No more extra charges in Turkish restaurants and cafés

More than a month ago, on 1 February 2026, the Turkish Ministry of Trade introduced new regulations that will definitely please all tourists and residents of Turkey. From the aforementioned date of 1 February, catering establishments in Turkey will no longer be allowed to add any additional charges to the bill. What does this mean? It means that previously hidden costs, which the customer would only find out about when paying, such as table setting, service charge or compulsory tip, or failure to inform that salads or breads are charged extra, are now strictly prohibited. As a result of the changes in the regulations, catering establishments in Turkey may only charge for items listed on the menu.

Severe penalties are imposed for breaking the rules, and the Turkish Ministry of Trade has already announced inspections of catering establishments throughout Turkey. Failure to comply with the new regulations may therefore result in painful penalties, and the changes, which are inconvenient for dishonest restaurateurs, are definitely a step in the right direction not only for tourists but also for the residents of Turkey themselves.

Source: hurriyetdailynews.com