How Much Cash Should I Bring to Europe?

For most Canadian travellers, you don’t need to bring a lot of cash to Europe. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted, and you can withdraw local currency from ATMs as you go.

A good rule of thumb is to land with €50–€150 per person in cash for small expenses (taxis, snacks, public washrooms, markets), and then top up from ATMs instead of carrying a big stack of bills.

Government travel advice also suggests using cards for larger purchases and bank ATMs for cash, rather than exchanging lots of cash upfront.

Why You Don’t Need to Carry a Lot of Cash

Across most of Europe:

• Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere (especially in cities)

• ATMs are easy to find for local currency

• Carrying too much cash is a theft risk and a headache if it gets lost

If you end up needing more, you can simply:

• Withdraw more euros from a bank ATM

• Adjust based on your actual spending after the first couple of days

Also, if you ever carry very large amounts of cash, remember that amounts over about €10,000 (or equivalent) must be declared when entering the EU, and similar rules apply when leaving Canada with more than $10,000.

Using KOHO Everything as Your Travel Card

With the KOHO Everything plan, you get:

• No foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad

• Free international ATM withdrawals (one per month)

• 3.5% interest on your entire balance (great for parking your travel fund before you go)

• 2% cash back on groceries, eating & drinking, and transportation, plus 0.5% on everything else

• Built-in travel perks like Travel Insurance and a free eSIM with up to 3GB of data so you can stay connected

With this setup, you can:

• Use KOHO for most day-to-day spending in Europe

• Take out local cash from ATMs when you actually need it

• Avoid the extra 2–3% FX fees that many traditional cards charge

Simple Cash Plan for Europe

Here’s a straightforward approach that works for most trips:

1. Before you go

   • Make sure you budget and plan how much you are going to spend.

   • Plan to withdraw local currency at an ATM when you land instead of ordering euros in Canada.

2. When you arrive

   • Withdraw enough for the first few days – usually €50–€150 per person depending on how “cashy” your plans are (markets, small cafés, tips, etc.).

3. During the trip

   • Use credit cards for hotels, restaurants, trains, and bigger purchases.

   • Top up cash at ATMs only when needed.

4. Near the end

   • Spend down your remaining coins and small bills.

Quick Tips to Keep Costs (and Stress) Low

• Avoid airport currency exchange booths — ATMs usually give better value.

• Use cards for big purchases; cash for small, local spots that might be card-resistant.

• Keep a backup card separate from your wallet.

You don’t need to overthink the exact number. Start with a modest amount of cash.