Withdrawing cash abroad: best cards + smart tips

Many travelers waste €40-€80 per trip on hidden ATM and currency exchange fees. These tips save you that money.

The 3 fees to watch out for

Foreign-ATM fee (€3-€5 per withdrawal), currency exchange margin (1.5-3%), local ATM operator fee (€2-€5). Combined: €10-€15 per €100 withdrawn.

Best cards (2026)

Bunq Easy Travel: free worldwide ATM withdrawals at real exchange rate. Revolut Standard: 5 free withdrawals/month. Wise debit: real rate + 1.5% above €200/month.

Always pay in local currency

Many terminals offer 'dynamic currency conversion' (pay in euros). Decline this - their rate is 7-12% worse than your bank's rate.

Withdraw bigger amounts less often

One €400 withdrawal costs €3-€5 fee = 0.8-1.25%. Two €200 withdrawals cost €6-€10 = 1.5-2.5%. Withdraw the trip-week amount at once.

Skip airport ATMs

Airport ATMs charge 2-3% worse rates + €5+ operator fee. Walk into the city and use a regular bank's ATM.

Use credit card for big purchases

Many credit cards (Mastercard Gold, Visa Premium) have no foreign transaction fees on purchases. Better than cash for hotels and large dinners.

Bring some cash in advance

€100 in local currency for arrival (taxi, first dinner). Order it at GWK Travelex 5 days before departure (avoid airport exchange offices).

Inform your bank

Tell your bank where you're going. Otherwise the card gets blocked at the first foreign transaction. Most banks let you set 'travel mode' in the app.