Turkey is quickly becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations for Brits. Whether you’re looking to soak up the sun in one of the country’s many resort towns or want to experience the hustle and bustle of big cities like Istanbul, Turkey has something for everyone – and millions of us visit every year.

In fact, 4.4 million UK tourists flocked to Turkey in 2024 alone, making it the eighth most sought-after tourist spot for British holidaymakers. While it still trails behind countries like Spain, France, and Greece, tourist numbers are rising every year, and it could soon become a top-five destination.

However, many Brits who travel to Turkey commit one big mistake that makes their holiday more expensive than they planned. You could actually spend much less on your trip if you just make one simple switch.

A Turkey holiday expert named Katherine shared some top tips for people travelling to Istanbul in a video on TikTok, though her number one piece of advice can be applied anywhere in the country.

She urged people not to change their local currency to Turkish Lira before they travel, as they could end up with a worse exchange rate and therefore spend more money than they intended.

Instead, you should either have your cash exchanged for Euros or Dollars first, and then bring that to Turkey and have it exchanged into Turkish Lira while you’re there.

She explained: “Never change Lira in your home country or the airport in Turkey. Instead, bring Euros or Dollars and exchange small amounts [while you’re here], because Turkish Lira is pretty unstable. The best exchange spots [in Istanbul] are the Grand Bazaar or Istiklal Street. I always go to the one right across from the Swarovski store at Istiklal.”

While that money tip applies across the country, Katherine’s other advice is specific to navigating around Istanbul. She said you should never pay for public transport with your credit card or contactless, as you’ll be charged a whopping 40% extra. Instead, you should buy a travel card called an Istanbulkart, which can be picked up at any metro station.

Finally, Katherine warned against jumping into “random airport taxis,” as you may end up paying five to ten times more than the trip should cost. Taxi apps such as Uber, Bitaski, and InDrive are much better options for getting around the city, as you can choose to pay in the app.

Turkey travel advice

When travelling to Turkey on a full British citizen passport, your passport must have an expiry date at least 150 days after the date you arrive, and have at least one blank page inside.

You can visit Turkey for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, whether you’re visiting for business or tourism. Longer stays require a short-term residence permit.

If you are planning on taking money into Turkey and having it exchanged, you should be aware of the rules surrounding currency. While there is no limit on the amount of foreign currency or Turkish Lira you can take into Turkey, you bring Turkish Lira worth more than $5,000 USD out of the country.