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Ireland currency travel guide

Planning a trip to Ireland? Here’s all you need to know when preparing to spend in the Emerald Isle.

Ireland has its own unique currency and travel money customs: Euros are the currency of the Republic of Ireland, while Northern Ireland uses the British pound. Despite this separation, you can feel safe paying with credit cards, debit cards, cash or prepaid travel cards during your trip.

A credit card is your best and simplest option in Ireland, as most retailers accept them, and some cards like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card help save on foreign transaction fees. Read up on all your spending options to make sure you’re prepared for your trip to the Emerald Isle.

Our picks for traveling to Ireland

50+ currencies supported

Wise Multi-currency

Go to site
on Wise's secure site

  • 4.33% APY on USD balances
  • $0 signup or subscription fees
  • Withdraw $100 per month for free from ATMs worldwide
  • Send, spend and withdraw 50+ currencies at the live rate
  • Freeze and unfreeze your card instantly

Travel rewards with no annual fee

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Go to site
on Capital One's secure site
Terms apply, see rates & fees

  • 20,000 miles (equal to $200 in travel) after spending $500 in the first 3 months
  • Earn unlimited 1.25x miles on all purchases
  • Low intro rates on purchases and balance transfers

Up to 2% cashback

Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus

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on Upgrade's secure site

  • Up to 2% cashback
  • $0 monthly & overdraft fees
  • Up to 4.81% with Performance Savings
  • Get paid up to 2 days early with qualifying direct deposit
  • Member FDIC

Travel card, debit card or credit card?

You shouldn’t have a problem using any Visa or Mastercard product at Irish shops and ATMs. American Express can also be used but at fewer places. Diners Club is accepted in fewer places than American Express, and Discover cards are rarely and sporadically accepted.

Some debit cards and travel cards waive international transaction charges and give you free international ATM withdrawals. Use a travel card or debit card for everyday purchases, cash withdrawals when you need euros or pounds and a credit card for everything else.

If you’re in the market for a new credit card, why not apply for a credit card with travel features? Complimentary insurance can save you hundreds before you leave the country. Some cards even offer extended interest-free terms for up to a year or more.

These are your options for spending money in Ireland

Using a credit card

Credit cards are great for larger purchases like travel bookings and souvenirs. Some credit cards also provide travel benefits like travel insurance or rewards. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, for example, earns miles on purchases and waives foreign transaction fees you would incur on purchases abroad.

Different travel credit cards offer different kinds of perks, so it’s wise to compare your options to find the right combination of features suitable for your travels.

    • Tip: Even with these travel benefits, avoid using your credit card to withdraw cash. Cash advance interest and fees apply for this type of transaction — and you don’t get interest-free days either.
Pros
  • Protected by PIN and chip
  • No currency conversion fees
  • Features such as complimentary travel insurance
  • Interest-free period on purchases
Cons
  • Fees and high interest on cash advances
  • Subject to an annual fee
  • International transaction fees and interest charges may also apply

Which credit card issuers are accepted in Ireland?

In Ireland, American Express and Discover cards aren’t as popular as Mastercard or Visa, but in some places, you can still pay with them.

If you want to make a cash withdrawal with an Amex card, look for Bank of Ireland or Centra ATMs. For Discover cards, Allied Irish Banks ATMs will work.

Merchant acceptanceATM acceptance
Visacheck mark iconHighcheck mark iconHigh
Mastercardcheck mark iconHighcheck mark iconHigh
American Expresscross mark iconLowexclamation point iconMedium
Discoverexclamation point iconMediumcross mark iconLow

Compare travel credit cards

Explore top debit cards with no foreign transaction fees and travel credit cards by using the tabs to narrow down your options. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side.

1 - 5 of 10
Name Product Fee Minimum deposit to open Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Offer
Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus
Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★
Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus
$0 per month
$0
5.07% on balances of +
1.50% on balances of +
Earn up to 2% cashback rewards on everyday purchases. Pay $0 fees for overdraft, domestic wire transfer and monthly maintenance. Pair with Performance Savings account to earn 5.07% APY. Member FDIC.
SoFi Checking and Savings
Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5: ★★★★★
Bonus
SoFi Checking and Savings
$0 per month
$0
4.50% on balances of $0+
0.50% on balances of $0+
1.20% on balances of $0+
Get up to $250 with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until December 31, 2023.
Earn up to 4.50% APY on savings by meeting deposit requirements, and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Members without deposit requirements will earn 0.50% APY on both savings and checking balances. Turn on automatic savings or use the Roundups feature to help you reach your savings goals faster. Get up to $2M of additional FDIC insurance through a network of participating banks.
Chime Checking account
Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5: ★★★★★
Chime Checking account
$0 per month
$0
N/A
Save easily and access your paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit. Pay $0 monthly fees, and no minimum balance is required. Access 24/7 support and get daily balance and transaction alerts. FDIC insured.
Acorns Checking
Finder Rating: 3.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Acorns Checking
From $3 per month
$0
N/A
Invest your spare change in real-time and earn up to 10% in bonus investments. Member FDIC.
Quontic Bank High Interest Checking
Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★
Quontic Bank High Interest Checking
$0 per month
$100
1.10% on balances of $0+
0.01% on balances of $0+
Earn 1.1% APY with qualifying transactions, and pay $0 in monthly or overdraft fees. Access your account with a nationwide network of 90,000+ no-fee ATMs. FDIC insured.
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1 - 5 of 37
Name Product Welcome Offer Rewards Annual fee Filter values
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Up to 5x miles
$0
Earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. See rates & fees
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Up to 5x miles
$95
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months ​from account opening. See rates & fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Up to 5x points
$95
Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. That's worth $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
$200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Up to 1.5% cash back
$0
More than an unlimited 1.5% cash back card: you'll also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). See rates & fees
Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit
Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit
N/A
Up to 5x miles
$0
The same rewards and $0 annual fee as the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, but for those with good credit. See rates & fees
loading

Using a debit card

There are only a handful of debit accounts with features suited to travelers. What you want to keep an eye out for is a card that doesn’t charge for international ATM and foreign transaction fees, like from Betterment Checking — local or out-of-network ATM operator fees may still apply.

  • Tip: Tell your bank about your travel plans to Ireland. There’s a good chance your card will be blocked if you use it outside the country without notice.
Pros
  • Secured with a chip and PIN technology
  • Can be easily blocked by your issuer with just a phone call
  • ATMs are abundant
Cons
  • No backup card
  • Linked directly to bank account if your card goes missing
  • Local ATM operator fees may apply

Using a prepaid travel card

All travel cards let you load euros and pounds, the respective currencies of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Pounds are also used throughout the rest of neighboring Great Britain — most trips to Ireland also involve a trip to the United Kingdom.

You’ll be able to spend without paying for currency conversion — however, you’ll pay ATM fees, reload fees and be subject to an inflated travel card exchange rate.

  • Tip: Depending on the card you use, you may end up with a higher or lower exchange rate. Check with your providers to see what rates apply and work out the most affordable option.
Pros
  • All travel cards let you load euros and pounds
  • Save on currency conversion fees
  • Can be easily blocked with just a phone call
  • Back up card and PIN protection
  • Antifraud protection
Cons
  • You’ll need to pay reload fees and ATM fees
  • Can take up to five or six days if you’re trying to reload your travel card over a weekend or holiday
  • Poor exchange rate

A guide to Ireland’s coins and banknotes

In the Republic of Ireland, the official currency is the euro. Notes are €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500, while coins are 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2.

Buying euros and pounds sterling in the US

ATMs take the hassle out of getting local currency. Americans don’t have to pay to enter Ireland or the United Kingdom, so there’s no reason why you should need a large amount of cash right away. However, it can be a good idea to have some small bills to pay for food or a train or taxi from the airport.

US banks charge a commission to exchange funds — Travelex is a better option. There’s no commission, and Travelex has a number of locations, including airports, that make it convenient.

The main banks in Ireland are:

  • Allied Irish Bank (AIB)
  • Bank of Ireland
  • Ulster Bank
  • CitiBank Europe
  • Permanent Group Holdings
  • Danske Bank (Ireland)
  • KBC Bank Ireland
  • EBC d.a.c.
  • DePfa Bank
  • Bank of Montreal Ireland PLC

Using an ATM in Ireland

There is no shortage of ATMs in Ireland, with a majority of them part of the Visa or Mastercard network. American Express is less commonly accepted, and Discover cards rarely, if at all.

Optimize your savings when accessing an ATM using a debit card from a bank that waives ATM fees or foreign transaction fees, like Betterment Checking. Give your cardholder’s agreement a close look before traveling to get a sense of what fees you might incur and when they occur.

ATMs in Ireland

Live Rate

= € 1.0000

Refreshing in: 60s | Thu, Sep 28, 09:21PM GMT

Irish 5-eurosIrish 10-eurosIrish 20-euros
Irish 50-eurosIrish 100-euros

In Northern Ireland, the pound sterling is the local currency. Notes are £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100, while coins are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2.

Live Rate

= £ 0.8193

Refreshing in: 60s | Thu, Sep 28, 09:21PM GMT

Northern Irish 5-poundsNorthern Irish 10-poundsNorthern Irish 20-pounds
Northern Irish 50-poundsNorthern Irish 100-pounds

The main banks in Ireland are:

  • Allied Irish Bank (AIB)
  • Bank of Ireland
  • Ulster Bank
  • CitiBank Europe
  • Permanent Group Holdings
  • Danske Bank (Ireland)
  • KBC Bank Ireland
  • EBC d.a.c.
  • DePfa Bank
  • Bank of Montreal Ireland PLC

How much should I budget to travel in Ireland?

Traveling to Ireland is expensive. Even budget travelers should plan for at least $50 per day. If you’re looking to stay in nicer hotels rather than hostels or dorm beds, you’re looking at a budget of $130 to $250 a day. You’ll find Northern Ireland a bit more expensive.

All prices are in US dollars.

DublinBudgetMid-rangeExpensive
MealsGet a full Irish breakfast sandwich on Nassau Street
$8
A meal at a mid-range restaurant
$15 per head
3-course meal at a Michelin-star restaurant
$120 a head
ActivitiesVisit the national galleries of Dublin
Free
Skip the lines at the Guinness Storehouse
$20 (early entry and first service)
3-day tour of South Ireland starting and returning to Dublin
From $250 per person
AccommodationHostel dorm bed
$10–$25 per night
2-star hotel
$15–$150 per night
5-star hotel
$200+ per night

Prices are approximate and are subject to change.

Tips:

  • There are credit cards, debit cards and travel cards that don’t charge for ATM withdrawals. Be sure to apply for a card with low ATM withdrawal fees so you can get euros or pounds for cheap.
  • Always pay in euros or pounds when using your credit or debit card. You may be asked to pay in USD, but you’ll get robbed on the exchange rate if you do this.

Case study: Luke's experience

Luke profile photo
Luke

Case study: Interview with Luke about spending in Ireland

Do you have any tips?

Let your bank know about your travel plans to avoid the hassle of calling your bank to unlock your credit card. Luke says he failed to do that, and Barclaycard blocked his card once he used it in Ireland.

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