Turkey is one of the very few transcontinental countries in the world. It is located in Western Asia and Southeast Europe. They recorded 44.6 million new arrivals in 2022 alone, which shows you how much of a tourist destination Turkey is. A common misconception about Turkey is that they do not have gift cards. However, the reverse is the case.
One of the best ways to pay for items while in Turkey is with gift cards. Currently, there are 6 popular gift cards you must know about if you are visiting the country and I have got you covered.
Turkey, a beautiful country connecting Europe and Asia, offers an abundance of gift card options for residents and visitors alike. From global brands like Amazon and iTunes to local favorites, gift cards make for thoughtful and convenient gifts. This comprehensive guide will shed light on the many gift card choices available in Turkey
Overview of Gift Cards in Turkey
Gift cards are steadily growing in popularity across Turkey Major retailers like Migros and Boyner offer gift cards that can be used at their brick-and-mortar stores nationwide E-commerce giants like Amazon and online marketplaces like Hepsiburada also sell digital gift cards redeemable on their sites.
In addition, global brands like Starbucks, iTunes, Google Play, and Steam offer gift cards tailored to the Turkish market. Specialty gift card sites like MyGiftCardSupply even let you buy gift cards for top Turkish brands. With this range of options, gift cards make versatile gifts suitable for any occasion.
Most Popular Gift Cards in Turkey
Here are some of the most popular gift card choices available in Turkey:
Migros
Migros is one of Turkey’s largest supermarket chains. The company issues gift cards that can be used to purchase groceries, household goods, electronics, clothing, and more at over 2,000 Migros stores across the country. Migros gift cards come in denominations from 25 TL up to 500 TL.
Boyner
A leading department store chain in Turkey, Boyner sells gift cards redeemable for merchandise at its 60+ locations. Boyner gift cards, available from 25 TL to 500 TL, can be used to buy fashion, accessories, cosmetics, home furnishings, and electronics.
Hepsiburada
As Turkey’s biggest online retailer, Hepsiburada offers digital gift cards that provide credit to shop its expansive catalog of over 5 million products. Hepsiburada gift cards range from 50 TL to 500 TL.
Amazon Turkey
The Turkish website of global e-commerce leader Amazon sells digital gift cards in denominations from 25 TL to 500 TL. Amazon Turkey gift cards can be used to purchase millions of books, electronics, home goods, toys, clothing items, and more.
Starbucks
With over 600 locations in Turkey, Starbucks lets you buy gift cards redeemable for coffee, tea, food, and merchandise at its stores across the country. The cards come in denominations from 25 TL to 300 TL.
iTunes
Apple’s iTunes gift cards can be used in Turkey to buy apps, music, movies, TV shows, books, and more from the App Store, iTunes Store, Apple Books, and Apple TV. iTunes Turkey gift cards range from 25 TL to 200 TL.
Google Play
Google Play’s digital gift cards provide credits to make purchases on Google’s massive mobile app and entertainment store. In Turkey, Google Play cards come in denominations from 10 TL to 100 TL.
Steam
For video game lovers, Steam gift cards can be used to buy games and in-game items on this popular PC gaming platform. In Turkey, Steam cards are available from 50 TL up to 750 TL.
Where to Buy Gift Cards in Turkey
Gift cards are available at many online and offline retail outlets across Turkey:
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Supermarkets: Major chains like Migros, Şok Market, and Carrefour sell a variety of gift cards.
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Department stores: Boyner, YKM, and other chains offer gift cards for their stores.
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Electronics retailers: MediaMarkt, Teknosa, Vatan, and others carry gift cards for electronics and entertainment.
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Pharmacies: Large pharmacy chains like Eczcibasi and Ilacium have gift cards in stock.
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Bookstores: D&R and other booksellers sell gift cards for their stores.
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Stationery shops: Tyro and other stationery retailers offer gift cards from various brands.
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Mobile operators: Turkcell, Vodafone, and other providers sell prepaid airtime credits.
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Online marketplaces: Sites like Hepsiburada, n11, GittiGidiyor, and Trendyol allow you to buy digital gift cards.
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Global brands: The Turkish websites of brands like Amazon, Starbucks, and iTunes sell digital gift cards.
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Speciality sites: MyGiftCardSupply, KartHediyem, and similar platforms offer a huge selection of e-gift cards.
Popular Uses for Gift Cards in Turkey
Here are some of the most common ways gift cards are used in Turkey:
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Gift-giving – Cards make great gifts for birthdays, holidays, weddings, graduations, and more.
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Corporate gifts – Companies often give employees and clients gift cards as a token of appreciation.
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Incentives – Teachers, students, and club members are sometimes rewarded with gift cards.
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Teen gifts – Gift cards allow teens to shop at their favorite clothing and electronics merchants.
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Wedding favors – Couples give wedding guests prepaid cards as a thank you for attending.
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Consumer purchases – Shoppers use gift cards to pay for routine purchases at supermarkets, cafes, cinemas, and other retailers.
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Online shopping – Digital gift cards provide funds to order items from e-commerce sites.
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Gaming – Gamers use Steam, PlayStation Store, and other gaming gift cards to buy titles and in-game content.
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Music & movies – Gift cards let users purchase songs, albums, films, and TV shows from iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, and similar services.
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Apps & software – iTunes, Google Play, and other app store gift cards pay for mobile apps, productivity software, and more.
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Travel – Turkish Airlines gift cards can be used to buy plane tickets and additional services.
Gift Card Tips for Turkey
To make the most of gift cards in Turkey, keep these tips in mind:
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Check the expiration date – Some gift cards have limited validity, so use them promptly.
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Review restrictions – Understand if the card can only be used for certain products or locations.
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Keep the receipt – Hold on to gift card receipts in case the card is lost or stolen.
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Treat it like cash – Avoid losing the card or sharing the gift card number and PIN.
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Check the balance – For digital cards, log into your account frequently to review the remaining balance.
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Buy from trusted sellers – Only purchase gift cards from authorized dealers to avoid scams.
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Personalize it – For a heartfelt touch, you can decorate or customize a gift card with a personal message.
Are Gift Cards a Good Idea in Turkey?
Gift cards make excellent gifts and purchases in Turkey for several key reasons:
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Convenience – Cards are simpler than giving cash and eliminate the need to know someone’s style or size.
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Flexibility – With gift cards for department stores, e-commerce sites, and more, recipients can choose almost anything.
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Enjoyment – Gift cards bring the joy of shopping and picking personalized items.
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Universality – Gift cards work for recipients of any age group.
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Portability – Digital gift cards can be delivered instantly online to recipients anywhere in Turkey.
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Safety – Compared to cash, gift cards have protections against theft or loss. Unused balances remain on registered cards.
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Budgeting – Gift cards have set denominations that give the giver control over the exact spending amount.
While selection and availability continue improving in Turkey, gift cards currently represent a thoughtful, flexible, and convenient gift option that works for givers and recipients alike. By sticking to trusted retailers and brands and taking measures to secure their gift cards, shoppers can confidently use prepaid cards for gifting and personal purchases across Turkey.
Steam Gift Card TR
Steam is one of the biggest gaming platforms in the world; with a Steam gift card, you can purchase and download multiple games and pay for in-game items. There is a large community of gamers in Turkey, so it is no surprise that the Steam gift card is one of the most popular and demanded gift cards in the country,
Walmart Gift Card TR
The Walmart gift card is another popular gift card in Turkey and can be used as a payment method on the Walmart website or at any of the physical Walmart stores in Turkey.
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FAQ
Does Turkey have a Steam card?
Did Turkey have Amazon gift card?
Which card does Turkey have?
What are the best gift cards for Turkey?
Depending on the preference of the person, there are a series of Turkey gift card options to choose from. For people who enjoy digital consumption, Apple, and Google gift cards are a good choice. On the other hand, IKEA and Altinyildiz are excellent choices if you wish to gift physical items.
How much cash should I carry in Turkey?
Using your card in Turkey is pretty easy so there’s no need to carry too much physical cash. My advice is to have at least 200$ just in case something goes wrong with your bank cards and you need emergency cash until you sort it out.
What can you do with a gift card?
With the App Store and iTunes gift cards, you can pay for music, apps, movies, TV shows, and games in your preferred denominations. You can also spend it on in-app purchases, TV show subscriptions, books, and iCloud storage for safe backing up of files on your Apple devices.
Do you need to exchange money in Turkey?
Also, you don’t need to exchange money in Turkey if you have a debit or credit card with low fees. Exchanging physical cash will probably turn out to be more expensive than withdrawing cash from an ATM due to the exchange rate margins, especially given the galloping inflation.