First time in Antalya: should we bring cash for tips and markets?

[PenandPip]

Going to Antalya, Turkey in a couple of weeks. We are staying in an all inclusive resort. Never been to Turkey before. We would like to do some tours, markets etc and there is a spa in the hotel. Should we bring cash for tips, markets?

I’m going also in 2 weeks 😊We’re taking mostly cash as I’ve been told you get a better rate in markets and such paying cash. First time for me too!

Better to get cash out while you’re there. The lira is a very unstable currency so exchange rates outside Turkey are poor. Make sure you don’t let the atm convert to pounds (that gives a worse rate than the visa/mastercard rate your bank will otherwise apply). And try not to bring any back to uk as exchange rate will be bad!

Thank you.

@LittlefatTaffin

I'm quite nervous as never been before. Hotel has excellent reviews though. I'm not good with change 😕

Hope you have a great time.

We went in May. You don’t need any cash for the resort and tips were given at the end of the holiday, although it can be worth tilling at the bar in the first day and you might get slightly bigger drinks. We used a card at the shops in the hotel and when we went on trips, you are charged in lira but it shows the conversion into euros gbp etc. we went to a market and just used euros and they seemed to be accepted everywhere. This is the second time I’ve been and I don’t think I’ve seen a single lira. Also, if you can afford it, get a private transfer from the airport, they convert transit vans into taxis where the inside resembles a night club, it’s great fun.

Ive just come back from marmaris .. we took 11000 lira for taxis and tips and buses and the odd drink took £500 in sterling for the shops / bazaar and loaded my revolute card you dont need to convert to lira as it automatically does it for you . Turkey is expensive now food and drink is the same as UK prices near enough and your better off getting the bus over a taxi

But if you pay in Euro or Sterling cash, won't they give you a terrible exchange rate?

It was like that in Egypt. Something was X Egyptian pounds, but they'd also accept Y US dollars, or the same number of euros or UK pounds, meaning anyone paying in pounds was paying more than if they paid in dollars or euros.

But if you wanted to pay in local currency using a card, their machine mysteriously didn't work. This was at the official airport shops too, not market stalls.

The other thing people always say about Turkey is that the BK/McDonalds in the airport is ludicrously expensive, about £20 for a meal that would cost less than half that in the UK.

ANTALYA AIRPORT FOOD HALL - 2026 Reviews & Information

Antalya airport is horrendous. Food and drink is beyond expensive. Think it was 6 euros for one of the wee tubs of Pringles!