?
- Use the fee-free or lower fee ATMs in the country.
- Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
- Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
- Consider getting a fee-free travel card from your home country.
- Get one Visa and one Mastercard fee-free cards as some ATMs abroad accept only Visa and some only Mastercard.
- Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees.
For a detailed guide, read Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Turkey?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Turkey. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Turkey.
Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
Is it safe to use Turkey ATMs?
Safety at ATMs in Turkey depends on the location of the ATM. Some people have been robbed of cash outside of ATMs, mostly at night and on empty streets. As long as you take precautions, you should be fine. The following two articles have tips on how to take precautions:
To be safe, use precautions such as:
- Use the ATMs located inside bank branches instead of standalone ones.
- Avoid using ATMs on empty streets or late at night.
- Keep your card visible at all times.
- Cover the PIN pad with the palm of your hand to avoid revealing your PIN to hidden cameras.
- If you find any suspicious devices attached around the keypad area of the ATM, do not use the ATM.
- Be aware of your surroundings, if you see suspicious people, move away.
- Keep two or more cards as backup.
- If also using your mobile phone for the transaction, avoid using public Wi-Fi. Use VPN for extra protection.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Turkey takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs here?
Yes, it is possible. There are some fee-free ATMs in Turkey. Majority of the bank ATMs charge between 7% and 15% of the withdrawal amount per transaction as ATM Fees to foreign cardholders. Some of the bank ATMs do not charge ATM fees to foreign cards. So, there are some fee-free options in Turkey for a foreign cardholder. However, nearly all the ATMs (including the fee-free ones) will offer to provide currency conversion which will add additional charges. So make sure you ‘Decline Conversion’ when withdrawing cash from an ATM in Turkey.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted at ATMs in Turkey?
Yes. Most ATMs in Turkey accept cards issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, India, China, and Australia.
Bitcoin ATMs?
Turkish does have a few Bitcoin ATMs.
Foreign bank ATMs’ in Turkey
Bank of America: Bank of America ATMs are not available in Turkey.
Citibank: There are some Citibank ATMs in Turkey.
Barclays: Barclays Bank ATMs are not available in Turkey.
HSBC: Some HSBC ATMs are in Turkey.
Standard Chartered: Turkey does not have Standard Chartered ATMs.
