Turkish Currency - The New Turkish Lira




Money: The official currency throughout Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (YTL), which was introduced on 1 January 2005, when six zeros were dropped from the old TL and the sub-unit New Kurush (cent) was created. Euros, Sterling and US Dollars are commonly accepted in most touristic locations, though you won't always get the best rate.

Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and ferry ports.

Banks in Turkey are open mainly Monday to Friday, but some have small branches which open daily during the tourist season along the coast.

ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is sometimes accepted in many of the more expensive places. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at some banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards and a commission will be charged on the entire amount or per cheque.

For up to date exchange rates, please check www.xe.com