Getting Euros for Your Trip to France

France is the UK's most visited European destination, welcoming millions of British tourists to Paris, the French Riviera, ski resorts, and wine regions each year. As a Eurozone country, France uses the Euro (€), making it easy to combine with trips to other EU destinations.

The excellent news for travellers is that France is extremely card-friendly. The French have used chip cards (Carte Bancaire) for decades, and contactless payment is now widespread. With the right travel card, you can explore France with minimal cash.

Key insight for 2026: Post-Brexit, your UK phone may not include free EU roaming. But your Wise or Revolut card works exactly the same — contactless payments, ATM withdrawals, and real-time exchange rates with no Brexit-related changes.

Best Ways to Get Euros for France

1. Fee-free travel cards (Wise, Revolut) — Our top recommendation. Pay by card everywhere with the real exchange rate. Withdraw cash from ATMs when needed.
2. French bank ATMs — BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole ATMs don't typically charge fees. Use with a fee-free card for best results.
3. Online currency order — If you prefer cash, order Euros from Wise or a comparison site. Much better rates than the high street.
4. Post Office / Travelex — Order online for better rates than walk-in. Convenient but not the best value.
5. UK airport exchanges — Poor rates, avoid unless desperate.
6. Paris airport exchanges — Also poor rates. Use the ATMs instead.

Using Cards in France

France is one of the most card-friendly countries in Europe. Here's where cards work:

Cards Accepted Almost Everywhere

• Restaurants, cafes, and bistros — Even small establishments accept cards
• Supermarkets — Carrefour, Leclerc, Auchan, Monoprix all accept cards
• Metro and transport — Paris Metro, buses, trams accept contactless
• Shops of all sizes — From department stores to small boutiques
• Hotels and B&Bs — Universally accepted
• Toll roads (péages) — Card payment at booths
• Boulangeries — Most bakeries now accept cards for small amounts

Where Cash Might Be Useful

• Markets (marchés) — Some stalls prefer cash, though many now accept cards
• Very small purchases — Some places have minimum card amounts (€5-10)
• Rural areas — Small villages may have less card infrastructure
• Tips — If you want to tip (not obligatory)

Important: Always decline if offered to pay in GBP instead of EUR. This "Dynamic Currency Conversion" gives you a terrible rate.

ATMs in France

French ATMs (distributeurs de billets) are reliable and widely available:

Best ATMs

• BNP Paribas — Major French bank, ATMs in most towns
• Société Générale — Red and black logo, reliable
• Crédit Agricole — Green logo, common in rural areas
• La Banque Postale — Post office ATMs, everywhere
• CIC/Crédit Mutuel — Blue logos, good coverage

ATMs to Avoid

• Euronet — Bright blue standalone machines charge high fees and poor rates
• Travelex ATMs — Usually offer conversion to GBP at bad rates

Tip: When the ATM asks to convert to GBP, always select "Non" or "Continue without conversion" to get the better rate from your card provider.

Money Tips by French Region

Paris

Extremely card-friendly. The Metro accepts contactless, as do most cafes and restaurants. Even the Louvre and major attractions take cards. Keep €20-30 for small purchases and the occasional cash-only vendor.

French Riviera (Nice, Cannes, Monaco)

Tourist infrastructure means cards work everywhere. Note that Monaco technically uses Euros despite not being in the EU. Beach clubs and restaurants all accept cards.

French Alps (Chamonix, Courchevel)

Ski resorts are well set up for cards. Lift passes, equipment hire, and mountain restaurants all accept cards. Mountain refuges may prefer cash.

Provence & Wine Regions

Cards work in towns and tourist areas. Smaller vineyards and rural markets may prefer cash, so keep some Euros handy for wine tasting.

Brittany & Normandy

Good card acceptance in towns. Some smaller coastal restaurants and crêperies may prefer cash for small amounts.

Tipping in France

Unlike the USA, tipping in France is truly optional:

• Restaurants — Service is included in prices ("service compris"). Rounding up or leaving €1-2 for good service is appreciated but not expected.
• Cafes — Loose change, if anything
• Taxis — Round up to the nearest Euro
• Hotels — €1-2 for porters if you wish
• Tour guides — €5-10 if the tour was excellent

French service workers earn proper wages, so tipping is genuinely optional and small amounts are normal.