Do currency exchange offices in Istanbul accept old US dollar bills?

On Istiklal Street, old-series dollar bills are exchanged without questions and without commission — some exchange offices even advertise 'no commission'.

In the Laleli district, only 2 out of 10 exchange offices accept old dollar bills with no commission; the rest charge a fee.

At the Grand Bazaar, old dollar bills are actually accepted — typically with about a 1% fee, though some offices ask up to 4%.

USD $50 bills may also be refused at exchange offices — one traveler was turned away at 4 booths in a row.

Before handing over any cash, always show the bill to the cashier first and ask for the exact amount in lira you will receive. The commission on old-series dollars can range from 2% to 10%.

After visiting around 15 exchange offices at and near the Grand Bazaar, none would accept old-series US dollar bills — not even at a discount or with a fee.

For small amounts of old-series dollars (e.g. $100), exchange offices may offer extremely poor rates. It's best to only bring new-series US dollar bills to Istanbul.

If an exchange office charges a fee (e.g. $1 per $100 exchanged), don't accept it — walk 20–50 meters to the next booth, where you'll likely get a commission-free rate.