Travel Tips Tips

Can I use my Barclaycard in Europe?

Gert Svaiko

14.03.25

Read time 3 minutes

Planning a European trip from the UK? Perhaps you’re spending a romantic weekend in Paris or a sunny week in Spain, or maybe even going Interrailing across the whole continent.

Whatever your travel plans, you’ll need to find a way to spend in euros (EUR). If you’re a fan of using credit cards overseas and you have a Barclaycard (or are thinking of getting one), read on.

We’ve put together a handy guide to how Barclaycard works in Europe, including where it’s accepted, fees and exchange rates.

We’ll also show you a great 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 European countries, 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 💳

Can I use my Barclaycard in Europe?

Yes, you can use your Barclaycard in Europe where Visa/Mastercard is accepted, as long as the vendor accepts credit cards.

This includes shops, restaurants, bars and ATMs, as well as many public transport systems. In many places, you may be able to make contactless payments with your Barclaycard too.

The only thing to bear in mind is that there are likely to be fees for spending in a foreign currency with your credit card - we’ll look at this next.

Barclaycard fees, exchange rates & currency conversion in Europe

Before you use a UK-issued debit or credit card abroad, it’s crucial to check out the fees.

Many credit cards charge non-sterling transaction fees for spending in other currencies, as well as for cash withdrawals overseas.

Let’s take a look at what you’ll pay to use your Barclaycard in Europe.

Foreign transaction fees

Barclays charges the following to use its credit cards overseas:¹

Transaction type	Barclays fee
Foreign currency purchases	2.99% currency conversion fee
Overseas ATM withdrawals	2.99% (min. £2.99)

Another useful thing to know is that when you use a credit card to withdraw cash, interest is likely to start accruing immediately. Any interest-free period you may have for purchases won’t apply.

Exchange rates

When weighing up the cost of using a credit card abroad, it’s not just the upfront fee you need to think about. You also need to factor in the exchange rate.

Barclays uses Visa’s exchange rates for currency conversions when you spend or withdraw cash in a foreign currency. You can check the latest rates at any time here.

If asked at the till or ATM whether you want to pay in your home currency (GBP) or the local currency (EUR) - always choose the local currency.

If you choose your home currency, it effectively gives the vendor or ATM permission to choose their own exchange rate. This is known as Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC).

This will likely be a much poorer rate than the Visa exchange rate, so you should decline this option.

Tips for using your Barclaycard in Europe

To help you get the most from using your Barclaycard in Europe, follow these tips:

Avoid cash withdrawals with a credit card unless absolutely necessary. Fees can be high, and interest will start accruing right away (unlike with purchases, where you usually get an interest-free period)
Use fee-free ATMs if you can - otherwise, you’ll find an ATM operator fee added on top of the Barclays fees.
Always pay in the local currency - this ensures you get a better exchange rate and avoid expensive hidden fees.

You don’t have to tell Barclays that you’ll be travelling. Just make sure the bank has your up-to-date contact details, just in case the fraud prevention team is concerned about any transactions.

Travelling to Europe? Use Wise for low-cost currency conversion and spending

After reading this, you should have all the info you need about using your Barclaycard in Europe. We’ve looked at where it is accepted, what fees are involved and what exchange rate you’re likely to get.

Just remember though that there are many great travel-friendly alternatives out there, such as the Wise card.

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.

Sources used:

Barclaycard - Your Barclaycard - the perfect travelling companion

Sources last checked on date: 04-Mar-2025

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.