Since 1999, the official currency of Austria has been the euro.<\/p>
Major credit card providers such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club are all widely accepted at major retailers, hotels and restaurants. However, it\u2019s very common for smaller stores to only accept cash, so make sure to carry plenty of euros on you. This is especially true outside of major cities like Vienna, Salzburg or Graz, or popular skiing resorts.<\/p>
Withdrawing euros should be simple enough if you have a chip-and-pin card. There are plenty of ATMs spread around Austria\u2019s major cities, although you may face a bit of a trek to find one in smaller towns and rural areas. As such, it\u2019s worth withdrawing cash before heading off to visit the beautiful architecture around the lesser-known parts of Austria.<\/p>
It\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll be asked to show ID when making credit card payments (as is the case for visitors to some countries), although some smaller retailers may enforce a minimum purchase amount.<\/p>
As you\u2019d expect, there are a few potential fees to watch out for when you\u2019re paying with plastic in Austria.<\/p>
It\u2019s also worth noting that when it comes to cash advances and non-sterling transactions, many card issuers will start charging interest on the day your account is debited, rather than the customary \u201cup to 55 days interest-free<\/a>\u201d that usually applies provided you clear your balance in full each month.<\/p> Consider taking out a credit card offering commission-free currency conversion (see table<\/a> below), even if you only use it when you\u2019re out of the country. Once you have one of these cards, if a merchant offers to take payment in pounds, say you\u2019re happy to pay in euros, since you know that your own bank won\u2019t add a margin.<\/p> Generally speaking, it\u2019s not a great idea to use credit cards to withdraw cash, but some travel credit cards won\u2019t penalise you for this either. It\u2019s incredibly rare for ATMs in Austria to charge fees, but check you haven\u2019t stumbled upon one that does. Those in banks or in the street are typically a safer bet than those in convenience stores or bars.<\/p>So how can I avoid the fees?<\/h3>
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