Is it ok to tip with US dollars in Turkey

I wouldn't? Ask yourself if you'd like to be tipped in Turkish lirasi in the US. Why send the poor server to the bank and lose on the conversion just to enjoy his/her tip?

We tipped our taxi driver with US dollars and he was elated to get dollars instead of the ever-shrinking Turkish lira.

With inflation running rampant in Turkey, many Turks convert their lira to euros, dollars or buy gold as a hedge against inflation.

During my first trip to Istanbul in 2019, the Turkish Lira traded at 6.5 to 1 US$.

During my second trip In 2022, it was trading at about 16 Lira to 1 US$.

Today it’s trading at 42 Lira to 1 US$.

No one wants to hold on to Turkish liras anymore.
It’s like a hot potato and Turks I know are afraid the bottom could completely fall out at any time. They don’t want to get burned with their savings in a currency that has no credibility and little value any more.

How do you think Americans (say, a server in an American restaurant) would feel about a customer leaving a tip for them in Turkish Lira?

We had to tip or shuttle driver with dollars simply because we didn't have any Lira and he seemed fine with it. but we tipped with Lira after that.

On a pre-agreed $20 taxi fare. we did tip $20 more.
Hey, they need the money more than we do.

In general, I would pay/tip in the country's currency. That said, for Turkey, some may prefer receiving dollars or Euros.

We’re going to Istanbul in 2 weeks. I read that they gladly accept dollars and euros because of inflation. In fact the cooking class we are taking gave their fee in dollars or a credit card. Cadh
was $10 cheaper.
In fact we purposely are taking 5, 10, and 20 $ bills for tipping and cabs. So yes, you can tip in dollars.

I asked our guide on our tour last fall which currency he preferred to be tipped in. His answer was a fast “US dollars”. In many countries the US dollar as a tip may be seen as offensive. In Türkiye, many people see having some of their resources in US dollars as a hedge against inflation.

When in doubt, ask. Be prepared to tip in the guide’s preferred currency.

Actually -- maybe not relevant here -- most of the places in Europe (EU - Euro countries), our guides have been happy to take
US $$ too. Yes, getting tip in Euros was their first choice, but US $ was not a problem either.

Having said this, during my visit to Istanbul in Feb/Mar 2023 - Euros were preferred everywhere.