What is the best way to travel with money in Europe?

Cash and Currency Tips for Europe
  1. Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip. ...
  2. Don't bother with traveler's checks. ...
  3. Avoid (or at least minimize) cash exchange. ...
  4. Use local cash. ...
  5. Use your credit card to get cash only in emergencies. ...
  6. Don't stress over currency conversions. ...
  7. Assume you'll be shortchanged.




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If you prefer dealing in cash, then by all means get some euros out before your trip. But actually, you'll find that debit and credit cards are widely accepted in most European cities. Paying by card can be easier and more convenient, without the potential security risk of carrying cash around you.

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While credit cards are accepted in most situations, currency can be more convenient for public transportation and small vendors. It's also wise to carry an emergency fund with enough cash for a few days, just in case your card gets lost or stolen.

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Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in most European cities. American Express is too, but perhaps less widely. Paying by card can be easier and more convenient. You don't need to worry about changing money at a foreign exchange counter, or worry about security when carrying cash around with you.

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10 Tips for Travelling with Cash
  1. Contact your bank before travelling. ...
  2. Ditch the traveller's cheques. ...
  3. Don't keep your wallet in your back pocket or purse. ...
  4. Wear a travel money belt. ...
  5. Travel with large bills. ...
  6. Not all hotel rooms are safe. ...
  7. Keep your cash in more than one place. ...
  8. Always have a credit card as backup.


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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.

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This is so entirely dependent on your own travel preferences that it's tough to estimate but we recommend putting aside roughly €700 to €1700 for spending money for one week in Europe.

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Buy currency before you travel.
Doing so gives you time to shop around for the best rate. Plus, when you arrive, you won't have to immediately find a bank or currency exchange. Do some research ahead of time to see if US dollars are widely accepted at places you plan to go to.

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Advantages of using cash If your spending discipline breaks down when you use credit cards, cash may be a better choice while you let loose on vacation. No foreign transaction fees: Many credit cards charge an extra fee of up to 3% on purchases made outside the country, although you can find cards that don't.

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Paying with cash in France You can use your card in France for most things, but if you want to shop at the street markets, you'll need cash — ATMs are typically onsite. Places like Porte de Clignancourt and Les Puces de Montreuil in Paris have some amazing deals for things you never thought you'd find.

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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. So you can bring any amount of money to the airport.

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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.

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With 10,000 USD, you could easily travel around Europe for a few weeks. You could stay in budget hostels and eat at local restaurants or cook your own meals. If you plan carefully and look for deals, it's possible to stretch that amount even further.

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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.

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Use a credit card without a foreign transaction fee While it's good to have some cash when traveling internationally for cab rides, subways, and tours, it'll be safer to keep most of your cash at home and use a credit card instead. But not just any credit card.

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A good rule of thumb, though, is that, on average, you should plan to carry between $50 and $100 per day in the currency of the country in which you're travelling.

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