Question: Do You Actually Need Cash in Europe?

Not very much is probably the simplest answer.

In much of Europe, cards are accepted almost everywhere now. In Lisbon, you can even tap your phone with Google Pay or Apple Pay to enter and exit the Metro. We routinely pay by card for coffee, train tickets, taxis, restaurants, museum admissions, and purchases that would once have felt too small to put on plastic.

But “mostly cashless” is not the same as “never carry cash.”

Keep a little for the exceptions. Once you get beyond the most touristy areas, especially in smaller towns or family-run businesses, you may still find places without a card terminal. If you are heading somewhere off the beaten path, do a little research and make sure you have enough cash to buy lunch, pay for a small purchase, or cover whatever you are going there to do. Some places still have a minimum purchase for cards, although even that is becoming less common.

Get cash after you arrive. There is usually no reason to exchange a large amount before leaving home. If you need euros, withdraw them once you are there.

Use a real bank ATM. I prefer ATMs attached to actual banks rather than stand-alone machines tucked into convenience stores or aimed primarily at tourists. Fees and exchange rates can vary, so it is also worth knowing what your own bank charges for foreign withdrawals.

Pay in the local currency. A card terminal or ATM may offer to charge you in dollars instead of euros. That sounds convenient, but the conversion rate may not be. I always choose euros and let my own card issuer handle the exchange.

Have more than one way to pay. Cards can be declined. Phones lose batteries. Banks occasionally decide that a perfectly normal purchase in another country looks suspicious. I like having a second card and a little cash somewhere separate from my main wallet.

How much cash do you actually need? Probably less than you think.

When people travel with us, many of their major expenses are already covered, and travelers often tell us they used far less cash than they expected. Some have spent as little as €200 over the course of 10 days.

When you are traveling independently, the number will depend much more on where you are going and how you like to travel. The trick is to do a little research rather than trying to predict every possible expense before you leave.

I also like coming home with a few euros left over. It means I already have coffee money the next time I land.

So yes, you probably still need some cash in Europe. Just much less than you think.

Travel well. See you Tuesday.