How much cash should you bring on a trip to Europe? (2024)

How much cash should you bring on a trip to Europe?

A good rule of thumb is to carry $50-$100 a day in the local currency while travelling. Remember, though, that cash may not be the best option to pay for travel expenses. Credit cards offer great rewards, lower transaction fees, and can help you get a better exchange rate.

How much cash do you need for an Europe trip?

The amount of money you should bring on a trip to Europe for two weeks can vary depending on your travel style and destination. However, a general rule of thumb is to budget around $100-150 per day for transportation, accommodation, food, and activities.

Should you bring cash when traveling to Europe?

Don't Expect to Get Too Far Without Cash

There's a lot that you can buy with a credit card in Europe, so bring at least one. But don't expect to get very far without a little cash, too—especially if you're a tourist. Transportation services, such as taxis and buses, often require local currency.

How much cash should I carry when traveling internationally?

Make a Budget for Your Trip

As a rough estimation, budget $50-100 per person for each day that you will be away. This should cover your accommodation, food, drink and transportation costs. Of course, this number can vary according to the destination and your style of traveling.

How many euros should I take for 10 days?

For a 7-11 day Europe trip, I bring $200-$300 Euros in cash. I find it less stressful to order Euros from my bank a few weeks before my trip, so I have local cash upon arrival. The exchange rate is usually better this way. While you can exchange money at the airport, I recommend this alternative.

Is $100 a day enough for Europe?

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.

How much cash should I bring to Europe for 2 weeks?

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. As with all things, research is your friend here. Understand where you're travelling and what the local customs regarding cash are.

Is it better to get euros in the US bank or in Europe?

You can usually get cash from ATMs easily, but still it is worthwhile having a backup in cash of emergencies. It's often more cost-effective to exchange a small amount of euros in America for initial expenses and then withdraw euros from ATMs in Europe for a better exchange rate and lower fees.

Is it better to buy euros in the US or Europe?

If buying euros in advance, whatever you do, don't overdo it! In almost every case, euros you can get abroad from an ATM will be cheaper than those you can get back in the States.

How should I carry my money in Europe?

Top Tips! Keep your money safe when travelling in Europe
  1. Keep your belongings safe in crowded areas with our expert tips.
  2. Leave some items in the hotel safe so that you don't have to carry everything with you.
  3. Keep your money close with a money belt.
  4. Always try to visit ATMs within banks while travelling.
Sep 11, 2023

Should I use cash or card in Europe?

Because merchants pay commissions to credit-card companies, small European businesses (B&Bs, mom-and-pop cafés, gift shops, and more) often prefer that you pay in cash. Vendors might offer you a discount for paying with cash, or they might not accept credit cards at all.

Is it better to travel with cash or card?

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.

How many euros should I bring to Europe?

Virtually impossible to predict, we'd advise a figure roughly around €140 a day for spending money in Western Europe and about €60–140 a day for Eastern Europe. Budget Your Trip has thankfully provided a Travel Cost Index that maps out the average daily travel price of real travellers, per person per day.

What is the 100 euro a day rule?

Are these rules new? No. These rules have been in effect since 1st Jan 2022, however when it was first introduced it was just £85 (€100) a day per person. In 2023, the amount was around £93 (€108) a day.

Is 1000 euros enough for a week in Italy?

1,000 euros per person is a good estimate. YMMV since Italy is all diverse and offers cheap street food & souvenir options together with starred, high-end restaurants and luxury design unique items you may want to bring back home. It's a good ballpark per person.

Is 500 euros enough for 3 days in Paris?

As long as you don't get caught up in 'designer' shopping - you should be able to have quite a bit of fun on 500 euros. If your hotel is already paid for and the 500 euros is just as you say for food and fun, absolutely. This has been covered many times on the forum, with even less money noted.

Can I use my debit card in Europe?

For credit cards, Visa and MasterCard are universal, while American Express and Discover are less common. US debit cards with a Visa or MasterCard logo will work in any European ATM. Go "contactless." Get comfortable using contactless pay options.

How much cash to bring to Italy?

Bring $100-200 USD cash, but keep it stashed away and don't change into Euro. It's only to be used as a fallback if every ATM in the country is out of order at the same time. Use ATMs to withdraw Euro from cash machine in the airport upon arrival, and replenish your Euro supply at an ATM when you run low.

How much cash should I bring to Paris?

Bring 100€-200€ in cash with you to Paris to cover small expenses, tips, and perhaps a cab ride into the city. Use a credit or debit card from a bank with low or no foreign transaction fees to charge most other purchases while in Paris, such as restaurant meals and any shopping you might do.

What is the cheapest way to get euros?

Best place to exchange currency: Your bank or credit union

Many banks offer currency exchange to their customers. Though there may be a small fee if you exchange less than a certain amount, your bank or credit union will almost always be the cheapest place to exchange currency.

Should I exchange money before I travel?

Ordering currency from your bank before you travel is almost always better than using the airport currency exchange. Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She previously wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.

Is it better to exchange currency at home or abroad?

What is the best place to exchange foreign currency? The best place to exchange foreign currency in the U.S. is at your local bank or credit union before you leave for your trip.

Should I convert money before going to Europe?

Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip.

Some tourists feel like they must have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.

Should I exchange money before or after flight?

Because of high currency exchange fees, you should exchange currency before traveling and know where to go to save on the fees once you are abroad.

What is the best way to get euros before traveling to Europe?

How do I obtain Euros in the US?
  1. FDIC banks and credit unions.
  2. Foreign currency exchanges.
  3. Travel money cards.
Jun 3, 2023

You might also like
Popular posts
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Melvina Ondricka

Last Updated: 12/05/2024

Views: 5836

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Melvina Ondricka

Birthday: 2000-12-23

Address: Suite 382 139 Shaniqua Locks, Paulaborough, UT 90498

Phone: +636383657021

Job: Dynamic Government Specialist

Hobby: Kite flying, Watching movies, Knitting, Model building, Reading, Wood carving, Paintball

Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.