Using a credit card in Europe

You’re excited about your trip to Europe. But right now, you have money on your mind. Specifically, you’re wondering whether you can use your credit card or rely on cash abroad.

The answer lies somewhere in between. Credit cards are widely accepted in Europe, especially at large establishments such as hotels. That said, you may encounter merchants who only accept cash. In general, it’s a good idea to carry both cash and credit cards.

If you’re taking along a variety of cards, debit cards and cash, read our full guide on spending money while traveling in Europe.

Which credit card issuers are accepted in Europe?

You’ll find Visa and Mastercard to be widely accepted in Europe. Generally speaking, you’ll find merchants in Europe willing to accept American Express cards and even fewer that will take Discover cards. If you have an American Express card, you’ll have the best luck using it in areas frequently traveled by tourists or business travelers.

	Merchant acceptance	ATM acceptance
Visa	High	High
Mastercard	High	High
American Express	Medium	High
Discover	Low	Medium

Consider which country you’re going to

Credit card acceptance isn’t uniform throughout Europe. Some countries, such as the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, accept credit cards pretty much everywhere. Others, such as Germany and Italy, will mostly only take cash.

For Europe in general, you’ll typically rely on cash for everyday spending for things such as buses and taxis. Be sure to carry enough cash to get you through each day, but don’t be afraid to use your credit card whenever you can.

A few credit card fees to avoid

International travelers often uncover a nasty surprise: Using a card overseas can be expensive. The main culprits are foreign transaction fees and currency conversion fees.

Compare travel credit cards

Before jetting off to Europe, consider getting a travel card without foreign transaction fees. This can save you a lot of money overall. Compare the cards below to find the best credit card for European travel.

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Name	Product	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
American Express® Gold Card		60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months	4x at restaurants including delivery and Uber Eats; 4x at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 annually (then 1x points) and 3x points on directly-booked flights	$250		Earn up to 4x points on select purchases, a bevy of travel perks, and a welcome offer worth up to $600 with this upper-mid tier travel card. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card		60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $750 through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Plus up to $50 statement credit towards groceries.	5x points on Lyft, 2x points on up to $1,000 on groceries until April 30, 2021, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases	$95		Earn a signup bonus worth $750 plus up to $50 statement credit towards groceries with this popular travel card.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Platinum Card® from American Express		75,000 points after spending $5,000 in your first 6 months, plus 10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined purchases in the same timeframe	10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 combined in the first 6 months, 5x points on directly-booked flights on up to $500,000 annually, then 1x points after that and on other purchases	$550		One of the most valuable premium travel cards, featuring two welcome offers worth up to $4,500, multiple travel credits and unrivaled lounge access. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Magnetic stripe and chip credit cards

Over the past few years, your card providers have probably upgraded your existing credit cards to one with a chip inside. These cards are called chip cards.

In the United States, we mostly have chip-and-signature cards — you must provide a signature during a transaction to verify your identity. Meanwhile, in Europe chip-and-PIN cards are standard. With this type of card, you enter a four-digit personal identification number to verify your identity.

Can I use my chip-and-signature card in Europe?

You’re not out of luck if you own only a chip-and-signature card. If you don’t have a PIN, an attendant will collect a signature from you during each transaction.

However, you may run into situations where your chip-and-signature card won’t work. For example, you might find yourself at an unmanned train station kiosk.

To avoid this, carry cash or ask your bank to provide you with a PIN, so you could freely use your credit card in Europe.

What if I don’t have a chip card at all?

If you’re still stuck with a magstripe card, call your provider and get a chip card. You can get by in Europe with a chip-and-signature card, but many retailers simply don’t accept a magstripe card.

Is it safe to use my credit card in Europe?

For the most part, you’re quite safe from credit card fraud in Europe. You’ll rarely be on the hook for fraudulent transactions. Even if you owe money, US law states you can only be charged a maximum of $50.

As with all destinations, however, using the following safety tips is always a good idea.

• Keep your PIN safe. Whenever you enter your PIN, use your other hand to cover your inputs. This helps cut down on spying — both from hidden cameras and people looking over your shoulder.
• Use ATMs selectively. Avoid decrepit ATMs and those in isolated locations. Instead, use ATMs attached to banks.
• Cancel your ATM transaction if anything seems awry. Don’t use an ATM if your card doesn’t slide smoothly into the card slot or if the keypad is difficult to press. The machine may be compromised by a credit card skimmer — a device that steals credit card information.
• Avoid letting your credit card out of your sight. Out of view, someone can easily take a photo of your credit card. At restaurants, consider paying for your meals in cash so that servers won’t have to take your credit card elsewhere. (European restaurants often use portable card readers that servers take directly to you, but you can simply use cash as a precaution.)

Credit card fraud, skimmers and keeping card information safe

Keeping your credit card (physically) safe

Thieves don’t just steal credit card information by recording your card number — they can also steal the card itself.

Pickpockets in many European cities heavily target tourists. The bigger the tourist destination, the more pickpockets there tend to be.

To decrease the chances your credit card will be stolen, consider keeping it in a money belt. This is a fabric pouch that you wear around your waist and hide under your shirt or in your pants. Also consider neck pouches, hidden pockets or a belt with hidden pockets.

How should I prepare before my trip?

Before going to Europe, ensure that you can use your credit card with no problems.

• Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Foreign transaction fees can be easily avoided with the right travel credit card.
• Highly consider getting a Visa, Mastercard or American Express. These brands are more likely to be accepted abroad — especially Visa and Mastercard. You may be able to use Discover cards at some locations, but many merchants won’t accept it.
• Give your card provider a heads-up. If your bank sees a foreign transaction on your card, they may put a hold on your account for suspicious activity. Let your provider know where you’ll be traveling to avoid this.
• Know who to call if you have a problem with your card while traveling. If your card is lost or stolen, or something else happens to it, call a local number to resolve the issue.
• Know where you’ll get cash once you arrive. See if your bank has international partnerships that allow you to use some ATMs for free.

Should I use my credit card to get cash?

You’ll definitely need cash in Europe, but if you use your credit card to make a cash withdrawal at an ATM, you will incur a cash advance fee as well as a higher interest rate for cash advances.

Check out this card’s pricing information table. As you can see, the cash advance APR is 25.74%, which is higher than the APR you’ll get for purchases or balance transfers.

You’ll also see that a cash advance comes with a high fee. You’ll pay the fee that is the greater of $10 or 5% of your transaction. If you take out a $300 cash advance, for example, you’ll pay the 5% fee — that’s $15.

Of course, credit card ATM withdrawals may also be subject to foreign transaction fees. The implication is clear: Limit credit card use at ATMs.

Pick up a debit card instead

Most debit cards have no cash advance APR or cash advance fees since you’re using your own money to make a withdrawal.

A debit card from the Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking Account is one excellent pick. It reimburses you for any fees you may incur at ATMs. The card also doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

Bottom line

Using your credit card in Europe is generally safe. Just make sure to keep an eye on your card. To avoid unnecessary fees, look for a card with no foreign transaction fees. Also, consider carrying a backup card in case something happens to your primary card; This can be a debit card, which you can use to make cash withdrawals to avoid cash advance fee or a cash advance APR.

Before deciding which card to get, compare your credit card options.

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