Cash or card? Currency and payments by country

The United States runs on the US dollar, and cards (including contactless and phone wallets) are accepted almost everywhere, from coffee carts to cabs.

You will still want a little cash for tipping in some situations and for the rare cash-only spot. Note that displayed prices usually exclude sales tax, which is added at the till and varies by state and city.

Worth knowing: Sales tax is added at checkout, not shown on the shelf price, so the total is a bit more than the sticker.

Currency source: US Federal Reserve

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The UK uses the pound sterling, not the euro, a common mix-up. It is one of the most card-friendly places anywhere: contactless cards and phone wallets are taken for almost everything, including buses and the London Underground, where you just tap a contactless card to ride.

You can comfortably travel without cash. The only time you might want coins is a tip jar or a very small independent shop.

Worth knowing: It is pounds, not euros. On London transport, tap a contactless bank card or phone directly rather than buying paper tickets.

Currency source: Bank of England

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Ireland uses the euro (unlike Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK and uses pounds). Cards and contactless are widely accepted in Dublin and the main towns.

A small amount of cash is handy for rural pubs, small shops and the odd taxi, but cards cover most situations.

Worth knowing: The Republic of Ireland is euro; Northern Ireland (Belfast) is pounds. Easy to confuse on a cross-border trip.

Currency source: European Central Bank

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France is on the euro, and cards are accepted almost everywhere, with contactless the norm. Many places have a small minimum (often a few euros) for card payment.

Carry a little cash for bakeries, markets and small cafes, but you can run most of a trip on a card.

Worth knowing: Some small shops and cafes set a card minimum (carte bancaire), so keep a few coins for tiny purchases.

Currency source: European Central Bank

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Spain uses the euro and cards are widely accepted in Madrid, Barcelona and the tourist centres. Contactless is normal.

Cash is still useful for small bars, neighbourhood markets, some tapas spots and rural areas, so carry a modest amount alongside your card.

Worth knowing: Small bars and markets can be cash-first, and a few set a card minimum. Keep some coins for tapas and the market.

Currency source: European Central Bank

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Portugal is on the euro. Cards are widely accepted in Lisbon and Porto, and the local Multibanco network powers ATMs and payments.

Smaller cafes, pastry shops and family-run places can prefer cash, so keep a little on hand. Some places take only the domestic Multibanco card rather than international credit cards, though this is less common in tourist areas.

Worth knowing: Use ATMs marked Multibanco; standalone "Euronet" machines in tourist spots tend to offer poor rates and push currency conversion.

Currency source: European Central Bank

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Italy uses the euro. Businesses are legally required to accept cards, and in the cities you can pay by card for most things, contactless included.

In practice cash is still common, especially in small trattorias, southern towns, markets and for small amounts, so carry some euros even though card acceptance is improving.

Worth knowing: Cards are accepted by law, but a lot of small places still prefer cash. Carry euros for trattorias and markets.

Currency source: European Central Bank

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Germany is on the euro, but it is notably more cash-reliant than its neighbours. Plenty of restaurants, bars, bakeries and small shops are cash-only or prefer cash, and that includes spots in Berlin.

It is improving and cards work in supermarkets, chains and hotels, but you should always carry cash here. When cards are taken, many places run on the domestic Girocard debit scheme, with Visa and Mastercard debit increasingly accepted; credit cards can still be less reliable in smaller places.

Worth knowing: Assume cash. Carry euros for restaurants and small shops, and do not rely on a credit card alone.

Currency source: European Central Bank

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Austria uses the euro and, like Germany, leans more on cash than much of Europe. Cards work in hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants in Vienna, but smaller cafes, Heuriger wine taverns and shops often prefer cash.

Carry euros to be safe, particularly outside the main tourist venues.

Worth knowing: Cards are not universal: keep cash for cafes, taverns and smaller places, Vienna included.

Currency source: European Central Bank

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The Netherlands uses the euro and is highly cashless: contactless cards and phones work nearly everywhere, and some places are cash-free entirely.

The quirk is that a fair number of shops, supermarkets and cafes take only debit cards and do not accept credit cards, especially American Express. A Visa or Mastercard debit card is the safest bet; a phone wallet only helps if the card behind it is on a network the shop accepts.

Worth knowing: Plenty of places take debit only and refuse credit cards (and Amex). Bring a debit card or use a phone wallet.

Currency source: European Central Bank

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Czechia uses the Czech koruna, not the euro, despite being in the EU. Some tourist spots will quote or take euros, but at a poor rate, so it is better to pay in koruna.

Cards and contactless are widely accepted in Prague; carry some koruna for small shops, markets and outside the centre.

Worth knowing: It is koruna, not euros. If a shop or restaurant offers to charge you in euros, decline and pay in koruna.

Currency source: Czech National Bank

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Hungary uses the Hungarian forint, not the euro. As in Czechia, some places will take euros at an unfavourable rate, so paying in forint is better.

Cards and contactless are widely accepted in Budapest. Keep some forint for markets, small eateries and ruin-bar tabs.

Worth knowing: It is forint, not euros. Watch for card machines that try to charge in euros or your home currency; choose forint.

Currency source: Magyar Nemzeti Bank (Hungary central bank)

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Greece uses the euro. Cards are accepted in Athens and the bigger towns, and increasingly on the islands, but cash is still important.

On the islands and in small tavernas, kiosks and family-run rooms, cash is often expected, and ATMs can be sparse or run dry in peak season, so carry euros when you island-hop.

Worth knowing: Take enough cash for the islands: card acceptance is patchier there and ATMs can be scarce or empty in summer.

Currency source: European Central Bank

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Turkey uses the Turkish lira. Cards and contactless are widely accepted in Istanbul hotels, restaurants and shops.

Carry lira for markets, the Grand Bazaar, taxis, small cafes and tips. With high inflation, prices move, and paying in lira (not euros or dollars) usually gives a better deal.

Worth knowing: Pay in lira, not euros or dollars. In the bazaar and taxis, cash is king and lets you bargain.

Currency source: Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye

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The UAE uses the dirham, which is pegged to the US dollar. Cards and contactless are accepted nearly everywhere in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, from malls to taxis.

Keep some dirhams for the souks, smaller eateries, taxis and tips, where cash is still handy.

Worth knowing: Card is fine almost everywhere, but carry dirhams for the souks and taxis where cash smooths things along.

Currency source: Central Bank of the UAE

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Japan uses the yen and, despite its high-tech image, remains surprisingly cash-based. Cards work in hotels, department stores and chains, but many small restaurants, temples, markets and rural spots are cash-only.

Carry yen, and top up at 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and Japan Post Bank ATMs, which reliably take foreign cards when many bank ATMs do not. A rechargeable IC card such as Suica or ICOCA is the easy way to pay for trains and many small purchases.

Worth knowing: Carry cash. Withdraw yen at 7-Eleven or Japan Post ATMs, which accept foreign cards when many bank ATMs do not.

Currency source: Bank of Japan

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