Best credit card to use in Turkey: Top 6 UK picks

Have a holiday to Turkey booked? Whether you’re heading there for a beach break, sightseeing tour or perhaps a longer stay, you’re going to need some spending money.

You’ll have a choice of options for spending in Turkish lira (TRY) during your trip, including cash, debit and credit card. If you prefer the convenience of a credit card for overseas spending, but aren’t sure which UK card is best for international use - read on.

We’ve put together an essential guide to the best UK credit cards to use in Turkey. This includes top picks from banks and providers like Halifax, Barclays, NatWest, Zopa, RBS and Bip.

We’ll also show you a travel-friendly alternative - the Wise card. It’s not a credit card but an international debit card linked to your Wise account. You can use it for spending in 150+ countries including Turkey, automatically converting your pounds to the local currency at the great mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee*.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

Table of contents
Top picks compared: The best UK credit cards to use in Turkey Halifax Clarity Credit Card Barclaycard Rewards Card Bip Credit Card NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card Zopa Credit Card RBS Reward Black Credit Card How do credit cards work in Turkey? Is it best to use a credit card in Turkey? What to look for in a good credit card to use while travelling to Turkey FAQ

Top picks compared: The best UK credit cards to use in Turkey

To help you find the best way to spend abroad, here’s our top picks for travel-friendly UK credit cards you can use in Turkey:

Card name	FX rate	Foreign currency transaction fees	ATM fees	Interest rate (APR)	Best feature
Halifax Clarity Credit Card¹	Mastercard	None	None	Check eligibility to find out	No ATM fees
Barclaycard Rewards Card²	Visa	None	None	28.9% Interest-free for 56 days³	No ATM fees
Bip Credit Card⁴	Mastercard	None	None	29.9% Interest-free for 48 days	Cardless credit
NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card⁵	Visa	None	3% (min. £3)	27.9% Interest-free for 56 days	Cashback on travel spending
Zopa Credit Card⁶	Visa	None	£3	34.9% Interest-free for 56 days	Easy in-app management
RBS Reward Black Credit Card⁷	Mastercard	None	3% (min. £3)	40.7% Interest-free for 56 days	Rewards on spending

Halifax Clarity Credit Card - Best for withdrawing cash in Turkey

The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is a good choice for fee-free overseas spending and cash withdrawals.

It has no annual fee, nor does it charge foreign transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees.¹ However, like with the other credit cards we’ll look at below, there is no interest-free period on cash withdrawals - so it’ll start accruing right away.

The card will use the Mastercard exchange rate for converting currency between GBP and TRY.

According to Halifax, you’ll need to check your eligibility on its website to see what interest rate, credit limit and interest-free period on purchases you’ll be offered.¹

Barclaycard Rewards Card - Best for withdrawing cash and cashback on spending

The Barclaycard Rewards Card also charges no fees for spending or withdrawing cash overseas, and has no annual fees. There’s an extra perk too, as the card offers 0.25% cashback on all everyday spending.²

The representative APR for the card is 28.9% (variable)² and you’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases.³ But remember that interest on cash transactions like ATM withdrawals is likely to start accruing right away.

The card uses Visa’s exchange rates for converting currency.

Bip Credit Card - Best for cardless credit

If you prefer to pay on your phone rather than carry a wallet around with you, the Bip Credit Card could be worth considering. It’s a little different to others on our list, as it’s a digital-only credit card. This means it only lives on your phone - in the Bip app and in your digital wallet.

The only potential snag is that you may find it difficult (if not impossible) to find a cardless ATM during your trip to Turkey. So, you may only be able to use your Bip card for purchases.

Along with no annual fees, the card charges no foreign transaction fees for spending or cash withdrawals in TRY or other currencies.⁴

It has a representative APR of 29.9% (variable), a 48-day interest-free period for purchases (none for cash withdrawals) and uses the Mastercard exchange rate for converting currency.⁴

NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card - Best for cashback on travel spending

As the name suggests, the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card is specially designed for use overseas. It has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees on spending, although there is a 3% (£3 min.) fee for cash withdrawals.⁵ It uses the Visa exchange rate for converting currency between GBP and TRY.

You’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases, but interest on cash withdrawals will start accruing right away. The representative APR is 27.9% (variable).⁵

You’ll also get cashback on eligible travel-related purchases:⁸

• 1% on flights, trains, car rental, ferries, buses, hotel accommodation, travel agents, cruises, campsites and more.
• 1% to 15% at selected partner retailers.

Zopa Credit Card - Best for in-app money management

The Zopa Credit Card has no annual fees, and no fees for spending in TRY or other foreign currencies when you use it abroad. However, it does have a cash withdrawal fee of £3 per transaction.⁶

You’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases (none for cash transactions) and a representative APR of 34.9%. Currency conversions are carried out using Visa exchange rates.⁶

The card is managed in the Zopa app, where you can access handy money management tools including a Credit Cushion feature, instant spending notifications and real-time balance updates.

You may also find it useful to know that Zopa was also named Best Credit Card Provider at the British Bank Awards 2024.⁹

RBS Reward Black Credit Card - Best for spending rewards

So far, we’ve looked at credit cards with no annual fee. The RBS Reward Black Credit Card is different, as it has an annual fee of £84 - waived if you have an RBS Premier Reward Black current account.¹⁰

This also has a fee, but it’s lower than the card and the account also comes with a number of useful travel benefits such as travel insurance and car breakdown cover. If you’ll use these benefits, this could make the card worth considering for your trip to Turkey.

The RBS Reward Black Credit Card charges no foreign transaction fees for spending abroad, although there’s a 3% (min. £30 fee) if you withdraw cash over in Turkey.⁷

You’ll get rewards for everyday spending, including 1% at supermarkets and 0.5% on spending at supermarket petrol stations. Plus, between 1 and 15% at selected retailers, and 0.5% everywhere else.¹⁰

It has a representative APR of 40.7% (variable) and an interest-free period on spending of 56 days. Interest on cash withdrawals will start accruing right away. The card uses Mastercard’s exchange rates for currency conversions.⁷

How do credit cards work in Turkey?

You’ll find that credit cards in Turkey work in pretty much the same way as in the UK. You can use them for spending and cash withdrawals (although this usually comes with a fee, so is best avoided) anywhere that accepts Visa/Mastercard. In many cases, you can make a contactless payment with your credit card.

Anything you spend will be added to your balance, and you need to pay off the minimum amount required before the interest-free period ends or you’ll be charged interest.

Can I use my UK credit card in Turkey?

Yes, you should be fine to use your UK credit card in Turkey.

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, although American Express credit cards may not be accepted in many places except for hotels, luxury shops, big chains and fine dining restaurants.

As you’ll be spending in Turkish lira during your trip, you’ll just need to check whether your UK credit card charges any foreign currency transaction fees (also known as non-sterling transaction fees).

If it does, you may be best switching to a travel-friendly credit card, or even a debit card which has no foreign currency transaction fees.

Another option is a prepaid travel card, one specially designed for spending in TRY.

Is it best to use a credit card in Turkey?

Debit and credit cards are widely used and accepted in Turkey, especially in bigger towns and cities. But whether a credit card is the best choice depends on what fees your card charges for spending and cash withdrawals in foreign currencies.

Cash is also preferred (or the only accepted payment method) in some places, especially in smaller shops, or more remote or rural parts of the country. You may also need some lira in cash for tips, taxis and shopping at markets.

So, it could be best to take a mix of cash and cards to Turkey with you.

What to look for in a good credit card to use while travelling to Turkey

Here’s a quick checklist of things to look for when choosing a credit card for your trip to Turkey:

• No foreign transaction fees
• No overseas cash withdrawal fees
• A generous interest-free period for purchases - this gives you plenty of time to make repayments after your trip
• Cashback or rewards on travel or everyday spending
• Decent currency exchange rates - most credit cards use Visa or Mastercard rates, which are known to be pretty good.

FAQ

Do you get charged for using a credit card in Turkey?

Your credit card provider may charge you for spending or withdrawing cash in Turkish lira during your trip. You’ll need to check the fees list for your card, ideally before you travel.

The vendor may also add a credit card surcharge or service fee - it’s best to ask before you pay.

How do I avoid credit card foreign transaction fees?

To avoid or minimise fees when using a credit card abroad, follow these tips:

• Choose a credit card with no foreign transaction fees
• Avoid cash withdrawals overseas - these usually come with fees
• Always pay in the local currency
• Remember to make minimum repayments before the interest-free period ends.

Is it better to pay in local or foreign currency on a credit card?

It’s always best to pay in the local currency when spending overseas. This will mean that Visa or Mastercard exchange rates will be used, which are usually much better than those applied by the vendor, retailer or ATM.

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That concludes our guide to the best credit card for spending in Turkey. Hopefully, this helps you find the one that suits your needs best.

And if you want another option for spending abroad without worrying about exchange rate markups and hidden fees, the Wise card could be a great solution.

Open a Wise account online and you can order the Wise 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.

You also get two free ATM withdrawals for up to 200 GBP (or currency equivalent) each month. Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Sign up with Wise for free 🚀

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Sources used:

1. Halifax - Clarity Card
2. Barclays - Barclays Rewards
3. Barclaycard Rewards - Summary Box
4. Bip - Summary box
5. NatWest - Summary box for Travel Reward credit card
6. Zopa - Summary box
7. RBS - Summary box for Reward Black credit card
8. NatWest - Travel Reward Credit Card
9. Zopa - Credit card
10. RBS - Reward Black Credit Card

Sources last checked on date: 24-Feb-2024