Money and currency tips for traveling in Europe

Most Western and Central European countries use the Euro, but notable exceptions keep their own currency — the UK (pound), Switzerland (franc), Czech Republic (koruna), Hungary (forint), and Denmark (krone) among them. Double-check the local currency before a multi-country trip so you're not caught off guard.

A no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card usually beats exchanging cash, and card payments (including contactless) are widely accepted across Western Europe. Still, carrying a small amount of local cash is worth it for small vendors, markets, or rural areas where card readers aren't always available.