Best credit card to use in Europe: Top 6 UK picks

Holidaying in France, Germany, Spain, Italy or another European country this year? Whatever your plans, you’ll need to know the best way to spend in euros during your time on the continent.

We’re here to help, with a roundup of the best UK credit cards to use in Europe. This includes top picks from the likes of Halifax, Barclays, Virgin Money and more, comparing them all on foreign transaction fees, exchange rates and travel perks.

We’ll also show you a travel-friendly alternative - the Wise card. It’s not a credit card but an international debit card linked to your Wise account. You can use it for spending in 150+ countries including Europe, automatically converting your pounds to the local currency at the great mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee*.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

Table of contents
Top picks compared: The best UK credit cards to use in Europe Halifax Clarity Credit Card Barclaycard Rewards Card Bip Credit Card NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card Zopa Credit Card Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card How do credit cards work in Europe? Is it best to use a credit card in Europe? What to look for in a good credit card to use while travelling to Europe FAQ

Top picks compared: The best UK credit cards to use in Europe

To help you find the best way to spend abroad, here are our top picks for travel-friendly UK credit cards you can use in Europe:

Card name	FX rate	Foreign currency transaction fees	ATM fees	Interest rate (APR)	Best feature
Halifax Clarity Credit Card¹	Mastercard	None	None	Check eligibility to find out	No ATM fees
Barclaycard Rewards Card²	Visa	None	None	28.9% Interest-free for 56 days³	No ATM fees
Bip Credit Card⁴	Mastercard	None	None	29.9% Interest-free for 48 days	Cardless credit
NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card⁵	Visa	None	3% (min. £3)	27.9% Interest-free for 56 days	Cashback on travel spending
Zopa Credit Card⁶	Visa	None	£3	34.9% Interest-free for 56 days	Easy in-app management
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card⁷	Mastercard	None (for spending in EUR)	5%	26.9% Interest-free for 50 days	Travel rewards

Halifax Clarity Credit Card - Best for withdrawing cash in Europe

The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is an ideal card for spending in Europe.

It charges no annual, foreign transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees,¹ although interest on cash withdrawals is likely to start accruing right away. It uses the Mastercard exchange rate for converting currency.

You’ll need to check your eligibility on the Halifax website to see what interest rate and credit limit you’ll get, along with your interest-free period on purchases.¹

Barclaycard Rewards Card - Best for withdrawing cash and cashback on spending

Like the Halifax Clarity Credit Card, the Barclaycard Rewards Card charges no fees for spending or withdrawing cash overseas. It also has an extra benefit, giving you 0.25% cashback on all everyday spending.²

The representative APR is 28.9% (variable)² and you’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases.³ Interest on cash transactions like ATM withdrawals is likely to start accruing right away.

The card uses Visa’s exchange rates for converting currency. It has no annual fees.

Bip Credit Card - Best for cardless credit

The Bip Credit Card is a little different to others on our list. It’s a digital credit card, meaning it only lives on your phone - in the Bip app and in your digital wallet. This is ideal for people who prefer to pay using their phone, but it could be a little tricky to find a cardless ATM during your trip to Europe.

The card charges no foreign transaction fees for spending or cash withdrawals in EUR or other currencies.⁴

It has a representative APR of 29.9% (variable), a 48-day interest-free period for purchases (none for cash withdrawals) and uses the Mastercard exchange rate for converting currency. And there are no annual fees to worry about either.⁴

NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card - Best for cashback on travel spending

The NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card is specially designed for spending overseas, including across Europe. It has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees on spending, only a 3% (£3 min.) fee for cash withdrawals.⁵ It uses the Visa exchange rate for converting currency.

You’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases, but interest on cash withdrawals will start accruing right away. The representative APR is 27.9% (variable).⁵

A perk of this card is the cashback it pays on eligible travel-related purchases. You’ll get:⁸

• 1% cashback on flights, trains, car rental, ferries, buses, hotel accommodation, travel agents, cruises, campsites and more.
• 1% to 15% cashback at selected partner retailers.

Zopa Credit Card - Best for in-app money management

The Zopa credit card has no annual fees and doesn’t charge for purchases in foreign currencies. However, it does have a cash withdrawal fee of £3 per transaction, which applies whether you’re in the UK or overseas.⁶

You’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases (none for cash transactions) and a representative APR of 34.9%. Currency conversions are carried out using Visa exchange rates.⁶

One of the best features of the Zopa card is its in-app tools, which include a Credit Cushion feature, instant spending notifications and real-time balance updates. The company was also named Best Credit Card Provider at the British Bank Awards 2024.⁹

Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card - Best for travel rewards

The Virgin Atlantic Credit Card has no annual fee and charges no foreign transaction fees if you’re spending in euros - making it ideal for use in Europe. There is a 5% fee for withdrawing cash overseas though, regardless of currency.⁷

The card has a representative interest rate of 26.9% APR (variable) and you’ll get an interest-free period of up to 50 days on purchases.⁷ Interest will start accruing right away with any cash-related transactions like ATM withdrawals. Currency is converted using Mastercard’s exchange rates.

What sets this card apart is its travel rewards. You’ll earn 0.75 Virgin Rewards points for every £1 spent on everyday purchases, and 1.5 points for every £1 spent with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays. You’ll also get 3,000 points on your first purchase with the card.¹⁰

These points can be redeemed towards hotels, flights, cinema tickets, experiences or everyday treats.

How do credit cards work in Europe?

Credit cards in Europe work in pretty much the same way as in the UK. You can use them for spending and cash withdrawals (although this usually comes with a fee, so is best avoided) anywhere that accepts Visa/Mastercard.

Anything you spend will be added to your balance, and you need to pay off the minimum amount required before the interest-free period ends or you’ll be charged interest.

If you’re planning on shopping up a storm with your credit card during your trip, you might want to read our guide to VAT refunds in Europe - it could save you money.

Can I use my UK credit card in Europe?

Yes, you should be fine to use your UK-issued credit card in Europe. As you’ll be spending in euros though, you’ll just need to check whether your credit card charges any foreign currency transaction fees. These may also be called non-sterling transaction fees.

If it does, you may be best switching to a travel-friendly credit card, or even a debit card which has no foreign currency transaction fees.

Is it best to use a credit card in Europe?

It depends on the card and what fees it charges for use in foreign currencies.

If you’ll mainly be spending and your card doesn’t have non-sterling transaction fees, you should be fine to use your card anywhere that Visa or Mastercard is accepted.

Credit cards are widely accepted across Europe, especially in bigger towns, cities and tourist areas.

You can also look into using prepaid cards for your trip to Europe - we’ve put together a list of the best ones here. It’s just worth bearing in mind that they aren’t accepted absolutely everywhere, and there may be additional costs involved in topping them up.

What to look for in a good credit card to use while travelling to Europe

Here’s a quick checklist of things to look for when choosing a credit card for your trip to Europe:

• No foreign transaction fees
• No overseas cash withdrawal fees
• A generous interest-free period for purchases - this gives you plenty of time to make repayments after your trip
• Cashback or rewards on travel or everyday spending
• Decent currency exchange rates - most credit cards use Visa or Mastercard rates, which are known to be pretty good.

FAQ

Do you get charged for using a credit card in Europe?

Your credit card provider may charge you for spending or withdrawing cash in a foreign currency during your trip. You’ll need to check the fees list for your card.

Vendors in Europe shouldn’t add a surcharge for paying with a credit card, but it’s sensible to check before paying just in case.

How do I avoid credit card foreign transaction fees?

To avoid or minimise fees when using a credit card abroad, follow these tips:

• Choose a credit card with no foreign transaction fees
• Avoid cash withdrawals overseas - these usually come with fees
• Always pay in the local currency
• Remember to make minimum repayments before the interest-free period ends.

Is it better to pay in local or foreign currency on a credit card?

It’s always best to pay in the local currency when spending overseas. This will mean that Visa or Mastercard exchange rates will be used, which are usually much better than those applied by the vendor, retailer or ATM.

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That concludes our guide to the best credit card for spending in Europe. Hopefully, this helps you find the one that suits your needs best.

And if you want another option for spending abroad without worrying about exchange rate markups and hidden fees, the Wise card could be a great solution.

Open a Wise account online and you can order the Wise card for a one-time fee of £7. You can use this clever card in 150+ countries, including European countries. It automatically converts your pounds to local currency whenever you spend using the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee* – or it’s free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

You also get two free ATM withdrawals for up to 200 GBP (or currency equivalent) each month. Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Sign up with Wise for free 🚀

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Sources used:

1. Halifax - Clarity Card
2. Barclays - Barclays Rewards
3. Barclaycard Rewards - Summary Box
4. Bip - Summary box
5. NatWest - Summary box for Travel Reward credit card
6. Zopa - Summary box
7. Virgin Money - VAA Credit Card Summary Box
8. NatWest - Travel Reward Credit Card
9. Zopa - Credit card
10. Virgin Money - Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card

Sources last checked on date: 19-Feb-2024