Should I exchange dollars for euros before I travel?

It depends on how much cash you need on arrival. Airport kiosks and hotel exchange desks typically have the widest spreads of any channel, so exchanging a small amount for immediate needs (taxi, snacks) before wider comparison shopping is a common strategy — but exchanging your entire trip's cash at an airport kiosk is usually the most expensive option available.

Is it better to use a card or cash in Europe?

Cards avoid carrying large amounts of cash and, if the card has no foreign transaction fee, can offer a rate close to the network's wholesale rate. Cash is useful for small vendors, markets, and places that don't accept cards or charge a minimum. Most travelers do best mixing both rather than relying on just one.

Are airport currency exchange kiosks a ripoff?

They're consistently among the worst rates available because of low competition and captive customers. Compare a kiosk's posted rate against an independent reference rate like the ECB's before exchanging more than you need for immediate expenses.

Should I withdraw euros from an ATM in Europe?

Often yes, if your bank doesn't charge a heavy foreign ATM fee and you decline any 'convert to USD now' prompt at the machine (see the companion guide on card network conversion). ATM withdrawals typically use rates closer to wholesale than cash kiosks, but check your own bank's foreign withdrawal fee first.

Guide

Best way to get euros for a Europe trip: cash, card, or ATM?

There's no single best way to get euros — there's a best way for your trip, your bank, and how much cash you actually need on day one.

By Buğra SözeriPublished September 25, 2026

There is no single correct answer to “what’s the best way to get euros before a trip” — it depends on how much cash you need immediately, what your card issuer charges, and how much time you have to plan. What is consistent is which channels tend to cost more and why. This guide lays out the trade-offs of each option so you can choose deliberately instead of defaulting to whatever exchange desk is nearest the gate. It is educational only, not financial advice, and does not state a current USD/EUR rate — check the live rate before any conversion.

The four common channels

Method	Pros	Cons
Airport/hotel exchange kiosk	Instant, no planning needed	Consistently the widest spreads; captive, low-competition pricing
Home-bank cash order (before departure)	Familiar institution, cash in hand before landing	Often a wide spread too; may take days to order
Debit/credit card purchases	No cash to carry or lose; rate close to network wholesale if no FX fee	Some issuers charge a foreign transaction fee; not every merchant takes cards
Local ATM withdrawal	Rate typically closer to wholesale than cash kiosks	Your bank may charge a flat foreign ATM fee; some machines push a bad DCC rate

Most experienced travelers use a mix: a card with no foreign transaction fee for most spending, a modest ATM withdrawal for cash-only vendors, and a small buffer of cash exchanged before or right after arrival for immediate needs like a taxi or transit ticket.

Checking any quote against a reference rate

Whichever channel you use, the way to judge whether a quote is fair is the same: compare it to an independent reference rate at that moment, such as the European Central Bank’s daily EUR reference rate or Convertitive’s USD to EUR converter, which tracks hourly market data. A kiosk or ATM offering a rate meaningfully worse than the reference is charging a wide spread, even if it advertises “0% commission.” The mechanics of that spread are covered in our mid-market rate glossary entry.

Planning cash needs realistically

A common mistake is exchanging a large lump sum in cash “to be safe.” Beyond the spread cost, carrying large amounts of cash abroad carries its own loss and theft risk. A more efficient pattern for most trips: exchange or withdraw a small amount (one or two days’ worth) on arrival, then rely on a no-FX-fee card for the bulk of spending and top up cash from an ATM as needed. This also keeps you from over-converting and ending the trip with leftover euros you’ll have to convert back — usually at another unfavorable spread.

Restaurants, tipping, and small cash needs

Even travelers who lean heavily on cards usually need some cash for tipping norms, markets, and small vendors — customs that vary widely by country. See our guide on how tipping works around the world for what to expect country by country, so your cash buffer matches local habits rather than U.S. norms.

The takeaway

Skip the instinct to exchange a large amount at the first kiosk you see. Use a mix of a low-fee card and modest ATM withdrawals for most spending, keep a small cash buffer for arrival and tipping, and always check a live reference rate before accepting any quote — kiosk, bank, or otherwise.

Frequently asked questions

Should I exchange dollars for euros before I travel?: It depends on how much cash you need on arrival. Airport kiosks and hotel exchange desks typically have the widest spreads of any channel, so exchanging a small amount for immediate needs (taxi, snacks) before wider comparison shopping is a common strategy — but exchanging your entire trip's cash at an airport kiosk is usually the most expensive option available.
Is it better to use a card or cash in Europe?: Cards avoid carrying large amounts of cash and, if the card has no foreign transaction fee, can offer a rate close to the network's wholesale rate. Cash is useful for small vendors, markets, and places that don't accept cards or charge a minimum. Most travelers do best mixing both rather than relying on just one.
Are airport currency exchange kiosks a ripoff?: They're consistently among the worst rates available because of low competition and captive customers. Compare a kiosk's posted rate against an independent reference rate like the ECB's before exchanging more than you need for immediate expenses.
Should I withdraw euros from an ATM in Europe?: Often yes, if your bank doesn't charge a heavy foreign ATM fee and you decline any 'convert to USD now' prompt at the machine (see the companion guide on card network conversion). ATM withdrawals typically use rates closer to wholesale than cash kiosks, but check your own bank's foreign withdrawal fee first.

Sources & references

Authoritative references cited by this piece. Verified by Buğra Sözeri on the dates shown and re-checked at every deploy.

European Central Bank — Euro foreign exchange reference rates — Daily ECB reference rate for EUR, the benchmark against which any travel-money quote should be measured(as of 2026-09-25)
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — International money transfers — CFPB consumer guidance on transfer and card-related fees when moving money internationally(as of 2026-09-25)
Federal Reserve — H.10 Foreign Exchange Rates — Independent published reference rate for cross-checking any quoted USD/EUR figure(as of 2026-09-25)