Belgium

Compare Euro Exchange Rates in Belgium

Everything you need to know about money in Belgium - from Brussels to Bruges, beer cafés to chocolate shops. Updated for 2026.

Getting Euros for Your Trip to Belgium

Belgium offers a comfortable balance between card acceptance and cash usage. Brussels, as the EU capital, is thoroughly modern and card-friendly. Tourist favourites like Bruges and Ghent also have good card infrastructure, though some traditional establishments prefer cash.

Belgian people tend to be pragmatic about money - you'll find most places accept cards, but cash remains popular for smaller purchases, market stalls, and the famous friteries (chip shops).

Key insight for 2026: Belgium uses the Bancontact system for debit cards, similar to the Netherlands' PIN system. Most places now accept Visa/Mastercard alongside Bancontact, but you might occasionally encounter "Bancontact only" signs at smaller establishments.

Best Ways to Get Euros for Belgium

  1. Multi-currency cards (Wise, Revolut) - Ideal for Belgium. Use contactless for most purchases and withdraw cash when needed.
  2. Order Euros online before travel - Get cash at good rates for markets and small purchases.
  3. Belgian bank ATMs - KBC, BNP Paribas Fortis, ING, and Belfius ATMs don't charge foreign card fees.
  4. UK specialist bureaux - Good rates for Euros before travel.
  5. UK banks - Convenient but typically 3-4% worse than specialists.
  6. Airport exchanges - Poor rates at both UK airports and Brussels Airport. Avoid.

Using Cards in Belgium

Where Cards Work Well

  • Hotels: Universal card acceptance
  • Restaurants: Most accept cards, especially in tourist areas
  • Supermarkets: Delhaize, Carrefour, Colruyt all accept cards
  • Shops: Most shops in city centres accept cards
  • Museums: All major museums accept cards
  • Public transport: STIB/MIVB machines accept cards

Where Cash is Better

  • Friteries: Many chip shops are cash-only or prefer cash
  • Markets: Weekend markets, flea markets, Christmas markets
  • Small cafés: Traditional beer cafés and small bars
  • Street food: Waffle stands and food stalls
  • "Bancontact only" places: Rare but still exists

ATMs in Belgium

Best ATMs

  • KBC: Blue/white ATMs. No fees for foreign cards.
  • BNP Paribas Fortis: Common throughout Belgium. Fee-free.
  • ING: Orange ATMs. No foreign card fees.
  • Belfius: Widely available. Fee-free withdrawals.

ATMs to Avoid

  • Euronet: Yellow ATMs in tourist areas. €4-6 fees.
  • Non-bank ATMs: Standalone machines often charge fees.

How Much Cash to Bring

  • Weekend in Brussels: €50-100 backup is sufficient
  • Bruges/Ghent trip: €80-150 for markets, cafés, small shops
  • Week-long trip: €150-250 for incidentals

Daily Spending Guide

  • Budget: €60-90/day - hostels, friteries, supermarket picnics
  • Mid-range: €120-180/day - good hotels, restaurants, museums
  • Comfortable: €200-350/day - boutique hotels, fine dining, tours

Tipping in Belgium

Service is included in Belgian bills by law, so tipping isn't expected:

  • Restaurants: Service included. Round up or add €1-2 for exceptional service.
  • Cafés: Not expected. Leave small change if you wish.
  • Taxis: Round up to nearest Euro
  • Hotels: €1-2 per bag for porters; housekeeping tips rare

Best Exchange Options for EUR

Top providers by category:

Best Bank

BNP Paribas Fortis

Largest Belgian bank. ATMs in all cities.

Best Alternative

KBC Bank

Major bank with good ATM coverage.

Best ATM

ING Belgium

International bank, accepts all cards.

Avoid

Brussels Airport

Travelex and ICE are here, but airport rates are poor. Use a bank ATM.

Avoid

Grand Place Booths

Tourist area premium. Walk to side streets.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Belgium strikes a comfortable balance between card and cash, so use both: contactless with a multi-currency card covers most purchases in Brussels, Bruges and Ghent, while KBC and ING bank ATMs are free for foreign cards and supply the cash for markets and chip shops. Avoid the exchange booths at the Grand Place, which carry a tourist premium.

Largely yes. Brussels is thoroughly card-friendly and Bruges and Ghent are well set up too: hotels, the major museums, the big supermarkets and STIB/MIVB ticket machines take cards, as do most restaurants and city-centre shops. Belgian debit cards run on Bancontact, and although Visa and Mastercard are now accepted at most places, you may occasionally meet a 'Bancontact only' sign in a smaller place.

Cash machines run by the main Belgian banks are free for foreign cards: KBC (blue and white), BNP Paribas Fortis, ING (orange) and Belfius. The ones to avoid are the yellow Euronet machines in tourist areas, which add €4-6 in fees, and standalone non-bank ATMs, which often charge as well.

Not a great deal. The guide suggests €50-100 as a backup for a weekend in Brussels, €80-150 for a Bruges or Ghent trip where you will use markets, cafés and small shops, and €150-250 in incidentals for a week. Cash is mainly for friteries, market and flea-market stalls, waffle stands and traditional beer cafés.

No. By law the service charge is already in every Belgian bill, so nobody expects more; in a restaurant you might round up or leave €1-2 after exceptional service, and in cafés small change is enough. Round taxi fares up to the nearest Euro, give porters €1-2 a bag, and do not worry about housekeeping, where tips are rare.

Only a little, for markets and small purchases. Ordering Euros online or buying from a UK specialist bureau gives good rates; UK banks are typically 3-4% worse, and the exchange desks at UK airports and Brussels Airport have poor rates and are best skipped. Your card will cover most spending once you arrive.

Nearby Destinations

Planning to visit multiple countries? Check out exchange guides for nearby destinations:

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