Istanbul - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are widely accepted, and you need a Turkish bank account to pay internet and phone. We only got cash from the Turkish ATMs using our Turkish debit cards. Overall using cards felt very safe, although cash is still widely used and accepted. - Aug 2021
Credit cards work well in person, both the magnetic stripe and chip types. Delivery services even have portable card readers. I have had some trouble using U.S. cards to make purchases via the internet in Turkey (grocery stores and restaurants allow you to pay for delivery in advance by the internet). For internet purchases I use a local debit card. - Sep 2017
They are safe to use. - Oct 2010
No problems - strongly recommend Garanti and Yapi Kredi banks for English speaking branches and websites - you can pay all bills, recharge your mobile phone and change money on-line. - Jan 2010
ATM's everywhere in the city. - Jan 2010
A local bank account is helpful to have. Credit & debit cards are used everywhere. Some ATMs dispense Dollars and Euros in addition to Liras. - Dec 2009
Credit cards can be used just about everywhere. Smaller shops prefer cash, however. ATMs are everywhere and in English. - Dec 2009
