Best bank accounts for travel in Europe (2026)

What matters when you use your card abroad

The best bank accounts for travel are the ones that don't quietly skim money every time you tap your card in another currency. Outside the eurozone, three things decide what you pay.

1. The exchange rate markup. When you pay in a foreign currency, your bank converts it to euros. Many banks add a percentage on top of the exchange rate, often shown as a "foreign transaction fee". It's easy to miss because it's baked into the rate.

2. ATM fees. Your card provider may charge per withdrawal or a percentage above a free allowance, and the ATM owner may add its own fee on top.

3. Dynamic currency conversion (DCC). This is when a card machine or ATM abroad offers to charge you in euros "for your convenience". If you say yes, the shop's or ATM operator's provider does the conversion at a rate it sets, which is often worse than your card's. The fix is simple: always choose the local currency. If the screen says "Pay in EUR or THB?", pick THB.

The options compared

Checked November 2026: fees change, so check the provider's site before you sign up. Figures are for the free or entry plans unless stated, and some differ by country (noted below).

Wise

Best for: people visiting several countries, or who want to load a currency before they go.

Wise converts at the mid-market rate (the midpoint rate you see on Google) and adds a fee that starts at 0.2% and varies by currency. You can convert in the app before you travel and then spend that currency with the card for free. ATM withdrawals are free up to €250 a month per account, then 2.69% of the amount above €250. On its Dutch pricing page, the card costs €7 to order and there's no subscription.

Protection: Wise Europe SA is a payment institution supervised by the National Bank of Belgium. It safeguards your money rather than holding it as a bank deposit, so it isn't covered by the Belgian deposit guarantee scheme.

Downsides: cash beyond €250 a month gets pricey: withdrawing €400 costs €4.04. Not a bank, so it's better as a travel wallet than a home for savings.

Revolut

Best for: occasional travellers who spend modest amounts, mostly on weekdays.

On the free Standard plan, Revolut's fee terms for Revolut Bank UAB customers say currency exchanges have no fee on weekdays while you stay within €1,000 a month. Above that, 0.5% applies to the extra. Between 5pm Friday and 6pm Sunday New York time, a 1% fee applies. ATM withdrawals are free up to 5 withdrawals or €200 a month, whichever comes first, then cost 2% with a €1 minimum. Paid plans (Plus, Premium, Metal, Ultra) change these limits; Premium and above have no exchange limit.

Protection: deposits with Revolut Bank UAB are insured up to €100,000 by Lithuania's public "Deposit and Investment Insurance" scheme.

Downsides: weekend payments in a currency you don't hold cost 1% extra, and big trips can blow through the €1,000 monthly limit. For more detail see Wise vs Revolut.

N26

Best for: people who want one free euro current account that also works abroad.

N26's EU pricing page lists "worldwide card payments" as free on every plan: Standard (free), Smart (€4.90 a month), Go (€9.90) and Metal (€16.90). Cash is where the plans differ. Foreign currency withdrawals cost a 1.7% markup on Standard and Smart, and are free on Go and Metal. Euro withdrawals are free twice a month on Standard in Germany, France and the rest of Europe (more on higher plans, and different rules in Italy, Austria and Spain), then €2 each.

Protection: N26 says deposits are covered by the German deposit protection scheme up to €100,000.

Downsides: on the free plan, cash outside the eurozone costs 1.7%, and only two free euro withdrawals a month in most countries.

Trade Republic

Best for: people who already invest with Trade Republic and want a card that's cheap abroad.

Its Dutch price list (February 2026) shows a free virtual card, a physical card for €5 (Classic) or €50 (Mirror), "free" currency conversion, and a €1 fee for ATM withdrawals under €100, so taking out €100 or more at a time avoids that fee.

Protection: in July 2025 Trade Republic said cash is held with partner banks and protected up to €100,000 by deposit guarantee schemes. It is supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank.

Downsides: topping up by debit or credit card costs 1% after your first deposit, so use a bank transfer. The app sits alongside investing, which isn't for everyone.

Travel credit cards (as a category)

Some credit cards are marketed for travel, with no foreign transaction fee. They can be useful for car hire and hotel deposits, which often need a credit card. Check three things: the foreign transaction fee, any yearly fee, and the interest rate. Pay the balance in full every month, and avoid withdrawing cash on a credit card, which often costs a fee and interest from day one. Missed payments can hurt your credit score.

Travel money tips

• Pay in the local currency, every time. Refuse euros at card machines and ATMs.
• Check your home bank first. Look up its foreign transaction and ATM fees; you may be fine.
• Bring two cards from different providers, in case one is blocked or lost.
• Take out cash in fewer, larger withdrawals if your account charges per withdrawal.
• Watch the calendar. On Revolut's free plan, avoid big currency exchanges at weekends.
• Keep your emergency fund at home. A travel card isn't a savings account; see how big your emergency fund should be.

Official sites: wise.com, revolut.com, n26.com and traderepublic.com.