France
Currency in France: what to use and how to exchange
France uses the euro (EUR, €). Pay almost everything by contactless card or phone; carry €20–50 in small notes for markets, bakeries and rural cafés. Withdraw euros from a bank ATM rather than a bureau de change, and always decline the machine's own conversion rate. Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, so cash is a backup, not a plan.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideFrance
Key facts
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €); 1 € = 100 cents
- Best way to get euros
- Bank ATM (distributeur) with a card that has no foreign transaction fee
- Card acceptance
- Contactless Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere, including small shops and transit
- Cash still useful for
- Markets, bakeries, rural cafés, tips, some taxis and public toilets
- Avoid
- Bureau de change at airports and stations, and 'pay in your home currency' at card terminals
- Typical ATM withdrawal feecheck
- €0–6 per withdrawal from the French bank, plus your own bank's fee; 2026 estimate
- Cards with no foreign fee
- Widely available from US, UK, CA, AU and NZ issuers; check your own terms
Details
France has used the euro since 2002, and it is the only currency you need. Prices are quoted in euros, and coins run from 1 cent to €2. Notes are €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500; the €100 and above are hard to spend in small shops, so ask your bank for €20s and €50s.
Cards are the default. Contactless Visa and Mastercard, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay, work at supermarkets, museums, TGV ticket machines, metro gates and most market stalls. A few places set a minimum spend (often €5–10) for card, and a handful of rural cafés and bakeries are cash-only. American Express is accepted less often than Visa or Mastercard, so carry a backup.
For cash, use a bank ATM (distributeur automatique). They are on almost every main street and at every station. When the machine offers to convert your withdrawal into your home currency, decline and choose to be charged in euros: the machine's rate is usually 3–6% worse. The same rule applies at card terminals in shops, where you may be asked to pay in USD, GBP or your local currency instead of euros.
Bureau de change offices at airports, stations and tourist streets charge wide spreads and commissions. Use them only for a small amount on arrival if you have no card. Banks and post offices can exchange cash but often charge a flat fee and keep limited hours.
Tipping is not a way to pay a wage: service is included by law, so round up or leave 5–10% for good service. See the tipping page for the detail. If you are coming from a non-euro country, budget in euros from the start; the budget and travel-cost pages break down daily spend.
| Method | Typical cost | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Bank ATM withdrawal | €0–6 from the French bank, plus your bank's fee (check) | Your main way to get cash |
| Bureau de change | Spread plus commission, often 3–6% (check) | Only a small amount on arrival |
| Card payment in euros | Usually no French fee; your issuer may add one | Almost every purchase |
| Card payment in your home currency | 3–6% worse rate (check) | Never; always choose euros |
| Airport ATM | Same as a city ATM, but queues | Fine if you need cash immediately |
Tips
- Tell your bank you are travelling if it still requires it; many no longer do.
- Carry two cards from different networks in case one is blocked or lost.
- Keep €20–30 in coins and small notes for markets, toilets and tips.
- Use a card with no foreign transaction fee; the saving over a week is real.
- Photograph your card numbers and keep them separate from the cards.
- In Paris and other cities, contactless cards work directly on metro and bus readers; check the fare rules before you tap.
Questions people ask
What currency is used in France?
The euro (EUR, €), divided into 100 cents. It is the only currency you need; prices, ATMs and card terminals all work in euros. France has used the euro since 2002.
Where is the best place to exchange money in France?
A bank ATM on a normal street, using a card with no foreign transaction fee. Decline the machine's conversion and take euros. Avoid airport and station bureaux de change, which charge wide spreads and commissions.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in France?
Use a card for almost everything and carry €20–50 in small notes for markets, bakeries, rural cafés and tips. Contactless Visa and Mastercard are accepted nearly everywhere, including transit and museums.
Should I pay in euros or my home currency at the terminal?
Always choose euros. Paying in your home currency lets the terminal or ATM apply its own rate, usually 3–6% worse than your bank's. This is the single easiest saving on a France trip.
Do I need cash for tips in France?
No. Service is included by law, so rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service is optional and can go on the card. Small coins are handy for a café counter or a hotel porter.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialEuropean Central Bank – Euro
- officialBanque de France
- officialService-Public.fr – Paiement et monnaie
- secondaryWikivoyage – France