How much cash should I bring for 2 weeks in Europe?
A good rule of thumb is to carry $50-$100 a day in the local currency while travelling. Remember, though, that cash may not be the best option to pay for travel expenses. Credit cards offer great rewards, lower transaction fees, and can help you get a better exchange rate.
It all depends on where you're going and what you plan to do during your trip. As you can see from our travel costs table above, some European cities are cheaper or more expensive than others. As a general rule, though, it's a good idea to budget at least $100 a day for your vacation.
Unless you drink like a fish at super expensive trendy clubs and have to eat out at fancy restaurants for every meal, you should be able to travel comfortably on significantly less than $100 a day. It is possible to tour Europe with less than 100 USD/day, say 50 USD/day.
If you think you can gallivant around Europe with a measly 2,000 USD per person, you're in for a rude awakening. Unless your idea of a European adventure involves couch-surfing, eating stale baguettes for every meal, and treating yourself to the occasional pigeon sighting, I'd say you're in for a rough ride.
Deciding where to go and what to pack is stressful enough, let alone trying to determine how much money you need to bring. The general consensus is that you should have $50 to $100 in cash per day for each traveler. However, this amount could vary considerably depending on where you are vacationing.
If you're flying to Europe all the way from the US, it's unlikely that you'll be staying just a couple of nights. If you're planning a 3-week break, a good starting point to calculate how much spending money you need is the $100-per-day rule of thumb. So for a three-week trip, you'll be needing over $2,000.
Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip.
Some tourists feel like they must have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.
If you are going all cash or even part cash then creating a budget is key. As a rough estimation, budget $50-100 per person for each day that you will be away. This should cover your accommodation, food, drink and transportation costs.
Post-Brexit rule requires Brits visiting Spain to have €100 spending money per day. The Spanish tourist office has hit back at criticism, explaining that tourists don't need to worry. To enter Spain, British tourists may be asked to prove that they can spend at least €100 per day.
A good rule of thumb is to carry $50-$100 a day in the local currency while travelling. Remember, though, that cash may not be the best option to pay for travel expenses. Credit cards offer great rewards, lower transaction fees, and can help you get a better exchange rate.
Can you go to Europe with $3000?
According to many estimates, a three-week European vacation can cost between $3,000 and $5,000 per traveler.
Bring $100-200 USD cash, but keep it stashed away and don't change into Euro. It's only to be used as a fallback if every ATM in the country is out of order at the same time. Use ATMs to withdraw Euro from cash machine in the airport upon arrival, and replenish your Euro supply at an ATM when you run low.
Don't Expect to Get Too Far Without Cash
There's a lot that you can buy with a credit card in Europe, so bring at least one. But don't expect to get very far without a little cash, too—especially if you're a tourist. Transportation services, such as taxis and buses, often require local currency.
On a $5,000 budget, you'll be able to spend a week at a nice all-inclusive resort while still having extra cash for airfare and day trips. Imagine waking up to the roar of the surf, snacking on a loaded buffet and heading out to snorkel or sail before returning for some R&R and evening festivities.
International travelers departing from the United States with currency or monetary instruments in a combined amount over $10,000 are also required to file a FinCEN Form 105 prior to their time of departure.
No law prohibits you from bringing any amount of money on a flight. Likewise, TSA has no rules that limit how much money you can bring through security.
Know your cards.
For credit cards, Visa and MasterCard are universal, while American Express and Discover are less common. US debit cards with a Visa or MasterCard logo will work in any European ATM.
Is it better to exchange U.S. dollars to euros while still in the U.S. or when I actually go to Europe? I always recommend to my clients that they exchange dollars into euros while in Europe. Use the ATM machines, found nearly everywhere. The exchange rate will be less than going to a bank or exchange service.
Head to your bank or credit union before you leave to avoid paying ATM transaction costs. You may even receive a better exchange rate. Credit unions and banks will exchange your dollars into a foreign currency before and after your trip when you have a checking or savings account with them.
I've visited Europe several times, and here are my personal #travel tips. For a 7-11 day Europe trip, I bring $200-$300 Euros in cash. I find it less stressful to order Euros from my bank a few weeks before my trip, so I have local cash upon arrival. The exchange rate is usually better this way.
Where is the best place to buy euros in the US?
One of the largest and most popular places to buy travel money in the US is Currency Exchange International (CXI). You can order over 90 currencies online, including Euros. CXI also has around 30 branches in major cities across the US⁴.
More than half of all day-to-day transactions in shops, restaurants, etc. are made using coins and banknotes. Many languages in Europe have expressions such as “cash is king” or “nur Bares ist Wahres” and our survey shows that 60% of citizens want to have the option of using cash.
So for 2 weeks in Europe, a budget traveler may spend around 1,120 Euros. This could be lower if you budget to the extreme. Keep in mind, a work exchange cuts your accommodation costs down to 0, and your food, transport, and activity costs may be lower as well depending on what your host offers.
200 a day is plenty - per person budget: €35 - (€50 if you're pushing the boat out a bit) for meals, €7 for transport, and that gives you plenty of money to play around with. I think that is about right. When I go to Paris by myself I plan on 100 euros per day. Some days I spend less.
Overview: An average tourist in France can expect to spend around €1000 a week on housing, food, transportation, and other unavoidable costs.
References
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leading-cash-carry-brands-across-globe-your-retail-coach-yrc-
- https://www.quora.com/How-long-can-someone-travel-around-Europe-on-a-budget-of-2-000-USD-per-person
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/022415/worst-place-exchange-currency.asp
- https://european-union.europa.eu/institutions-law-budget/euro/official-eu-currency_en
- https://afr.fo.uiowa.edu/cash-handlling/guidelinestips-traveling-cash
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-right-amount-of-cards-cash-and-id-to-carry-in-your-wallet-2a6a050b
- https://pointsecurityinc.com/what-do-airport-baggage-scanners-see/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/040915/how-much-cash-should-i-keep-bank.asp
- https://www.newsweek.com/tsa-new-england-boston-logan-airport-cash-hidden-slow-cooker-1680627
- https://legamart.com/articles/cash-can-you-legally-fly-to-the-us/
- https://www.worldpackers.com/articles/average-cost-trip-to-europe
- https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/kbyg/money
- https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/how-much-cash-needed-for-italy-599768/
- https://www.exiap.com/currency-exchange/buy-euros
- https://www.alliantcreditunion.org/money-mentor/5-spectacular-budget-vacation-ideas-for-under-5000
- https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions/what-are-procedures-if-i-have-internal-or-external-medical-device
- https://www.cusocal.org/blog/is-it-safe-to-use-a-debit-card-online
- https://tech.co/pos-system/cashless-society-stats-pros-cons
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/pay-in-cash.asp
- https://www.federallawyers.com/criminal-defense/carrying-large-amounts-of-cash-through-the-airport/
- https://wise.com/us/blog/should-i-exchange-money-before-i-travel-to-europe
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/how-to-skip-lines-at-airport
- https://www.laattorney.com/carrying-large-amounts-of-cash-through-the-airport.html
- https://www.pcbb.com/bid/2023-02-15-is-the-us-moving-toward-a-cashless-society
- https://greatlakescustomslaw.com/money-seizures/failure-to-report-cash-to-customs-fincen-105/
- https://internationalcenter.umich.edu/bringing-money-us
- https://www.mgsrefining.com/blog/what-metals-cannot-be-detected-by-a-metal-detector/
- https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/credit-cards/credit-intel/should-you-pay-in-local-or-home-currency-when-traveling/
- https://www.westernunion.com/blog/en/6-things-to-know-about-currency-conversion-before-you-travel/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/problems-cash-central-bank-digital-currency-solve-them-david-stroud
- https://www.ironbank.com/resources/education/financial-literature/atm-and-debit-cards/benefits-of-a-debit-card-vs-cash-or-check/
- https://www.quora.com/How-can-you-deposit-100-000-in-cash-into-your-bank-with-no-hassles
- https://customsandinternationaltradelaw.com/2012/01/10/can-i-bring-in-more-than-10000-to-the-united-states-when-travelling/
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-11/5-travel-destinations-where-your-dollar-will-stretch-furthest-in-2024
- https://www.usnews.com/banking/articles/where-is-the-best-place-to-exchange-foreign-currency
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/bank-card-precautions
- https://criminaldefenseattorneytampa.com/asset-seizure-asset-forfeiture/airport/can-tsa-seize-cash/
- https://www.quora.com/Can-the-airport-X-ray-machine-scan-money
- https://cardinalbagsupplies.com/how-to-carry-large-amounts-of-cash-safely/
- https://www.bvbdefense.com/blog/traveling-with-over-10-000-cash/
- https://thelawdictionary.org/article/how-to-bring-cash-legally-into-the-united-states/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-much-cah-do-i-bring-europe-shelby-frenette
- https://n26.com/en-eu/blog/banking-basics-atm-fees
- https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-195?language=en_US
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/how-to-pay-in-europe/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/082114/best-places-exchange-currency.asp
- https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/travel/planning/hiding-money.htm
- https://www.quora.com/Do-I-have-to-put-my-wallet-in-the-tray-at-airport-security
- https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022/07/29/post-brexit-rule-requires-brits-visiting-spain-to-have-100-spending-money-per-day
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-tips
- https://www.schengenvisas.com/how-much-does-a-week-in-france-cost-as-a-tourist/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-cash-bring-vacation-230100788.html
- https://www.creditrepair.com/blog/money-management/declaring-money-at-customs/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/where-to-exchange-currency-without-paying-huge-fees
- https://www.getours.com/expert-travel-advice/money-travel-tips/contacting-your-bank-before-you-travel
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/travel-checklist-money
- https://wise.com/us/blog/how-much-cash-to-bring-to-europe
- https://www.rd.com/article/what-do-airport-body-scanners-see/
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/heres-what-happens-if-you-travel-with-more-than-10000-in-cash/
- https://www.briansilberlaw.com/money-seized-at-los-angeles-lax-airport-by-the-dea-we-fight-for-it-back/
- https://www.gov.uk/bringing-cash-into-uk
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_forfeiture_in_the_United_States
- https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/175779/are-people-allowed-to-keep-cash-in-pocket-when-going-through-security
- https://www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips/keep-change
- https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/fin105_cmir.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency_detector
- https://pointsecurityinc.com/how-airport-scanners-work/
- https://hipknee.aahks.org/will-my-artificial-joint-set-off-airport-security-metal-detectors/
- https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/understand-how-to-report-large-cash-transactions
- https://wise.com/us/currency-converter/eur-to-usd-rate?amount=100
- https://ridge.com/a/blog/how-to-pack-for-the-airport
- https://airsafe.medium.com/how-to-fly-with-large-amounts-of-cash-5cd91a25e4b0
- https://www.cuofco.org/resources/5-reasons-use-debit-card-instead-cash
- https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/consumer-protection/is-it-legal-to-travel-with-large-sums-of-cash/
- https://smartasset.com/checking-account/can-you-cash-a-check-at-any-bank
- https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k3645205-200_Euros_per_day-Paris_Ile_de_France.html
- https://www.quora.com/Should-you-exchange-money-before-traveling-to-Italy
- https://www.quora.com/Should-you-buy-euros-in-America-to-travel-to-Europe
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/10/05/more-americans-are-joining-the-cashless-economy/
- https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/how-much-cash-you-should-travel-with/
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k4068620-Tsa_and_the_cash_in_your_pocket-Air_Travel.html
- https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/17otk9i/til_that_it_is_impossible_to_copy_scan_or/
- https://www.quora.com/Is-it-legal-to-store-large-amounts-of-cash-at-home-in-the-United-States
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/money-transfer/money-transfer-where-to-exchange-currency/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/102314/cash-or-credit-better-european-trips.asp
- https://www.alternativeairlines.com/flying-with-cash-money
- https://www.travelandleisure.com/never-put-your-passport-in-carry-on-7550341
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/wealth-management/hoarding/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogersands/2023/07/09/practical-tips-for-traveling-europe-on-a-budget/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/experts-8-surprising-reasons-why-180012162.html
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/use-credit-card-or-cash-on-vacation
- https://www.quora.com/Can-the-walk-through-metal-detectors-in-airports-detect-the-currency-notes-carried-by-the-passenger
- https://www.koho.ca/learn/how-much-cash-should-i-carry-when-travelling-abroad/
- https://www.quora.com/Do-the-scanners-used-in-airports-detect-the-quantity-of-cash-you-are-travelling-with
- http://www.airsafe.com/issues/baggage/cash.htm
- https://www.fsbankia.com/personal/security/10-occasions-not-to-use-a-debit-card
- https://www.polimek.com/what-do-the-colors-on-the-x-ray-baggage-scanner-mean/
- https://wise.com/us/blog/how-to-get-euros-in-the-us
- https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1212/3-banking-moves-you-should-make-before-traveling.aspx
- https://www.quora.com/How-possible-is-it-to-tour-Europe-on-100-day
- https://www.sflworldwide.com/blog/us-custom-declaration-form-all-you-need-to-know
- https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/what-expect-when-you-return
- https://www.sainsburysbank.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/keep-money-safe-abroad
- https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2023/html/ecb.blog230206~1ea270a762.en.html