Currency and connectivity | Belgian Economic Mission

Currency and payment methods

The official currency of Türkiye is the Turkish lira (TL). The exchange rate according to www.xe.com on 9 April 2026 was:

1 EUR = 52,02 TL

1 TL = 0,02 EUR

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in both Istanbul and Ankara, including contactless payments.

ATMs are common but should be used in well-lit, secure locations (preferably inside banks or trusted stores).

Cash is not essential but having a small amount is useful for tips or small vendors.

Tipping is customary in Türkiye: restaurants may already charge service fees automatically, otherwise you can tip 10% in restaurants, taxi and for hotel services.

Internet

Internet is included in the room rate of the Swissôtel in Istanbul and the InterContinental Grand Ankara Hotel in Ankara.

Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas, but it is advised to not use it for safety reasons. Therefore it might be useful to purchase a Turkish SIM card, e-sim or an international roaming plan for mobile data.

Phones

The country code for Türkiye is +90. To call cities in Türkiye, dial +90 followed by the actual phone number.

Electricity

In Türkiye, you will typically encounter Type C and F plugs, while Belgium uses Type E plugs. However, there is no need for a travel adapter as European Type C and Type E/F plugs fit each other. Additionally, both countries use 230 V and 50 Hz, meaning no voltage converter is required for standard European appliances.