3. Money: the euro, cards and fees

Where you pay in euros

Since 1 January 2026 the euro is the currency of 21 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City also use the euro by agreement with the EU, and Montenegro and Kosovo use it too.

Own currencies in the EU: Czechia (koruna), Denmark (krone), Hungary (forint), Poland (złoty), Romania (leu) and Sweden (krona). Outside the EU, for example, Switzerland and Liechtenstein (franc), Norway, Iceland and the United Kingdom have their own currencies.

Cards and fees

• Euro payments and cash withdrawals in another EU country must cost the same as at home – also bank transfers and direct debits in euros.
• No card surcharges: shops and other traders in the EU cannot charge you extra for paying by debit or credit card.
• In a non-euro country your bank may charge a currency conversion fee and must show it to you before you pay. If a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, it is usually cheaper to choose the local currency.
• Online payments over €30 need two-step confirmation (for example card plus a code in your banking app).
• Card stolen or misused? Block it immediately. You pay at most €50 of fraudulent payments – nothing if you could not have noticed the theft.
• Hotels and car rental may block an amount on your card; it must be released as soon as you pay the actual bill.

Cash at the border

If you enter or leave the EU with €10,000 or more in cash (or the same value in another currency), you must declare it to customs.

Sources: European Commission – Bulgaria and the euro · Your Europe – payments and transfers · Your Europe – cash Checked: 2 October 2026.