ATM's and cash machines - Europe

Last Updated: 22nd May 2013

Tags: cash, money, travel and tour advice, europe, travel advice

More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe

by – Matt Vernick, Tour Manager, Europe

ATM’s and cash machines are widely available throughout Europe. Cash machines across Europe dispense cash in the local currency of the country that you are making the withdrawal in.

Make sure to let your bank know you are travelling so they don’t put a hold your account thinking it was hacked into or stolen.

ATM’s are widely available throughout most places in Europe. It is common for the lines to go down between you banks at home and the banks in Europe and for this reason it’s a good idea to carry around a cash float or a travellers cheque or two with you.

If you get rejected by a cash machine once, don’t use it a second time as often European cash machines will swallow your card on the second attempt.

Add a Comment Comments (18)

  1. Using an ATM, customers can access their bank accounts in order to make cash withdrawals, debit card cash advances, and check their account balances as well as purchase pre-paid mobile phone credit. If the currency being withdrawn from the ATM is different from that which the bank account is denominated in, the money will be converted at an official wholesale exchange rate. Thus, ATMs often provide one of the best possible official exchange rates for foreign travellers, and are also widely used for this purpose. Thank you.
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    Default_avatarzion posted 3 days ago Flag as Inappropriate

  2. The best way to get money overseas is by getting a citybank plus bank account. this is a fee free account tha gives you a debit/visa card that you can use overseas and citybank will not charge you anything. the only charge that you may get charged are atm withdrawal fees which you can’t avoid. another option is the ge money 28 degrees credit card which also is fee free

    Default_avatarMitchell posted 10 days ago Flag as Inappropriate

  3. You need to be very careful when using these ATM machines there are a lot of gangs roaming around victimizing people who are currently withdrawing or worse put a cloning devices on ATM machines and copy your card info.

    Default_avatarpalh1re posted on 13th Mar 2013 Flag as Inappropriate

  4. Can anyone please provide updated information on using travel cards or credit cards for cash and purchases in Europe. I will be travelling for three months and not sure whether to purchase a bank travel card or just use my australian debit visa card. Please help the last article on this was April 2010.

    Default_avatartherese posted on 30th Jan 2013 Flag as Inappropriate

  5. Am I the sole one thinking that money can be the approach forward? Withdraw a wad once a month and pay it as needed? Yep, i’d get mugged if I wave my wad around somewhere dodgy – however i’d additionally if i take advantage of a phone within the same place. The advantage of getting cash purloined is that you just apprehend what you’ve got lost, you only have to be compelled to modify it – if your smartphone or bank cards get into the incorrect hands its an entire totally different story, perhaps months of pursuading your bank/phone company that you just arent attempting to diddle them.Skip hire

    Default_avataricetears posted on 1st Nov 2012 Flag as Inappropriate

  6. I couldn�t resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
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    Default_avatarburkmamofi1989 posted on 3rd Jun 2012 Flag as Inappropriate

  7. I second that kiwi_gal45, kasia your comment has been VERY helpful

    Default_avatarstinaWA posted on 9th Sep 2010 Flag as Inappropriate

  8. Can anyone tell me how much cash I should bring for spending money? I know it depends on how much you wanna spend but what is the average? I am leaving on the BEST OF EUROPE tour on JULY 31st. I was thinking 2000 EUROs

    Default_avatarExplorer1192638 posted on 24th Jun 2010 Flag as Inappropriate

  9. just wanted to say thanks to kasia her post was really helpful. Upon further investigation NAB also offer a similar card called a Cash passport – fees are similar to that of the commonwealth card but only four currencies are available.

    kiwi_gal45kiwi_gal45 posted on 28th Apr 2010 Flag as Inappropriate

  10. After much hunting around it the following three options are the best I’ve found rates:

    1-ANZ Travel card (initial cos $11 – can load with one currency)

    2-Commonwealth Bank Travel money card (initial cost $15 – can load up with two currencies)

    *The way the these cards work is that you buy them, select currency and load them up with Aus dollars. You secure whatever the exchange rate is on the day the card is loaded up. (So even if the dollar goes down when you’re travelling it won’t matter). You’re first load up is free, after that they charge a 1/1.1% fee. Extra money is loaded up using Bpay, so family at home can put money on it if need be. You get two cards, with two pin numbers, but can only use one. The other card is a back up that you can activate if the first is stolen or lost. Eftpos transactions incur no bank fees, withdrawals from ATMs do (2.20 euro). Handy hint: you can withdraw money from some places you make your purchases and don’t get charged because it just goes through as a purchase, e.g. supermarkets, McDonalds etc. Lastly, when you get back to Aus you can close the card and they release your money for free. Hop onto the net for more details.

    3-Load up your credit card with money. (This makes it into a debit card). Say you have a $2,000 limit, make sure you have nothing on your card, and then transfer extra money onto it, you can then withdraw the extra money or use it as eftpos for no charge, other than a slight converstion fee, and there’s no interest on the money you put in as extra. The down side is that you get the converstion rate of the day you make purchases.

    I think I’ll opt for the Commonwealth bank one as it’ll mean I can load it up with euros and pounds. If I need any other currency, they’ll just charge a 2% fee. Hope this helps.

    kasiakasia posted on 26th Apr 2010 Flag as Inappropriate

  11. do you think it is better to bring cash or use the ATM’s there

    carrab24carrab24 posted on 8th Dec 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  12. I would put a pin on it, it just increases safety

    Sam488Sam488 posted on 13th Nov 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  13. i got a travel visa but they said i didnt need a pin, should i put one on anyway?

    InSearchOfNewHorizonsInSearchOfNewHorizons posted on 23rd Oct 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  14. I am going to europe in the new year and i am getting a cash passport debit card. They charge if you withdraw cash at an ATM but if you use it as an EFTPOS card there is no charge. This is the best way i have found to save on fees when traveling overseas.

    Sam488Sam488 posted on 14th Sep 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  15. when i went to germany i just used a savings card, and it worked well for me, but then it cost a bit every time i withdrawed money, and it did add up. is using a debit card any different?

    vonno73vonno73 posted on 3rd Aug 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  16. is there any way to avoid huge fees when drawing cash?

    WilliamWilliam posted on 11th Feb 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  17. What if your debit card isnt valid overseas what would be another safe and easy way?

    Default_avatarpaihiagurl posted on 10th Jan 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  18. thanx for telling me normally if it rejects my card i usually try it two or three times and then it works haha

    Default_avatarnazza1 posted on 11th Dec 2007 Flag as Inappropriate