Germany
Currency in Germany: what to use and how to exchange
Germany uses the euro (EUR, €). Pay by card almost everywhere, but carry €20–50 in cash for bakeries, kiosks, small Döner shops and some taxis. Get cash from a bank ATM rather than a street exchange booth, and always choose to be charged in euros, not your home currency.
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GuideGermany
Key facts
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €); 1 € = 100 cents
- Coins and notescheck
- Coins 1c–€2; notes €5, €10, €20, €50 common; €100–€500 legal but often refused
- Card acceptancecheck
- Widely accepted in cities; cash still expected at small bakeries, kiosks and some Döner stands
- Cash to carry
- €20–50 per person for a day of small purchases
- Best way to get euros
- Bank ATM (Geldautomat) with a debit card; decline the ATM's own conversion
- Typical ATM feecheck
- Many German bank ATMs charge €0–5 per foreign-card withdrawal (2026 estimate)
- Dynamic currency conversioncheck
- Always pay in EUR; 'pay in USD' adds roughly 3–7%
- Airport and station exchange desks
- Convenient but the worst rates; use only for a small arrival amount
Details
Germany has used the euro since 2002, and it is the only currency you need. Prices are shown with a comma as the decimal mark (€4,50), and large numbers use a full stop (€1.000). If a shop shows two prices, the lower one is usually for card or bank transfer and the higher for cash, or the other way round; ask before you pay.
Cards work for most purchases over about €5–10 in cities: supermarkets, hotels, trains, museums, chain restaurants and fuel stations. Cash still rules in small bakeries, kiosks, market stalls, some Döner and Imbiss counters, and a few taxis. Assume you need notes for anything under €10 and for rural areas.
For cash, use a bank ATM (Geldautomat) rather than a bureau de change. German savings banks (Sparkasse) and cooperative banks (Volksbank) often charge foreign cards a fee, while some private banks and independent ATM operators do not; the screen shows the fee before you confirm. Withdraw a larger amount once rather than several small amounts, and decline the machine's offer to convert to your home currency.
If you arrive with foreign cash, exchange at a bank branch or a Reisebank counter rather than an airport or station kiosk. Rates at stations and airports are typically several percent worse. You can also simply withdraw euros from an ATM on arrival, which is usually cheaper than exchanging notes.
| Situation | Best option | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Arriving at an airport | One small ATM withdrawal | Exchange desks and '0% commission' kiosks |
| Daily spending in a city | Card for anything over €10, cash below | Shops with a card minimum |
| Small bakery, kiosk, market | Cash | No card reader at all |
| Getting €200–300 | Bank ATM, one withdrawal | ATM's own conversion to USD/GBP |
| Leftover foreign cash | Bank branch or Reisebank | Station and airport rates |
Summary table
A quick reference for what to carry and how to pay.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR, €) |
| Cash to carry | €20–50 per person per day |
| Card acceptance | High in cities, patchy for small amounts |
| Best cash source | Bank ATM (Geldautomat) |
| Avoid | Airport/station exchange desks, paying in your home currency |
| Tipping | Round up or add 5–10%, said as you pay |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1; UTC+2 late March to late October |
Tips
Tell your bank you are travelling if it still requires it, and check your card's foreign transaction fee before you go; some US cards charge around 3%, many European and Australian cards charge nothing.
Keep a €20 note and some coins separate from your wallet for small purchases and for a taxi if a card reader fails.
Contactless is standard, but a physical card is still useful when a terminal is offline or a shop only takes Girocard (the German debit scheme).
If a shop or restaurant is cash-only, there is usually an ATM within a few minutes' walk; ask, and someone will point you to the nearest one.
Supermarket and drugstore prices are fixed; you do not need to haggle anywhere in Germany.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Germany?
The euro (EUR, €), divided into 100 cents. Germany has used it since 2002 and it is the only currency you need; you do not have to carry any other money.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Germany?
A bank ATM is usually cheapest: withdraw euros with a debit card and decline the machine's conversion to your home currency. For foreign notes, use a bank branch or Reisebank counter, not airport or station kiosks.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Germany?
Use a card for most purchases over about €10, but carry €20–50 in cash for bakeries, kiosks, market stalls and small Döner shops, where cards are often not accepted.
Should I pay in euros or my home currency?
Always choose euros. Paying in USD, GBP or another currency at the terminal or ATM adds a conversion markup, commonly around 3–7%.
Can I use a €100 or €200 note in Germany?
They are legal tender, but small shops, bakeries and taxis may refuse them or struggle to give change. Stick to €5, €10, €20 and €50 notes for daily use.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialEuropean Central Bank – Euro
- officialDeutsche Bundesbank – Cash and payments
- secondaryGermany travel guide (Voykit)