Tipping etiquette in Turkey can be confusing for foreign travelers. With the Turkish lira plunging in value recently, what is considered a good tip amount is changing. This article examines whether 100 lira is still an appropriate gratuity in Turkey today.
Tipping Culture in Turkey
Tipping is customary in Turkey, especially in tourism hotspots like Istanbul, Cappadocia, and the coastal resorts. Service industry workers like waiters, taxi drivers, and hotel staff generally earn low wages, so they rely on tips to supplement their income.
Locals typically tip 10-15% at restaurants, about 10 liras for short taxi rides, and 5-10 liras per night for hotel housekeeping. Tips are always appreciated, though not strictly mandatory.
The Impact of the Falling Lira
Over the past few years, the Turkish lira has drastically declined against major foreign currencies like the US dollar and euro From 2020 to 2022, the lira lost over 50% of its value
This currency devaluation has made traveling in Turkey more affordable for foreign tourists, who can get more liras for their money. However, it has driven up costs for Turkish residents.
As a result, traditional tip amounts in liras are worth much less today. What used to be considered a decent tip is now quite small.
Is 100 Lira a Good Restaurant Tip?
For a mid-range restaurant meal costing 200-300 liras per person, 100 liras would have been a generous 15-20% tip a couple years ago. Now, it’s only an average 10-15% tip.
To show your appreciation for great service at a restaurant today, aim to tip 100-150 liras per person or 15-20% of the bill.
At cheaper restaurants or street food stalls, 50-100 liras is still an appropriate tip. For high-end meals, tip up to 200 liras or 20% of the total.
Tipping Hotel Staff and Taxi Drivers
For hotel housekeepers, 50-100 liras per night is now considered a good tip, up from 20-50 liras previously.
For bellhops and luggage handlers, 20-50 liras per bag is an appropriate gratuity. Tip taxi drivers 20-50 liras for airport transfers or longer rides across town.
Round up the fare by 10-20 liras for shorter trips.
The Bottom Line
Due to the falling lira, a 100 lira tip no longer goes as far in Turkey. For good restaurant service, 100-150 liras per person is a better benchmark. At hotels and for taxis, tip 50-100 liras per service.
Ultimately, tip what you can afford based on the service. Every bit helps support local workers in Turkey.
Tipping tour guides in Turkey
Your tour guide can make or break your experience when travelling – so when you find a great guide in Turkey do tip them the standard 10%. Tips are equally welcome whether you’re taking a private, multi-day, or walking tour.
If you join a free tour in Turkey it’s worth tipping too. Tours like these often operate on a ‘pay what you like’ basis. Your tips may be the only income your guide makes.
Sometimes you may be asked to leave a TripAdvisor review if you enjoyed your experience instead of tipping. This might help guides earn commission – and help other travellers have their own great experience in future.
Going for a tour in Turkey? You can save on currency conversion fees when traveling with Wise travel money card
Tip in local currency with Wise Turkish lira travel card.
No matter where you are, it makes sense to tip in local currency. Want to save money on currency exchange so you can tip generously and still have more to spend on yourself?
With the Wise Turkish lira travel money card it’s easy to top up in your local currency, and switch to Turkish lira whenever you need to pay for your day to day expenses in Turkey.
With Wise you’ll always get the real exchange rate with no hidden costs. There’s just a low, transparent conversion fee – and then it’s free to spend any currency you hold. Simply top up your card and convert to the currency you need in real time using the Wise app.
No matter where your adventures take you, Wise has you covered. Hold and spend 40+ currencies with the same card, make ATM withdrawals and manage your account on the go using the Wise app.
Get your Wise debit card online in just a few simple steps and start saving on foreign transactions now.
Is 100 Turkish lira a good tip?
FAQ
How much is a good tip in Turkey in Lira?
What will 100 lira get you in Turkey?
What is the best currency to tip in Turkey?
Is 200 TL a good tip?