Can I use my credit card in Europe?

Museum-hopping in Paris, wine-tasting in Tuscany or wave-riding in Portugal? If you’re traveling in Europe, it’s unlikely you’ll run out of fun things to do. But you may be wondering about the best way to pay for things while on your trip.

The good news is you can use your credit card in Europe. But there are some things it might help to know before you set off.

What you’ll learn:

• Credit cards are widely accepted throughout Europe. 
• Having a credit card in Europe might be more convenient and secure than having cash. 
• There might be other benefits of using a credit card while traveling in Europe, like added travel protections and the ability to earn rewards. 
• You may still want to keep cash on hand to cover tips and other purchases from vendors who may not accept credit cards.

Just like in the U.S., credit cards are common and frequently accepted in most European countries. U.S. cardholders with a Visa® or Mastercard® credit card should have little trouble finding stores, vendors and merchants that will accept their cards. Cards from other credit card networks may be a little less widely accepted.

European credit cards generally use chip-and-PIN technology. This is where cardholders authenticate their transactions with a personal identification number (PIN) at checkout, like you do with your debit card. In the U.S., chip-and-signature cards are more common. These cards need the cardholder’s signature at point of purchase instead of a PIN. 

If you don’t have a chip-and-PIN card when traveling in Europe, you don’t need to worry too much. Most payment terminals now accept both types of cards. And merchants will ask for a signature if they need it.

In some parts of Europe, contactless is the most common way to use your credit card. With contactless payment, you simply tap or hold your card to the reader to authenticate your card information. It usually takes less than a second, which is quicker than inserting or dipping a chip card and way faster than using cash.

Before heading to Europe, you can check your credit cards to see if they have the contactless symbol on them. Many of Capital One’s U.S.-issued credit cards and debit cards do. The contactless symbol is four vertical, curved lines that get bigger from left to right—like the Wi-Fi symbol turned on its side. 

If your credit card is added to a digital wallet like Apple Pay® or Google Pay®, you can also make payments by tapping your smartphone, smartwatch or other connected device. If your digital wallet is set up before your trip, you may be able to use it for contactless credit card payments in Europe, too.

It can be useful to have some cash on you for things like local transportation and tips while you’re in Europe. But it might be easier to carry a credit card than to deal with paper bills and coins. Plus, your credit card issuer might have an app, like the Capital One Mobile app,¹ that makes it easy to access your account and check balances and transactions anytime, anywhere.

Using a credit card in Europe could offer these benefits:

• Security: Many credit cards offer ways to help keep your money safe wherever you are. For example, if your Capital One card gets stolen, you can use the Capital One Mobile app and lock your card² to prevent others from using it. Plus, Capital One offers $0 liability for unauthorized charges if your card is stolen.³
• Credit card rewards: If you have a rewards credit card, you can keep earning rewards on qualifying purchases even when you’re across the pond.
• Travel-related perks: Some credit cards come with benefits that are particularly useful for travelers. Eligible Capital One cardholders get travel protections like lost luggage reimbursement and perks like complimentary access to airport lounges and a statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. 

If you’re planning a trip to Europe, here are a few things to keep in mind about using your credit card.

Depending on the credit card, fees may be added when you make transactions abroad: 

• A foreign transaction fee is a surcharge some card issuers add to credit card purchases made outside of the U.S. These fees usually range from about 1%-3% of the transaction cost.
• The credit or debit card payment network or ATM network may charge a currency conversion fee for converting euros to American dollars. Visa and Mastercard charge a 1% currency conversion fee to card issuers. Some issuers pass the fee on to customers.

Capital One doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or pass on currency conversion fees. View important rates and disclosures. Other issuers might.

Dynamic currency conversion is another service that some merchants offer right at the point of purchase. The service, which you can choose to accept or reject, offers to convert the price in euros to American dollars. It’s convenient because it can help you understand how much you’re spending. But it typically costs more than any standard exchange rate your credit card issuer might charge.

Bringing a backup card can be helpful. You can keep it in a second wallet or your hotel room safe so that you always have access to funds even if your wallet is lost or stolen.

If you’re a Capital One cardholder and report your card lost or stolen, you can lock it to prevent others from using it.

In the past, credit card companies and financial institutions often required you to alert them of upcoming overseas travel plans so they knew to expect international charges. A travel notice generally isn’t necessary these days, but it’s always better to double-check with your card issuer before you leave.

Capital One no longer requires that you share your international travel plans. But it still recommends updating your contact information in case it needs to reach you about suspected fraud.

Using a credit card while traveling in Europe is easy and convenient. Plus, credit cards might  come with benefits ranging from rewards to travel protections. With some cash as backup, you can plan to use your credit card throughout the continent for most of your purchases without having to worry about conversion rates.

It may be worth looking into a travel rewards card from Capital One. You could earn unlimited rewards that you can redeem to help cover the cost of flights, hotels, rental cars and more.