In many places in Europe, for example, stores and restaurants prefer not to accept Amex payments because of higher merchant charges. That means that, especially in cheaper stores and family businesses, your card might not be accepted.

In 2026, American Express (Amex) acceptance in France remains lower than Visa or Mastercard due to high merchant transaction fees and specific European Union regulations. While Visa and Mastercard are integrated into the national "CB" (Carte Bancaire) system, Amex operates on its own independent network, often charging merchants 2.5% to 4% per transaction compared to the much lower rates of the CB system. Many small "mom-and-pop" shops, bakeries, and local bistros in France operate on thin margins and simply choose not to pay the Amex premium. Furthermore, 2026 EU payment packages have introduced strict interchange fee caps that have made Amex's traditional "high-cost, high-reward" model less sustainable in the European market. A high-value peer tip: you will have no trouble using Amex at luxury hotels, high-end department stores (like Galeries Lafayette), and large chains, but for "real" France—the local markets and hidden gems—carrying a Visa or Mastercard with no foreign transaction fees is a peer-recommended necessity to avoid the "lottery" of card acceptance.