We share our experience on what kind of money is best to go on vacation with. What to take with you: rubles, euros or dollars? Read up to prepare in advance.
Currency in Turkey
The country's currency is the Turkish Lira (TRY). It replaced the Ottoman lira in 1923. This happened as part of a series of reforms by Ataturk. The last century was a turbulent one, so by the end of the 90s the lira had greatly depreciated. This led to the 2005 redenomination, when the government reduced the denomination of coins and bills by as much as six zeros. At first, the money began to be called “new Turkish lira,” but after three years this prefix was removed. This is the current course.
You can find out the exchange rate of the lira to the ruble today using this calculator.
Can I take dollars or euros with me in cash?
You can take both with you. Although the dollar is still preferable. It must be borne in mind that foreign money sells well only in resort cities such as Kemer, Marmaris, Antalya, Side and others. If you plan to delve into the depths of the country, it is better to acquire national liras in advance.
Important point. You should definitely have a supply of small bills. We are talking about any currency. Traders have many tricks. The simplest of them is that they will tell you that there is simply no change. You will have to either leave without purchasing anything, or buy goods for all 20 dollars that ended up in your pocket.
Is it possible to pay in rubles at the main resorts?
We were lucky, in the resort part there are places where you can pay in Russian rubles or Ukrainian hryvnia. The seller will simply recalculate the cost of the goods at his own rate. It's not a fact that it will be profitable. On the other hand, this way you will save time on exchange transactions.
Pay attention to Denizbank branches. Now it is owned by Sberbank. It has 700 outlets and 3 thousand ATMs throughout the country. In this bank you can withdraw money directly from a Sberbank card without commission. There are restrictions only for Electron and Maestro cards. There the commission will be about 0.75%.
If you are traveling to popular resort
- Take ruble cards with you that allow you to pay during the trip;
- Change some liras in Russia to get started;
- If you have currency stashes, you can take them with you for insurance.
If you are traveling inland;
- Buy a lire for your trip;
- Take dollars with you (be sure to find small bills or change);
- Take ruble cards with you that allow you to pay during the trip.
Where is the best place to change money so you don't get scammed?
For liras, it is best to go to official exchange offices. They are indicated by a "Chance Office" sign. In addition, any bank or post office will do, sometimes they offer the most favorable rate. These are the safest and most reliable ways to exchange rubles, euros or dollars to Turkish lira. As a rule, Turkish banks are open from 8:30 to 17:30 except weekends.
Large Turkish stores easily accept Visa and Master Card, as well as American Express. There are many ATMs, but in some places there is a limit on cash withdrawals per day. Usually it is 300-400 dollars.
At the end of your vacation, be sure to spend your change and change large Turkish bills back to rubles. Outside the country there is not much to do with this currency.
Real prices
In a restaurant In a store Drinks
Most of our compatriots prefer holidays in Turkish resorts. And, of course, future travelers have a lot of pressing and pressing questions. For the most part, interest is caused by the peculiarities of currency exchange, and what kind of money is best to take with you on a Mediterranean holiday in hotels in hot Turkey.
Of course, exchanging currency in this country does not seem difficult. There are a lot of exchangers and bank branches in Turkey. They are found literally at every step. Here the question concerns not where to exchange currency in Turkey: rubles for lira or dollars/Euros, but where to do it with the greatest benefit for your wallet.
It is most profitable to exchange currency in Turkey at DenizBankWhat is the best currency to travel to Turkey with?
Official monetary unit This country's currency is the Turkish lira. It is issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 liras. The banknote depicts famous figures and residents of Turkey, and on the other side is a portrait of Kemal Atatürk (the first leader of the Republican People's Movement and the founder of modern Turkey).
When traveling to Turkey, you should have local currency and a bank card with you. It is worth remembering that many large shopping centers only accept Turkish lira for payment.
And in areas targeted at tourists (such as Side, Bodrum, Kusadasi, Marmaris, Kemer, Fethziye and Belek) price tags are often in Euros and dollars. According to experienced travelers, it is better to take American dollars on a trip to Turkish resorts. This is the most profitable, given that the Euro exchange rate is higher. And when making purchases, Turks can easily equate the Euro to the dollar. When considering how to change money in Turkey, you need to know that Russian rubles, which were freely circulated around the country 7-8 years ago, are now better not to take.
They may be accepted for payment in some tourist places, but due to constant exchange rate fluctuations, they exchange them (and give change) at an extremely unfavorable rate. Noting the general trend, you can see that the Turkish lira is gradually depreciating and losing relevance. But the Euro and the dollar are only strengthening their positions. Almost all local traders actively trade in this currency.
In Turkey you can exchange money everywhere, not always at a favorable rate Where is the best place to exchange for Turkish lira?
As such, there is no urgent need to keep a large amount of local Turkish currency with you. But still, a little lire is worth having. They are useful when paying for services and purchasing small goods (water, groceries). By the way, payments are taken in lira when visiting museums, exhibitions and when traveling on public transport.
But it’s worth knowing where it’s better to change money in Turkey at a favorable rate. After all, local currency is still necessary. Tourists who often go on holiday to Turkey give some practical advice, specifying the places with the best exchange rates.
Mugla-Dalaman International Airport
This is where tourists arrive with vacation packages in Turkish hotels. But most Russians are wary of exchanging currency there, considering the exchange rate too unfavorable. But in reality the situation is not so dire. Exchange offices at the international airport gave 4.45 liras for one American dollar. When compared with other exchangers, the rate was the same.
Currency exchange in Turkish international airport the same as in other exchangers Supermarkets of the large retail chain Migros
Guides, when asked by tourists where it is better to change currency in Turkey, actively advise carrying out such procedures in Migros markets. When compared with exchangers in other places, the exchange rate for the Turkish lira to Migros was indeed more favorable. But it is worth knowing that the concept of “currency exchange” is not entirely correct in the case of Migros stores.
Here, rather than changing, they give out change in Turkish lira when purchasing any goods. You can even take a cheap bottle of water and pay for it at the checkout with a large dollar bill, receiving change in lira at a fairly favorable rate. In 2018, the exchange rate in Migros markets was 4.721 or 4.596 liras per dollar (depending on the day of visiting the store). While in the city center during currency exchange the rate was 4.27–4.29.
By the way, the check that the buyer receives at the exit must indicate the currency exchange rate. It is written in addition to the cost of products/goods in lira and describes in detail how much change was exchanged and at what rate the exchange was made. It is quite convenient and transparent for tourists.
Commercial banks in Turkey
If a tourist has set himself the goal of officially exchanging currency for local lira using city banks, he should know and take into account some nuances. Namely:
- It is not always the case that at the entrance to a banking institution there is a sign about currency exchange and the transaction rate. Therefore, everyone who wants to carry out such an operation will have to wait in line, and only then find out at what rate the exchange is made.
- As for the exchange rate, commercial banking structures offer fairly reasonable rates (4.50 liras per dollar).
- A one-time exchange amount of no more than 50 US dollars is allowed.
- When exchanging, the tourist will be required to provide an original passport. But at regular exchange offices you don’t need an ID.
But, trying to use regular exchangers, a tourist risks encountering other surprises. Some exchangers have a sign indicating no commission (“no commission”). If it is absent, it is better to check with local employees whether there is a commission in this exchanger. After all, sometimes the commission amount can reach a fabulous 30-35%, which is extremely unprofitable.
Before exchanging currency at exchange offices, you should inquire about the size of commissions Exchange services from minibus drivers
Another rather original method of exchanging currency in Turkey is through local minibus drivers. But it should be used only as a last resort, because cab drivers can set almost any course, and it is not always profitable. For example, they gave 4 liras per dollar. At a time when on the beach, when buying water at nearby kiosks, they gave change for 4.40 liras per dollar.
Tips for tourists in Turkey: where to find the most profitable exchangers
According to vacationers, it is better to take dollars on a trip to the Turkish shores and, preferably, in small bills (there may be difficulties with exchanging money). You can also have euros in cash, but in a smaller amount (for payments at the hotel reception). To know where it is most profitable to exchange currency for local money, it is worth using some recommendations.
It is not profitable to change (too low rate) money at certain points. For example:
- at the hotel reception;
- at an international airport;
- in small shops.
Now it’s worth noting the places where it is better to make an exchange. The following operations are beneficial:
- in shops and supermarkets (it is better to change small amounts);
- at official exchange offices (they are indicated by CHANGE OFFICE signs).
In large shopping centers Russian rubles are still accepted for payment, but at a rather poor rate (3-4 rubles lower than the Central Bank). Bank cards of international payment systems are also in circulation. Therefore, the most optimal thing to do when going on vacation to Turkey is:
- have a small supply of dollars with you for small expenses;
- it is better and more profitable to pay with Turkish shopkeepers in liras than in foreign currency;
- keep most of the money bank cards(preferably two from different organizations);
- refrain from carrying cash in rubles (when exchanging them for lira in Turkey, the exchange rate will be too high);
- It is better to exchange rubles for American dollars and use them when paying (or exchange them for Turkish lira).
conclusions
Turkish resorts do not lose their popularity; Russians actively travel to the warm Mediterranean coast to receive pleasant emotions and good rest. And knowing how and where it is more profitable to exchange money in Turkey, what currency is better to have with you, you can make this vacation quite profitable.
Today I learned from friends that they exchanged 500 dollars for 970 liras at Antalya airport:(. On this exchange they lost at least 130 liras, because they did not know that the airport, to put it mildly, is not the most suitable place for exchanging currencies... In connection with Therefore, I decided to write for you an article about where it is better to change currency in Turkey and in Antalya in particular, and I will also describe some nuances that will help you save on exchange.
In what currency is it better to bring money to Turkey?
In Turkey, of course, it is best to pay in Turkish lira, but in many places, especially popular among tourists, American dollars and euros are used. Other currencies are practically not accepted in Turkey, or are accepted at a completely unfavorable rate. In some places, only Turkish lira are accepted (for example: museums and some attractions, city buses, shops for locals, government services, etc.), while in others, the currency is accepted, but at a reduced rate.
So, you can bring dollars or euros to Turkey, but dollars are still preferable. If you plan to buy a lot, especially in non-tourist places, it is worth changing the currency to Turkish lira, but if you are not going to go far from the hotel and plan to buy souvenirs and a few things at the hotel or nearby, you can get by with dollars or euros and not bother with the exchange. Also, prices for tourists are initially calculated in dollars or euros, for example, excursions not intended for Turks can only be purchased for foreign currency, usually dollars.
Where can you change currency, first, more profitable options
Currency exchange offices
The most best points Currency exchange offices in Antalya are located at Kapali Yolu, in the city center next to Kaleici. There are about 10 exchangers located along 200-300 meters. Before changing money, you should choose the most favorable rate. This is not difficult to do, since each exchange office has a screen on the street with exchange rates for the main currencies. An important nuance: some exchange offices are open late in the evening and on weekends, but during non-working hours the exchange rate is low. During business hours, the exchange rate changes following changes on the exchange; the spread between the purchase and sale of major currencies is approximately 0.5%. A passport is not required for exchange.
Currency exchange offices can be found in other places in Antalya (for example, the exchange office in Konyaalti, about 800 meters from Big Migros towards Kemer, on the same side), but the exchange rate there will be less favorable.
Banks
Currency can be changed at any bank branch. The exchange rate will usually be slightly less favorable, but the difference with exchangers is small. When exchanging, they will require your passport and you will have to stand in line (maybe a few minutes, or maybe more than an hour, depending on your luck).
If you have a Turkish bank card, you can change currency in the Internet bank or directly at an ATM. Keep in mind that the exchange rate during non-working hours is unfavorable, and during working hours, exchanging money at an Internet bank or ATM, as well as exchanging money from one account to another, will be more profitable than exchanging cash at the same bank, since for calculations use a different rate.
Debit card
The easiest option is to pay in stores with a card and not bother with currency exchange. It will be better if you have an account in dollars or euros, but with rubles you get a double conversion (first into dollars or euros, depending on the type of card, then into lira). This option is also good because you don’t have to guess how much money you will need; spend as much as you need, the rest will remain in your account.
You can not only pay for purchases with a card, you can also simply withdraw cash from an ATM in the desired currency. The rate depends on the type of card, the bank, the account currency, etc. As a rule, this option is less profitable than exchanging at a bank or a good exchange office, but more profitable than changing money at the airport or hotel.
Shops Migros, Macrocenter and some others
A very interesting option for exchange, or rather exchange. These stores will not exchange your currency for Turkish lira, but you can pay for purchases in foreign currency at a favorable rate, and they will give you change in lira. This option is convenient for exchanging small amounts, especially in the evening and on weekends.
In addition to Migros and Macrocenter, they accept currency at a favorable rate in Waikiki, and perhaps in some others, you should not change your currency to lira at the hotel or airport to pay in these stores :) .
Where you shouldn't change currency, unless of course you have a choice
At the airport and in hotels they will exchange your currency at a very unfavorable rate; at the beginning of the article I wrote how people lost more than 10% on exchange at the airport, and this is not the limit. Most shops and restaurants, taxi drivers, hairdressers, massage therapists will usually take your currency, but the exchange rate will be unfavorable, but if you have lira, you definitely won’t go wrong.
- You should only change a large amount at a bank or currency exchange office. You must first agree that the required amount is available; in addition, you should ask for a special, more favorable exchange rate. Banks and currency exchange offices are usually willing to make concessions for large clients.
- If you are planning to change a large amount, keep in mind that no one can guarantee you the exchange rate the next day (or a few days later). The exchange rate may change both in your favor and vice versa. There are unpleasant cases when people counted on one amount after an exchange, but in the end it turns out that the exchange rate has changed and they have to overpay in foreign currency.
- If you need a small amount, especially in the evening or on weekends, you can buy something in any Migros; dollars and euros are accepted at a good rate, and change will be given in liras.
- In hotels and resort villages like Kemer or Side, there is no particular point in changing the currency, all prices were initially designed for tourists and calculated in foreign currency.
- You can take your debit or credit card and don’t bother with exchange - pay for purchases with a card, and if necessary, you can withdraw cash from an ATM.
- In the left column on our website, there is a very useful tool - a currency converter. In it you can always look at the current this moment interbank exchange rate, more accurate than the Central Bank rate, which is set once a day, and does not show currency fluctuations that occur in the afternoon or evening. In addition, in the currency converter it is very easy to calculate how much the amount you are interested in will cost in the desired currency, in terms of other 6 currencies, you just need to write the required amount in the desired currency box. Use it to your advantage, just keep in mind that the currency converter does not take into account the conversion commission.
What is the lira to ruble exchange rate and what currency is better to take to Turkey? Where is the best place to exchange money in Turkey? Should I take rubles to Turkey or is it better to take euros and dollars? Are there money changers or banks in Turkish resorts?
In this review you will find out the answers to all these questions and all the information about what the ruble to Turkish lira exchange rate is today, as well as the dollar and euro to the lira exchange rate.
What is the exchange rate of the ruble and dollar to the Turkish lira today?
You can check the ruble to Turkish lira exchange rate online using a currency converter. You just need to enter the required amount and you will immediately see how many Turkish lira they give for rubles. Today the lira to ruble exchange rate is about 100 rubles per 8 lira.
What is the dollar to Turkish lira exchange rate today?
You should do the same with dollars. Just enter the amount in dollars, click calculate and see the amount you will get for dollars in Turkish lira.
Euro to Turkish lira exchange rate today
What currency to take to Turkey - rubles or dollars?
To answer the question - what currency to take to Turkey - rubles, dollars or euros, you need to understand where exactly in Turkey you are going on vacation. If you are going to Istanbul, rubles will not be useful to you at all.
There will simply be nowhere to exchange them, and if they do exchange them at a bank, it will be at an unfavorable rate.
If you are going to Turkey by the sea, to Attalia, Alanya, Kemer, Side or any other resort towns, it is better to take dollars or euros. Ultimately, this option is much more profitable, since you can exchange both dollars and euros in Turkey at any time of the day or night and literally at every turn.
If you have rubles with you, don’t be upset either. From the official rate given above, when exchanging rubles for Turkish lira, you will lose about 2-5%, which is generally not bad.
Where to change rubles, dollars or euros in Turkey
In non-beach Turkey (Istanbul and other cities) - almost nowhere. You may be offered to change money in person, but you should not do this.
At the seaside resorts of Turkey, you can easily change not only rubles or euros, but also hryvnia, tenge, and any other currency.
To understand how much money they will give you approximately in Turkish exchange offices before your trip, you should look at the official rate and subtract 4-5% if you are going to change dollars or euros and about 13-15% if you need to change rubles.
The street rate at exchange offices lags behind the central bank at approximately this interval.
However, you still have the option of changing money in a Turkish bank, where the rate will be exactly the same as on the currency converter sites.
This will require a little time and patience, but if 5% of the amount is important and significant to you, it is still worth spending the extra 15-20 minutes.
Based on this information, it is already clear that with such a discrepancy, in any case, bring dollars are better or euro.
Even if you don’t have time to change them, dollars and euros are readily accepted by almost all Turkish shops, cafes and places where you have to pay.
What currency is accepted in Turkish banks
Any known currency, but not rubles.
At the same time, in Turkish exchange offices there is a standard set of currencies aimed at travelers who arrive on sea holiday. Exchange: rubles, dollars and euros, crowns, francs and pounds.
How to profitably change money in a Turkish bank?
There is no point in going to a Turkish bank with rubles. Even if you come across a bank that accepts rubles, the rate will be draconian and completely unprofitable for you.
At the same time, exchanging dollars or euros for Turkish lira is more profitable than changing at exchange offices on the street.
In order to withdraw or exchange money in a Turkish bank, you will need to take a number at the entrance, approach the operator when your number on the board lights up, hand over your passport and money, and pick up the exchanged money.
There is absolutely nothing complicated, and you can save 5-7% of the current rate at exchange offices in Turkish resorts, which is a significant part when converting a large amount.
What currency is accepted in Turkey and how to pay profitably?
You will have to exchange dollars or euros for Turkish liras, and the sooner you do this, the more you will save. Eastern ingenuity allows the Turks, by rounding the cost in their direction, to earn hundreds of thousands of liras per season.
A simple example - if in a Turkish bazaar a trinket you like costs 80 liras (1000 rubles), then in dollars they will sell it to you for at least 20 (105 liras). The same applies to the euro.
Turks easily round up amounts in euros and dollars in their direction without batting an eyelid. This applies to both prices in restaurants and prices for public transport, excursions and taxis.
So exchange euros and dollars for Turkish lira immediately upon arrival. But not at the airport. There is the most unfavorable exchange rate there.
How to save money on a hotel or apartment on vacation?
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