Ireland
Money in Ireland: currency, ATMs, cards and tipping
Ireland uses the euro (EUR). Pay by card or contactless almost everywhere, including pubs, taxis and small shops; carry €40–60 in cash for rural B&Bs, farm shops and car-park meters. Tipping is optional: round up or add about 10% in restaurants, €1–2 for a pint or a taxi. Northern Ireland uses pounds sterling, not euros.
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GuideIreland
Key facts
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €)
- Northern Ireland
- Pound sterling (GBP); euros not generally accepted
- Cards and contactless
- Accepted almost everywhere, including pubs and taxis
- Cash to carry
- €40–60 for rural B&Bs, farm shops and car-park meters
- Restaurant tip
- Optional; about 10% or round up
- Pub, café, taxi tip
- Optional; €1–2 or keep the change
- ATMs
- Widely available in towns; fewer in remote areas
- Card feescheck
- Your bank's foreign-transaction fee applies; check before you travel
Summary table: currency, cash and tipping
Use this as a quick reference. Amounts are 2026 estimates; Dublin prices run higher than the west.
| Situation | What to do | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR) in the Republic of Ireland | — |
| Northern Ireland | Pound sterling (GBP) | — |
| Card or contactless | Default payment almost everywhere | — |
| Cash to carry | Rural B&Bs, farm shops, car-park meters | €40–60 |
| Restaurant tip | Optional; add if service was good | About 10% or round up |
| Pub or café tip | Optional; keep the change | €1–2 |
| Taxi tip | Optional; round up | €1–2 or nearest euro |
| Hotel housekeeping | Optional | €1–2 a day |
| ATM withdrawal | Use bank ATMs in towns | Your bank's fee applies (check) |
Step by step: handling money in Ireland
Before you fly, tell your bank you are travelling and check its foreign-transaction fee. Many US cards add about 3% on every euro purchase; a no-fee card saves real money over a week. Carry a small amount of euro cash for the first day in case a card reader is down.
On arrival at Dublin Airport, ATMs and card payment work at the terminal. If you need cash, withdraw from a bank-branded ATM rather than a standalone currency-exchange kiosk, which usually gives a worse rate. Decline the ATM's own conversion offer and let your bank convert, unless you know your bank's rate is poor.
Day to day, tap your card or phone for pubs, cafés, museums, buses in Dublin and taxis. Contactless is normal and fast. Keep €40–60 in notes for the exceptions: a rural B&B that prefers cash, a farm shop, an honesty box at a trailhead, or a car-park meter that takes coins only.
When you pay a restaurant bill, check whether a service charge is already added. If it is, you do not need to tip on top. If it is not, add about 10% or round up to a convenient figure. In pubs, paying for a round and saying keep the change is enough.
If you cross into Northern Ireland, switch to pounds sterling. Euros are not generally accepted there, and your card will be charged in GBP. The same card-first habits apply.
- Tell your bank you are travelling; check the foreign-transaction fee.
- Withdraw from a bank ATM, not an airport exchange kiosk.
- Tap to pay for pubs, transport and taxis.
- Keep €40–60 cash for rural and coin-only payments.
- Check the bill for a service charge before tipping.
- Switch to GBP in Northern Ireland.
Notes
Prices in Ireland are shown in euro. Your card statement will convert to your home currency at your bank's rate, plus any fee. A currency converter with typical prices helps you sanity-check costs before you book.
Dublin is the most expensive part of the country for beds and drinks; the west and midlands are cheaper outside July and August. Budget travellers can keep daily costs near €75–110, mid-range around €180–280, and comfort from €350 up, per the country cost guide.
Some rural businesses are cash-friendly but not cash-only; ask before assuming. Card readers can fail in remote areas, so a small cash reserve is practical rather than old-fashioned.
Tipping is genuinely optional in Ireland. Staff are paid wages, and a tip is a thank-you, not an expectation. A service charge on a bill is different: it is a stated charge, so read the bill before adding more.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Ireland?
The Republic of Ireland uses the euro (EUR, €). Northern Ireland uses pound sterling (GBP); euros are not generally accepted there. Cards and contactless work almost everywhere in both.
Should I use cash or a card in Ireland?
Use a card or contactless by default: pubs, cafés, shops, taxis and transport all take it. Carry €40–60 in cash for rural B&Bs, farm shops and coin-only car-park meters.
How much should I tip in Ireland?
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, add about 10% or round up if service was good, unless a service charge is already on the bill. In pubs and cafés, €1–2 or keep the change. Taxis: round up.
Can I use euros in Northern Ireland?
No, not generally. Northern Ireland uses pound sterling (GBP). Switch to pounds before you cross the border, or pay by card and accept the GBP charge.
Are ATMs easy to find in Ireland?
Yes in towns and cities, including Dublin Airport. They are fewer in remote areas such as parts of the west and northwest, so withdraw cash before heading out.
Do I need cash for a car-park meter in Ireland?
Some meters take coins only, and rural ones may not accept cards. Keep a few euro coins in the car for parking and small honesty-box payments.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialCitizens Information – Money and tax
- officialCentral Bank of Ireland – Euro cash
- officialFáilte Ireland – Consumer information
- secondaryWikivoyage – Ireland
- secondaryWikivoyage – Tipping