Can you exchange a small amount of cash at Istanbul airport, and where is the best exchange rate?
Based on 2 discussions with 2 participants · Last activity: 7 days ago
TL;DR
You can exchange even a small amount of cash at Istanbul airports with no minimum threshold — enough to buy an Istanbulkart and take the metro. Best rates at IST are between exits 9 and 10; Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) generally has decent rates throughout.
What the community said
At the new Istanbul Airport, the most reasonable rate is specifically at the bank exchange counters near exits 9–10, after all arrival procedures and just before going outside. Even there, the rate is usually still a bit worse than in the city center, but on a small exchange such as 50–100 USD, the loss is minor.
7 days ago Exits 9–10, bank exchange counters
If you're arriving with only cash (USD or EUR) and need just a small amount exchanged — for example, to buy an Istanbulkart and take the metro — there is no minimum exchange threshold at Istanbul airport. Even a small sum can be exchanged without issues.
7 days ago No minimum exchange amount
At Istanbul Airport (IST), the best exchange rates are found between exits 9 and 10 leading to the city. Exchange offices in other parts of the terminal tend to offer worse rates.
7 days ago IST: between exits 9 and 10
At Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), exchange rates are generally reasonable throughout the terminal — no need to hunt for a specific booth. Exchanging money right at SAW on arrival is a viable option.
7 days ago Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)