Bringing cash into Europe - if you're bringing more than €10,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) into the European Union, you must declare it to the customs authorities in the country you're entering.
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You need to declare it when traveling internationallyHowever, during international travel, you need to report currency and monetary instruments in excess of $10,000. When entering or departing the United States with this much money, you're required to file FinCen Form 105 with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
You need to declare it when traveling internationallyYou have the right to travel with as much money as you want. However, during international travel, you need to report currency and monetary instruments in excess of $10,000.
You may bring into or take out of the country, including by mail, as much money as you wish. However, if it is more than $10,000, you will need to report it to CBP. Use the online Fincen 105 currency reporting site or ask a CBP officer for the paper copy of the Currency Reporting Form (FinCen 105).
So how much cash can you fly with? You can fly with any amount of cash. No law prohibits you from bringing any amount of money on a flight. Likewise, TSA has no rules that limit how much money you can bring through security.
It all depends on where you're going and what you plan to do during your trip. As you can see from our travel costs table above, some European cities are cheaper or more expensive than others. As a general rule, though, it's a good idea to budget at least $100 a day for your vacation.
What happens if you bring a large amount of cash to the airport for a domestic flight? A TSA screener might discover the cash at the airport's security checkpoint. Checked luggage goes through a similar screening process.
You can fly with any amount of cash. No law prohibits you from bringing any amount of money on a flight. Likewise, TSA has no rules that limit how much money you can bring through security. In other words, TSA has no cash limit per person.
If you have to take cash, keep it in a carry on bag. Never put your cash, financial instruments, or precious metals in a checked bag. Keep your cash and other valuables out of public view. Keep your baggage and belongings in sight when passing through a security checkpoint.
US dollars: I carry $100–200 as a backup. While you won't use it for day-to-day purchases, American cash in your money belt comes in handy for emergencies, such as when banks go on strike or your ATM card stops working. I've been in Greece and Ireland when every bank went on strike, shutting down without warning.
If you are carrying cash with a value of EUR 10,000 or more, you are required to hand in your written declaration to the customs office at which you are entering or leaving the territory of the European Union.
So always keep some cash on hand in foreign currency, even if you plan to rely mostly on cards. Some European countries also accept US dollars as a second currency, so stuffing some green bucks into your wallet before heading out can prove useful.
However, the TSA may ask a passenger who is carrying a large sum of cash to account for the money. If the TSA suspects that the money is related to some kind of criminal activity such as drug trafficking or money laundering, they may turn the issue over to a law enforcement agency (TSA has no law enforcement powers).
There's no exact number, but it should amount to an entire day's worth of expenses. For example, if you have to pay for parking, the amount should cover that, plus the rest of your day-to-day costs, like your gas, groceries, etc. As a rule of thumb, keep $100 to $300 in your front pocket wallet.
Backpackers should expect to spend between $40 – $70 USD/day in Eastern Europe, $70 – $100/day in Western Europe, and $150 – $200/day in the Nordic countries.