Travel to Turkey from the UK: Must-know travel advice

Key takeaways:

• You can travel to Turkey from the UK for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
• Currently it’s not advised to travel to parts of southeast Turkey. The rest of the country is considered safe for travellers if you take basic precautions.
• Cash makes up 30 percent of payments in Turkey, but card and mobile payment use is on the rise.
• Turkey’s tourism tax is added on to both accommodations and guided activities.

Jump to:

Turkey entry requirements and documents from the UK Is it safe to travel to Turkey? Managing your money in Turkey Best ways to convert GBP to Turkish liras (and what to avoid) How to pay in Turkey: Cards, cash and mobile payments How much does it cost to travel to Turkey Hidden travel costs to watch out for in Turkey Essential laws and travel rules in Turkey Emergency contacts and safety tips Travelling to Turkey? Use Wise for low-cost currency conversion and spending FAQs on travelling to Turkey from UK Can I use my UK Phone in Turkey? What type of plug adapter do I need for Turkey? Is travel insurance required for travelling to Turkey?

Whether you plan to wander through the bustling bazaars of Istanbul, cruise along the coast of Antalya, or explore the ancient ruins of Ephesus, this guide is here to help you have a safe and memorable trip. We’ll lay out the key info on visa and entry requirements, health and safety essentials, laws and currency, money and customs and much more.

We’ll also show you a convenient and cost-effective way to spend in Turkey – the Wise debit card. It’s designed for low-cost spending in 150+ countries. This clever international debit card automatically converts your pounds to Turkish lira whenever and wherever you spend, for low, transparent fees* and mid-market exchange rates.

Learn more about the Wise debit card 💳

Turkey entry requirements and documents from the UK

Before you hop on a flight to Turkey from the UK, you’ll need to know about the country’s entry requirements for UK nationals.¹

You don’t need a visa to visit Turkey for tourism or business purposes, as long as you don’t stay longer than 90 days within a 180 day window.

If you plan to visit for education, employment or medical purposes, you’ll need to apply for a separate visa.

To enter Turkey, your passport will need to have an expiry date of at least 150 days after the date you arrive and at least one blank page.

If you enter the country at a land border, make sure that officials stamp and date your passport.

Is it safe to travel to Turkey?

Travel to Turkey from the UK is generally safe as long you are aware of the security precautions you’ll need to take. We lay them out below.²

Keep an eye on your personal belongings. Particularly in busy areas of Istanbul frequented by lots of tourists, there is a risk of robbery and street pickpocketing.

Only buy alcoholic beverages from licensed stores, hotels and restaurants. Tourists have previously suffered serious injury or death after drinking counterfeit replicas of well-known alcoholic brands or home brewed drinks.

There is also a large risk in accepting rides from unofficial taxi drivers. Make sure you only take registered taxis, note the registration number and check that the meter is turned on.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) also advises against all travel within 10 kilometres of the Syrian border in southeast Turkey due to a threat of terrorism and conflict.

The FCDO adds that there is a risk of terrorism across the country, and that terrorists could target areas with a lot of tourists, shopping centres and government buildings. Note that they issue this guidance for most of Europe as well, so it’s not specific to Turkey.

Managing your money in Turkey

You’ll be able to pay with Turkish liras (abbreviated as TY or shown with the sign ₺**)** throughout Turkey. You can either exchange your British pounds directly, take money out of an ATM, pay with a debit or credit card or use mobile payment options such as Apple Pay.

Best ways to convert GBP to Turkish liras (and what to avoid)

You can change your British pounds for Turkish liras in the UK, or when you arrive in Turkey. Just make sure to get the best exchange rate by watching out for added fees/commission, which can be steep at airports or hotels.

Spending on a debit or credit card is also an option. You’ll find no shortage of ATMs in Turkey at major airports, near bank branches, in popular tourist areas and resorts, and nearby to major attractions.

ATMs in Turkey look similar to the ones in the UK, and can be found under the name Bankamatik or simply ATM.³

Many UK credit cards charge a transaction fee of around 2.75 to 2.99 percent for purchases made in foreign currencies.

Avoid getting hit with high fees and poor exchange rates at airports and other exchange houses by using the Wise debit card. You’ll then be able to spend in 40+ currencies by automatically converting your pounds at the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny currency conversion fee* – or it’s free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

How to pay in Turkey: Cards, cash and mobile payments

In Turkish cities, it’s very common to pay with debit and credit cards. But cash still accounts for around 30 percent of all payments in the country. So you’ll need to keep paper money handy for visiting smaller towns, markets, dolmuş minibuses, and local restaurants.⁵

Many small businesses also set a limit of 100 TL for card payments.

At restaurants and hotels, you’ll be able to use contact payments, and several will also accept Google and Apple Pay. The Wise virtual card is another great option to carry around in your phone’s digital wallet.

You can expect to pay between 3 and 5 percent when you use your UK card at an ATM.

How much does it cost to travel to Turkey

Flight costs from the UK to Turkey vary quite a bit depending on whether you travel during the high season (especially July and August), take a direct flight, or fly with a budget airline.

The time of the week you fly also matters, with flights departing and arriving on weekends tending to cost more.

To give you an example, slightly off-season Friday-Friday flight departing from London Stansted to Istanbul will cost around £130 with Wizz Air UK, and £160 with Turkish Airlines, when flying out of London Gatwick.

By comparison, flying out of London Stansted to Ankara in the slightly season will set you back around £220.⁵

Once you’re in Turkey, the costs for food and accommodation will vary quite a bit. We’ve broken down average costs of accommodation at a mid-range hotel, dinner for two, and a one-way public transport ticket in GBP across three major cities to give you a glimpse.⁶

Category	Istanbul	Ankara	Antalya
Accomodation at mid-range hotel	£ 38.50	£ 22.20	£ 34.00
Dinner for 2	£ 42.00	£ 30.50	£ 36.50
Public Transport (one way)	£ 0.57	£ 0.05	£ 0.16
Main sights	Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar	Anıtkabir, Museum of Anatolian Civilizations	Hadrian’s Gate, Kaleiçi, Düden Waterfalls

Hidden travel costs to watch out for in Turkey

As you can see from the chart above, travel to Turkey is generally pretty affordable for UK travellers, but your daily expenses could add up if you’re not aware of some hidden travel costs.

• There is often an extra fee for the bread basket and bottled water on your table at restaurants, even if you didn’t order it.
• Non-Turkish visitors are often asked to pay more for large attractions like the Hagia Sophia. Look into a Museum Pass if you’ll be visiting many sites, but double check that it includes the places you’d like to visit.
• Many ATMs charge 3 to 5 percent for foreign cards, on top of fees from your home bank back in the UK. Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) by asking to be charged in Turkish lira when you take out cash to avoid even higher fees.³
• Turkey has a two percent tourist tax, which applies to all types of accommodation and organised travel services. That means you could pay two percent on top of a week at a hotel, or for a three-hour guided tour.⁷

Essential laws and travel rules in Turkey

The laws and customs in Turkey can differ significantly from those in the UK. We’ve laid out some of the top ones to know about as a traveller.²

• It’s illegal to not carry a form of photo ID in Turkey, be it your passport or driving license.
• Buying or selling antiquities, some which are sold at local markets, is illegal and carries a fine and prison sentence of up to 12 years.
• It’s illegal to insult Turkey or its national flag in any way, including with comments posted online. Travellers could face up to three years of jail time.
• It might cause offense if you eat, drink or even chew gum in public during the month of Ramadan.
• Be sure to dress modestly at mosques or religious shrines.
• Planning on hiring a car? You’ll need either a UK license notarised in Turkey or a 1986 international driving permit (IDP) as the former 1949 IDP is no longer accepted. Note that people drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Emergency contacts and safety tips

If you experience an emergency situation during your trip, these are the numbers to call:

• The FCDO recommends calling 112 for all emergencies in Turkey. The 24/7 European-wide hotline will connect you to local police, fire, and ambulance services.²
• 110 will also connect you directly to the fire department
• For traffic accidents or highway assistance, 154 will connect you to the Traffic Police.⁸

Be sure to keep the contact of your travel insurance provider handy in case you need to make a claim or require assistance.

Travelling to Turkey? Use Wise for low-cost currency conversion and spending

Open a Wise account online and you can order the Wise debit card for a one-time fee of £7. You can use this clever card in 150+ countries, including Turkey.

It automatically converts your pounds to local currency whenever you spend using the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee* – or it’s free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

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FAQs on travelling to Turkey from UK

Here are some of the most common questions:

Can I use my UK Phone in Turkey?

Most UK networks (EE, Vodafone, O2, Three) charge daily fees between £2–£7 to use your UK phone in Turkey. Alternatively you can get an eSim card from a local provider like Turkcell or Vodafone Türkiye, which are widely available at airports, kiosks and shops and will help you avoid roaming charges.^{9 10}

What type of plug adapter do I need for Turkey?

Turkey uses the same power plug as much of the rest of Europe. UK travellers will need a power plug adopted for Type F circuits, with a standard voltage of 220 V.¹¹

Is travel insurance required for travelling to Turkey?

Travel insurance isn’t required for a short term visit to Turkey, but it’s highly recommended. The European Health Insurance Card and UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) isn’t valid in Turkey, meaning you’ll be responsible for all costs in the event of a medical emergency.¹²

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Sources used:

1. Turkey Entry Requirements -- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
2. Turkey Travel Advice -- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
3. ATMs in Turkey -- Wise
4. Cash or Card in Turkey -- Wise
5. Cheap Flights to Turkey -- Skyscanner
6. Cost of Living -- Numeo
7. Tourism Tax in Turkey -- Atlys
8. Emergency Numbers in Turkey -- Memphis Tours
9. Roaming Charges in Turkey -- Roamless
10. Global Roaming -- Vodafone UK
11. Turkey Sockets -- Power Plugs and Sockets of the World
12. Turkey Health Advice -- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Sources last checked on 22-Sept-2025.