Writer: Brittney Mayer
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
Key Takeaways
When you travel to Europe, costs can add up fast if you aren’t careful. Here are some of our top picks for credit cards that can hold their own abroad:
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Our top choice is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which skips foreign transaction fees and earns flexible miles on every Euro you spend. See rates & fees
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If you’re looking to earn top-tier rewards on dining and entertainment, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a solid pick. See rates & fees
Europe’s rich history, vibrant culture, and mouth-watering cuisine draw more than 700 million tourists every year. Many Americans are excited to cross the Atlantic and immerse themselves in everything the continent has to offer.
Even though a domestic vacation can easily set you back hundreds of dollars, a transcontinental adventure might come with a four-digit price tag. The good news is that there are ways to keep your trip within budget.
Choosing the right credit card can help you dodge pesky fees and rack up valuable rewards during your European getaway. This smart move not only keeps extra cash in your pocket but also makes your travel experience more enjoyable.
Best “No Foreign Transaction Fee” Cards to Use in Europe
One of the most important fees to watch out for while traveling abroad are foreign transaction fees. Many credit cards charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made in a foreign currency to offset the cost of exchanging the currency from US dollars to the purchase currency.
That being said, there are a good number of credit cards that charge no foreign transaction fees, including many of the most popular travel rewards cards, and you can earn rewards regardless of the currency in which you make purchases.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $300 to use on hotel and vacation rental bookings through Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s more than $1,000 in travel value
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
The miles earned with your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card can be redeemed for statement credit to cover a range of travel-related purchases made with your card.
This category includes most forms of transportation, from airlines to railways, hotel stays, travel agencies, and even timeshares. Miles can also be transferred to a qualifying frequent flyer program.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.74% – 28.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a straightforward unlimited cash back card that offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase, regardless of its category.
With no foreign transaction fees, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card can be good for your vacation expenses that don’t fall into bonus categories.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns the popular Ultimate Rewards® points, which are lauded for their redemption flexibility and high per-point potential value.
Earn 2X points per dollar on travel and dining, one point on everything else, and pay no foreign transaction fees for any of it.
Best “Chip & PIN” Card to Use in Europe
Although EMV-chip credit cards have become the standard in most of the world, the chip cards in the UK and the US vary in one key way: how they’re authenticated. In the US, we use a signature to authorize purchases (though even that’s being phased out).
In Europe, most credit card transactions need a four-digit PIN, much like US debit cards. While your US EMV card should work with many European merchants, some unattended kiosks, such as ticket machines and parking garages, usually require a chip-and-PIN card.
- 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through BofA Travel.
- Turn daily purchases into everyday wins. Simply use your Travel Rewards credit card for the things you already buy – from gifts to getaways – BofA Rewards™ members earn more points.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants, including takeout.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.74% – 27.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
The chip-and-PIN enabled Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 1.5X points per dollar spent on all purchases, with no foreign transaction fees.
Points can be redeemed for a huge range of travel-related purchases, including the basics, such as flights and hotels, as well as things like select tourist attractions.
Best “Dining & Entertainment Rewards” Cards to Use in Europe
While there’s certainly plenty to see and do in Europe without spending on entertainment, chances are you’ll want to check out at least one museum, theater performance, or sporting event during your trip.
The cards in this category all offer bonus rewards for entertainment purchases, which can help you find a little more room in the budget for adding some extra culture — or just having a little more fun.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.74% – 28.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
This card is a great option for entertainment purchases, offering 3% cash back on everything from concerts and sporting events to museums and zoos. If purchased through Capital One Entertainment, those purchases earn 8% cash back. Plus, cardholders can also earn 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
If you’re looking to earn points for travel that are transferable to your favorite airline loyalty program, the Citi Strata Premier® Card might be your perfect pick. It offers solid rewards points per dollar in multiple spending categories so users with broad purchase needs will reap the most benefit.
On top of bonus rewards in multiple categories, this card also offers a generous signup bonus that can be redeemed for some serious travel rewards. With no foreign transaction fees and an annual hotel savings benefit, this is a fantastic card option for those traveling overseas.
Best “Business” Cards to Use in Europe
Despite the focus on vacationers, of course, not everyone on their way to Europe is taking the trip for the sightseeing; business travelers spend billions of euros a year in European markets as they go about their, well, business.
On the plus side, while the business credit card market isn’t quite as flooded as the consumer market, there are still a number of great options for not only saving on your purchases in Europe, but on all of your qualifying business expenses.
- Earn a one-time welcome bonus of 100,000 miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account
- Receive up to $220 in credits: Receive an annual $50 travel credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel, up to an annual $50 statement credit for purchases at qualifying advertising or software merchants, plus up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years. Terms and conditions apply
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel
- Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- $95 annual fee
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
- Top rated mobile app
With the Capital One Venture Business card, you’ll earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, regardless of currency, with no foreign transaction fees. Plus, you can obtain reward-earning employee cards at no additional cost, making it easy to track expenses while your employees conduct business abroad.
- Earn a $750 bonus when you spend $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere — with no limits or category restrictions
- Enjoy a 0% APR for the first 9 months of opening
- No annual fee
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel
- Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account
- Redeem your cash back rewards for any amount
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges
- Top rated mobile app
The Capital One Spark Cash Select is our top no-annual-fee option for business travel in Europe. It earns unlimited 1.5% cash back and charges no foreign transaction fees, allowing business owners to earn straightforward rewards without paying extra on purchases abroad.
- Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Ink Business Cash® Credit Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is good for saving on business essentials, no matter where you are. It has no foreign transaction fee and offers rewards that include 5% cash back on up to $25,000 in office supply purchases and internet, cable, and phone services each year.
Shop Like a Local with the Right Card
If you’re captivated by Europe’s stunning castles, delicious French cheese, or simply the draw of its rich history, then a European vacation might justify the often hefty price tag.
You can truly enhance your trip’s value with some clever spending. For example, ensuring your main card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees can save you 2% to 4% on every purchase you make in Europe.
With a trusty chip-and-PIN card, you can seamlessly blend in and shop like a local. It’ll save you from those awkward moments of hunting for a pen for your US chip-and-signature card—or worse, missing a train because your card fails at the kiosk.
No matter which cards you decide to take with you on your trip, however, be sure you contact your credit card issuers before you leave to let them know you’ll be making purchases in another country.
Without advanced notification, your card issuer may consider foreign purchases to be a sign of fraud and put a hold on your card, which can put a crimp in your vacation agenda.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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