Please note, since I wrote this post, the currency symbol has changed and is no longer TL. It is now
The notes and coins have stayed the same though.
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Turkish lira is one of those currencies that gets everyone confused until you are used to using it. If you had come to Turkey before 2005, then you would have been even more confused as all the Turkish lira was in millions.
A loaf of bread would have cost you 75 thousand lira and just buying a house would have scrambled your brain. Thankfully now it is a lot easier to understand. Not all items are displayed in Turkish lira though.
If you are on the Aegean Coast for your holidays then a lot of items are displayed in pound prices. If you are on the Mediterranean coast for your holiday then a lot of items are displayed in the Euro currency. However go into your normal average shop or restaurant that is not for tourists and you will find the currency is TL which is Turkish lira.
Five Turkish Lira
These days the Turkish lira is particular easy to get to grips with. Watch out for two main points though. It is easy to get confused with the 5TL and the 50TL. It is also easy to get confused with the 10TL and the 200TL. They are virtually the same colors and if you are not aware, you could end up paying over the top prices. All coins from 5 to 50 are called Kurus ( Koorus) and currency after that is called Lira.
Ten Turkish Lira
Obviously the currency exchange rate will vary everyday. I often find that travelers have a better deal when exchanging money here in Turkey, so exchange enough pin-money in your home country and leave the rest to exchange into Turkish Lira when you are here.
Twenty Turkish Lira
If exchanging money in a bank, then they will also ask for your passport. There are lots of exchange shops in resorts who will charge you 0% commission. The reason being is they are giving just a bit lower exchange rate than the bank.
One Hundred Turkish Lira
One Turkish lira
Below is a quick conversion chart that you can print out and take with you on holiday. I have put the exchange rate that I have used at the top of each column, and you will just need to raise up or down, depending on the exchange rate of the day.
| Turkish lira conversion | 2.3 exc rate – Uk Pound | 1.45 exc rate – US dollars | 1.93 exc rate – Euros |
| 5 kurus | 2 pence | 3.4 cent | 2.5 cents |
| 10 kurus | 4 pence | 7 cent | 5 cents |
| 25 kurus | 10 pence | 17 cent | 12.5 cents |
| 50 kurus | 20 pence | 34 cent | 25 cents |
| 1 lira | 40 pence | 68 cent | 51 cents |
| 5 lira | 2.17 pounds | 3.44 dollars | 2.59 Euros |
| 10 lira | 4.34 pounds | 6.88 dollars | 4.58 Euros |
| 20 lira | 8.68 pounds | 13.79 dollars | 9.15 Euros |
| 50 lira | 21.73 pounds | 34.48 dollars | 25.90 euros |
| 100 lira | 43.47 pounds | 68.96 dollars | 51.81 Euros |
| 200 lira | 86.95 pounds | 137.93 dollars | 103.62 Euros |
Hi there,
Very interesting post! I’m collecting banknotes and I’m dying for a turkish lira from the time when you had the Millions:)
I’ll be visiting Istambul this year. Do you have any idea if there’s a place where I could buy old banknotes there? Or a person:)))
Thank a lot!
Steffy
http://www.unusualtraveltip.com
Hi Steffy, I don’t know of anyone. Perhaps when you get to Istanbul, someone in your hotel might be able to point you in the right direction.