Using cash outside the euro area
Check which currency your destination uses, carry an appropriate cash backup and compare payment fees without relying on outdated euro-area lists.
Europe does not have one currency. Check the destination before ordering cash, and check again if you are relying on an older guide. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, as confirmed by the European Central Bank. Advice telling visitors to budget routine Bulgarian purchases in lev is now outdated.
Common currencies to recognise
| Destination | Currency |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Pound sterling, GBP |
| Switzerland | Swiss franc, CHF |
| Denmark | Danish krone, DKK |
| Sweden | Swedish krona, SEK |
| Norway | Norwegian krone, NOK |
| Poland | Polish złoty, PLN |
| Czechia | Czech koruna, CZK |
| Hungary | Hungarian forint, HUF |
| Romania | Romanian leu, RON |
| Moldova | Moldovan leu, MDL |
This is a practical selection, not a complete list of European currencies. Romanian and Moldovan lei are different currencies. Similarly named Scandinavian currencies are not interchangeable.
Decide how much cash you actually need
Check the first transport payment and any accommodation balance before arrival. Then carry a modest amount suitable for smaller purchases or a payment terminal being unavailable. There is no sensible universal percentage of a holiday budget that must be held in cash.
Card acceptance varies by country, business and location. A city hotel accepting cards does not tell you how a rural bus, market stall or mountain hut takes payment. Ask the operator where a specific purchase matters to the itinerary.
Read the payment screen
At a card terminal or cash machine, distinguish the local-currency amount from an offered conversion into your home currency. Compare that conversion with your card provider's exchange terms. Choosing local currency leaves conversion to the card arrangement, but your bank may still charge a foreign-use fee.
Before withdrawing cash, read any ATM operator fee and check your bank's withdrawal charges or limits. A machine displaying a familiar card-network logo is not proof that the withdrawal is free. Cancel and compare another option if the total is unclear.
Keep a second payment method separately where possible and avoid converting more cash than you expect to use. Exchange rates change, so a fixed rate copied from an old article is not a reliable spending guide.
Our Europe trip-budget guide shows how to keep costs in their original currencies until you are ready to compare them. Record the actual conversion and fees when you book, rather than assuming every euro equivalent shown online is the amount you will pay.