Should I get euros before going to Europe or in the US?
Planning a trip to Europe? Maybe you’re wondering if it’s best to pick up your travel money in euros before you head to the airport or on arrival. While you’ve got plenty of ways you can get your hands on euros in the US, you’ll often find the exchange rate isn’t great, and carrying around lots of cash when you travel isn’t the smartest idea for security either. The good news is that there are options.
This guide walks through the best ways to get your euros for your trip, including travel cards like Wise and Revolut that offer mid-market exchange rates, and let you safely hold, spend and exchange euros alongside many other currencies.
Quick summary:
- While you can get euros in the US from a currency exchange store, online or at some banks, fees and rates may not be the best available
- Carrying lots of money in cash can be a security issue, and you’ll need to pay again to switch back to dollars if you have too much
- Travel money cards like Wise and Revolut can be a good balance of cost, security and convenience
- With a euro travel money card you can make contactless and mobile payments and also get cash from ATMs abroad when you need to
- Travel cards with multiple currencies available can be used for euros, as well as many other European and world currencies
Is it cheaper to get euros in the US or in Europe?
Ultimately the cost of buying euros or any other foreign currency comes down to the fees and exchange rates you can find wherever you happen to be. You can get your travel money at a neighborhood currency exchange store, online, or through some banks before you leave the US, but whether or not this is a good plan depends on the deal you can find.
Often buying euros in cash before you leave home isn’t the smartest option:
- Unfavorable exchange rates: US euro exchange rates aren’t always all that good compared to the rates you can get elsewhere
- Needing cards instead of cash: Many European countries favor card use – in fact, some stores and restaurants may not even accept cash as a means of payment
- Having to sell unused currency back: Buy too much travel cash and you’ll pay conversion fees again if you want to switch back to USD on your return
- Convenience: Using a card to spend – or to make little and often ATM withdrawals – is often more convenient than using cash
- Safety concerns: Carrying lots of cash can make you a target for petty criminals
Getting euros in cash vs travel money cards
For many travelers, using a travel money card gives the best of both convenience and security. You can often tap and pay with your card or a mobile wallet, just like you would at home. And, for those times you prefer to have cash, you can also just use your card in an ATM once you arrive in Europe, for a simple withdrawal – often with low or no fees.
| Getting foreign currency in cash | Using travel cards for spending & withdrawals |
|---|---|
| ✅ You lock in the exchange rate before you leave home ✅ You’ll know your exact budget in euros in advance ✅ Some foreign currency stores do convenient home delivery of cash ✅ As a commonly traded currency, euros will be available at most currency exchange locations ✅ You know you’ll never be caught out with no cash to hand when you travel | ✅ Travel cards on major networks are widely accepted globally ✅ Travel cards can offer great exchange rates and low fees ✅ You can still get cash from an ATM as and when you need to ✅ Many cards can be managed from a phone app, for secure account management ✅ Some providers offer virtual cards which are available immediately |
| ❌ Fees and exchange rates in the US can make this an expensive choice ❌ Carrying lots of cash is a security risk ❌ Convert too much cash and you’ll have to pay again to switch back to USD when you get home | ❌ Some fees are still likely to apply ❌ You’ll need to hunt out an ATM on arrival if you need cash immediately ❌ Physical cards can take a while to arrive by mail
|
Wise travel card – 40+ currencies with mid-market rate
Hold and exchange 40+ currencies, including euros and many other European currencies, with the Wise travel card. Wise accounts are free to open, with a low one time card order fee and no ongoing charges. You can add money in USD and then either convert to the currency you need in your account, or just let the card’s auto convert feature switch for you when you pay. In either case, you get the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.35% for conversion.
Wise cards can be used to tap and pay in stores, with mobile wallets like Apple Pay, and also to make cash withdrawals. You’ll be able to make 2 withdrawals a month to the value of 100 USD for free, before the low Wise withdrawal fee kicks in.
- Hold and exchange multiple currencies all in one place
- All currency exchange uses the mid-market rate
- Top up, convert, check transactions and manage your card from the Wise app
- No need to buy euros in advance – add dollars to your account and spend like normal to access the great Wise features and fees
You can hold money in these European currencies: 🇬🇧 British Pound (GBP), 🇧🇬 Bulgarian Lev (BGN), 🇨🇭 Swiss Franc (CHF), 🇨🇿 Czech Koruna (CZK), 🇩🇰 Danish Krone (DKK), 🇪🇺 Euro (EUR), 🇭🇺 Hungarian Forint (HUF), 🇳🇴 Norwegian Krone (NOK), 🇵🇱 Polish Zloty (PLN), 🇷🇴 Romanian Leu (RON), 🇸🇪 Swedish Krona (SEK), 🇹🇷 Turkish Lira (TRY), and 🇬🇪 Georgian Lari (GEL).
You can spend money in: 150+ countries, including European countries.
If you spend a currency which isn’t supported for holding and exchange there’s no issue. Your card will simply convert your balance as needed for the transaction, from dollars or whichever currency you hold that attracts the lowest fees. That means you can use your card seamlessly more or less anywhere in the world Mastercard and Visa are accepted.
Revolut travel card – 25+ currencies, some no-fee withdrawals
Revolut offers US customers 3 different account plans, including the Standard plan with no monthly fee, and 2 accounts which have monthly charges running up to 16.99 USD. With the higher tier accounts you unlock higher no-fee transaction limits and more features, but all accounts have some no fee weekday currency conversion and no fee ATM withdrawals.
You can add money to Revolut in USD and change to EUR or any of the 25+ supported currencies – or just let the card manage the conversion for you when you pay or make a withdrawal. Once you’ve exhausted your account no-fee limits, there are fair usage fees to pay – and out of hours currency conversion can also attract extra fees.
- 3 different plans to pick from, all of which have euro travel cards available
- Get weekday no fee currency conversion to your plan limit, as well as some no fee ATM withdrawals, based on your preferred plan
- Extras like purchase protection are offered on higher tier accounts
- Manage your entire account from the Revolut app
You can hold money in these European currencies: 🇬🇧 British pound (GBP), 🇧🇬 Bulgarian lev (BGN), 🇨🇿 Czech koruna (CZK), 🇩🇰 Danish krone (DKK), 🇪🇺 Euro (EUR), 🇭🇺 Hungarian forint (HUF), 🇳🇴 Norwegian krone (NOK), 🇵🇱 Polish złoty (PLN), 🇷🇴 Romanian lei (RON), 🇸🇪 Swedish krona (SEK), 🇨🇭 Swiss franc (CHF), and 🇹🇷 Turkish lira (TRY).
You can spend money in: 150+ countries, including European countries.
Learn more: Best travel cards for Europe
Order euros online for home delivery with CXI
CXI is a currency specialist with 35 branches in the US, as well as an online order and delivery service. You can order most global currencies for home delivery or for pick up in a CXI location. Ordering in advance may mean you get a better rate, and you’ll be certain your currency will be in stock when you need it.
Using CXI or a similar service is convenient and means you have your travel money in your pocket before you leave. There’s a buy back service if you accidentally buy more travel money than required – although in all cases you’ll need to weigh up both the fees and rates which apply to help you decide if you’re getting the best deal for your particular needs.
- Order pretty much any European currency for delivery to your door, or for pick up in a store
- Fees are competitive although you’ll need to compare all charges including fees and rates to calculate costs
- Someone will need to be available to receive delivery of your currency at your home or office
- Secure, established and trusted service
You can buy these European currencies: 🇬🇧 British Pound (GBP), 🇧🇬 Bulgarian Lev (BGN), 🇨🇭 Swiss Franc (CHF), 🇨🇿 Czech Koruna (CZK), 🇩🇰 Danish Krone (DKK), 🇪🇺 Euro (EUR), 🇭🇺 Hungarian Forint (HUF), 🇮🇸 Icelandic Krona (ISK), 🇳🇴 Norwegian Krone (NOK), 🇵🇱 Polish Zloty (PLN), 🇷🇴 Romanian Leu (RON), 🇸🇪 Swedish Krona (SEK), 🇹🇷 Turkish Lira (TRY), and 🇬🇪 Georgian Lari (GEL).
Should I exchange money before I travel to Europe?
Buying currency for your trip before you leave the US has its own pros and cons. On the upside it’ll mean you know you have the money you need, and you won’t need to spend time during your vacation looking for a money changer or an ATM. On the downside though, you might pay over the odds for the convenience you get in the US, and carrying a lot of money in your wallet can be a risk from the point of view of security, too. Here’s a quick overview and summary to help you decide which is right for you.
| Buying currency in the US | Buying currency in Europe |
|---|---|
| ✅Get everything sorted before you leave home for peace of mind ✅ No need to look for an ATM or money changer on arrival ✅ Lock in the exchange rate you find in the US ✅ Easy to research and check deals online before you buy ✅ Most European currencies are available from major exchange services or banks | ✅ You may be able to find better exchange rates compared to the US ✅ You can get money from any ATM which supports your card network ✅ Limits the risk of over-buying and needing to convert back to USD ✅ No need to carry a lot of cash at once ✅ Lots of options for convenient travel money cards which you can use for euros and all other European cards |
| ❌ The costs could be high, particularly when you run into exchange rate markups ❌ Carrying a lot of cash can attract petty thieves ❌ Cash isn’t the preferred payment method in many European cities – cards are popular in most places ❌You may pay twice if you need to change excess euros back to dollars | ❌ Some fees will still apply in most cases ❌ In more remote areas you may struggle to find a cash machine ❌ Not all card networks are supported, and some small merchants may not take card at all ❌ You won’t know what the exchange rate is before you travel |
Don’t forget that euros aren’t the only currency used in Europe. Depending on where you’re going you may also need British pounds, Swiss francs, or another major European currency. Here’s an overview of the different currencies and where they’re used in Europe.
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Is it a good idea to buy foreign currency at the airport?
Most major airports offer currency exchange eservices. In many cases you’ll be able to just show up and do an on the spot exchange, although some also offer buy in advance options. While this can be a convenient and tempting option, you’ll often pay more than you need to when you exchange at an airport. Plus there’s always the risk you show up and the currency you need isn’t in stock. Here’s an overview of some pros and cons to consider.
| Pros of buying euros at the airport | Cons of buying euros at the airport |
|---|---|
| ✅ Convenient and instant service to get your travel money in cash ✅ You’ll have money in your pocket in the currency you need, on arrival ✅ Euros are usually easy to find, and held in stock by most providers ✅ Exchange services are often available in several different locations in the airport | ❌ Fees may be high, including exchange rate markups ❌ Not all exchange services will support all currencies ❌ You’ll need to check opening hours and availability before you travel ❌ You may find the exchange is busy – problematic if you’re hurrying for a flight |
Learn more: Best ways to take money to Europe
When is it a good idea to buy foreign currency in advance?
- Buying money in advance before your trip means you can see your budget in the foreign currency instantly
- If you spot a great exchange rate you may prefer to exchange to lock this in rather than waiting to see the live rate once you’ve left the US
- With a travel money card like Wise or Revolut you can buy your foreign currency digitally within your account, before you travel or once you’re already en route
🇪🇺 How to get Euros | 🇬🇧 How to buy British pounds | 🇨🇭 How to buy Swiss Francs | 🇹🇷 How to buy Turkish Lira
5 important tips on using ATMs in Europe
Before you use your card in an overseas ATM you’ll need to make sure it can be accepted and you won’t be hit by high fees or bad exchange rates. Different cards have their own fees and charges, which can be completely different when you withdraw in a foreign currency compared to using them at home. Here are a few important tips for using your US issued card in a European ATM:
- Learn about your cards’ ATM fees before the trip so you’re not caught out by any surprise charges
- If your card has a per withdrawal fee, you may pay less if you make larger withdrawals, on a less regular basis
- Only use official bank ATMs to avoid fraud or hefty fees
- Pay in local currency whenever you withdraw, to avoid bad exchange rates
- Consider getting a specific travel card from a provider like Wise or Revolut which offers some no cost ATM withdrawals and has fair exchange rates
Learn more: How to avoid international ATM fees
How much cash can I take to Europe?
If you’re traveling to the European Union, you can take up to 10,000 EUR or the equivalent in currencies, or other money-like items like travelers checks or money orders without needing to take any special action. If you’re carrying more than this on entry to the EU you’ll need to declare it to the customs authorities on arrival. There are other rules when it comes to taking money from one European country to another, too – so do check up the full details for your itinerary if you’ll be carrying large amounts of cash.
Key takeaways: Buying euros for travel
- Buying euros is pretty easy, either in the US or using a travel money card – comparing exchange rates and fees for different services is essential to get the best deal for your needs
- Carrying all your cash for a trip to Europe can be a security risk, and you may get a less favorable rate, pushing up your costs
- Euros are not the only European currency – make sure you know all the currencies needed for your specific itinerary, so you’re not caught out
- You could get a Wise euro travel card to spend throughout Europe, hold and exchange EUR as well as most other European currencies
- Revolut offers a travel money card which has some weekday no fee currency exchange and some no fee ATM withdrawals every month
- If you’d rather manage your currency exchange in the US, services like CXI let you order online and have your money delivered to home
