From the coast of the Baltic Sea to the hills of Western German wine country, Germany is the largest country in central Europe with culture and old-world charm to match. The euro has been the standard currency of Germany, and you’ll find you need both cash and credit cards for purchases.
A credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees is a good tool for saving on extraneous fees while you shop abroad. Here are all of your purchasing options.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Germany. You’ll find American Express and Diners Club credit cards are accepted in fewer locations.
Some businesses may not accept cards for purchases below a set amount and some supermarkets won’t take credit cards at all. While it’s important to find a card that’ll let you make over the counter purchases without too many fees, a card which lets you use ATMs without the ridiculous charges is more relevant for a trip to Germany.
If you can find a card that has no foreign transaction, international ATM or annual fee, then you’ll save on your German vacation. Even if you can get by using only one card for all your transactions, never put all your eggs in one basket.
A combination of debit, credit and travel prepaid cards will ensure that you can make transactions in euros all while giving you access to an emergency line of credit and travel perks. A little homework before you leave can mean the difference between smooth sailing and rough seas.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Germany. You could also use American Express cards and Discover cards with the Diners Club logo — though fewer locations accept them. While Germany ranks high in Europe for accepting new technology like contactless and mobile payments, it’s still largely a cash economy.
If you want to make an ATM cash withdrawal, the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV) ATMs accepts Discover cards. American Express card owners have more ATM options. Look for ATMs from Reisebank, Postbank, Sparkasse and Deutsche Bank, among others. And to save further, find yourself a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees, like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Terms apply, see rates & fees).
Carrying a credit card may also give you the added benefit of travel insurance, discounts and the ability to earn miles depending on your provider. If you travel often, it pays to compare travel credit cards to find one that fits your travel needs.
| Merchant acceptance | ATM acceptance | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa |  High | High |
| Mastercard | High | High |
| American Express |  Medium | High |
| Discover | Medium |  Low |
Explore top debit cards with no foreign transaction fees and travel credit cards by using the tabs to narrow down your options. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side.
A debit card is a good travel money choice to take to Germany. You’ll have access to cash each time you come across an ATM, without carrying lots of cash on you all at once. Because you’re spending your own money, you avoid interest charges.
Find a bank that waives the fee for international ATM withdrawals and doesn’t charge a monthly account keeping fee – Betterment Checking is a good example.
Travel cards can lock in conversion rates once you load USD. Use it for purchases without worrying about rates each time you spend — debit and credit cards often charge 3% for each transaction. All prepaid travel cards carry euros, and many let you carry more than one currency at once.
Where you save in the conversion rates you may pay in fees. You’ll pay fees each time you load the card, ATM withdrawals and sometimes even an inactivity fee.
More than 80% of payments in Germany are made using cash, meaning you’ll often need cash to pay for your transactions on your trip. The best way to get euros is to make an ATM withdrawal when you arrive in Germany using a card that doesn’t charge an international ATM fee.
Banks and exchange offices can change cash in Germany. Some exchange offices (Wechselstuben) offer good rates, but always compare the rate against the market rate before you agree to a deal. Sometimes it might be better to withdraw money from an ATM.
Move over traveler’s checks, you’re slowly being replaced by ATMs, which make it cheap and easy to get currency. Security is the main advantage of using traveler’s checks. Each check has a unique serial number and can only be cashed with photo identification.
Fees are the main disadvantage. Banks charge you to get check and to cash them. You’re better off using a debit or travel card which lets you make cheap or free ATM withdrawals.
The euro comes in the denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.
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As euros are a major international currency, you won’t have any issues finding a place to get your money changed in the US. Your options include banks and foreign exchange providers such as Travelex. Banks tend to charge a small fee that you’ll find is often more competitive than the foreign exchange provider.
Choosing one service over the other is going to save you a couple of dollars, but it may come down to convenience. Travelex lets you order cash online and pick it up at major airports. Here are a few other options.
The global financial crisis and European debt crisis resulted in instability among global currencies. For the past couple of years, $1 gets you between 0.7 and 0.8 euros. Travel cards and traveler’s checks let you lock in a rate if you think it’s going to be more expensive to buy euros in the future.
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ATMs from German banks are free. If you put a US credit, debit or travel card into a German ATM, the screen will either automatically come up in English or prompt you to pick your language. If possible, use a debit card from a bank that doesn’t charge foreign ATM fees, such as Betterment Checking.
Germany is’ot considered a cheap travel destination — plan for at least $50 a day for budget travel, and between $120 to $300 for average to luxury travel. Compare some of the daily expenses you can expect below:
| Budget | Mid-range | Expensive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Hostel $10–$25 per night | 2-star hotel $25–$65 per night | 5-star hotel $140–$250 per night |
| Meals | Currywurst $2.50 (plus chips) $4 | Midrange restaurant $15–$30 per dish | 4-course meal at a 5-star restaurant $200 per person |
| Activities | Walking tour of Berlin Free (Tip the guide) Live music at The B-flat Jazz Club on Rosenthaler Straße Free | Private WWII and Cold War walking tour of Berlin $46 per person Private Berlin Wall tour $99 per person (up to 3 hours) | 1 hour private flight over Berlin $441 (up to 3 people) Tour of Jewish heritage in Berlin $275 (up to 3 people) |
*Prices are approximate and based on summer seasonality and are subject to change.
Caroline went to Germany on her trip to Europe. She visited Berlin and then traveled south to Munich for Oktoberfest. She visited numerous other countries including France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.
What are your travel money tips?
If you’re at a bar, in a taxi or at a restaurant, a tip between 5% and 10% is the norm — it isn’t expected but it is polite if the service was excellent. It’s also good practice to round up to the nearest euro if the bill is under 10 euros .
She also says to remember not to leave the tip on the table. It’s considered rude in Germany and other parts of Europe. Give the tip to the person directly.
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