How to Choose a Credit Card for Europe Travel

Look for cards without foreign transaction fees, then decide what perks you want to prioritize.

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Updated · 2 min read
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Written by Carissa Rawson
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If you're heading to Europe anytime soon, you probably have a lot of decisions to make, from which cities you're visiting, to what activities you want to do. But before you book that wine tour, it's a good idea to pick a credit card to bring with you to Europe. The right credit card can help you transact securely and help you save on foreign transaction fees. Often 3% of every international purchase you make, this fee will add up over time and effectively cancel out any rewards you earn.

So, what's the best credit card for Europe travel? Well, it depends. Answering these questions can help you determine what you need out of a credit card:

When is your trip?

It’s a good idea to open a credit card at least six months before your trip, so you can use your sign-up bonus to pay for it. But even if you’re leaving in a couple of weeks, a credit card can still help you earn rewards and save money on foreign transaction fees.

Are you willing to pay an annual fee?

In general, cards with a higher annual fee come with more lucrative perks. But if you’re fee averse, you can still find some no-annual-fee credit cards with solid rewards.

Do you need travel insurance?

If you’re concerned your plans might change or are going to rent a car, getting a credit card with travel protections can keep you from needing to purchase an independent policy. Just keep in mind that you might need to pay for most or all of the trip with your credit card to use these protections.

How will you spend your money?

Foodies who will splurge on fancy restaurants, focus on getting a credit card with high rewards on dining. For people traveling to multiple cities, getting a credit card with high rewards on travel purchases can help you earn more on your car, train or plane tickets. But if your spending doesn't fit into neat categories, a flat-rate credit card could help you earn solid rewards on all your purchases.

How much effort will you put into redeeming rewards?

The best travel credit cards give you the option to transfer your points to an issuer’s transfer partners. This gives you the opportunity to eke outsized value out of your points, but this can take significant effort. If you want a simpler way to redeem your rewards, prioritize finding a credit card that gives you a value of at least 1 cent per point when you redeem for a statement credit or by booking travel through an issuer’s travel portal.

Best credit cards for travel to Europe

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

Best for valuable rewards with a low annual fee

Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Why we like it

The $95-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn't the most flashy, but it has no foreign transaction fees, strong rewards on travel and dining, and a $50 hotel credit when you book through Chase. It also has great travel protections, including primary rental car coverage. When you redeem rewards for travel through Chase, your points are worth 1.25 cents each. Or you can transfer rewards you earn to one of Chase's transfer partners for potentially higher value.

Airlines

  • Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).

  • Air Canada (1:1 ratio).

  • Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).

  • British Airways (1:1 ratio).

  • Emirates (1:1 ratio).

  • Iberia (1:1 ratio).

  • JetBlue (1:1 ratio).

  • Singapore (1:1 ratio).

  • Southwest (1:1 ratio).

  • United (1:1 ratio).

  • Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio).

Hotels

  • Hyatt (1:1 ratio).

  • InterContinental Hotels Group (1:1 ratio).

  • Marriott (1:1 ratio).

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Best for high redemption rates

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Why we like it

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also earns solid rewards on dining and travel purchases and comes with valuable travel protections like primary rental coverage. But in exchange for a $550 annual fee, you'll also get a $300 travel credit, a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and access to Priority Pass lounges. Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer any points you earn on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to one of Chase's transfer partners. But if you'd prefer a simpler way to redeem rewards, your points will be worth 1.5 cents each for travel booked through Chase.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Best for high rewards rate on all purchases

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

Sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Why we like it

In exchange for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card's $395 annual fee, you'll get a $300 credit for travel booked through Capital One, Priority Pass lounge access, a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and valuable travel protections. You'll also earn 2 miles on most purchases. Rewards can be redeemed as a statement credit to cover the cost of travel purchases, or you can transfer your miles to one of Capital One's transfer partners.

Airlines

  • Aeromexico (1:1 ratio).

  • Air Canada (1:1 ratio).

  • Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).

  • Avianca (1:1 ratio).

  • British Airways (1:1 ratio).

  • Cathay Pacific (1:1 ratio).

  • Emirates (1:1 ratio).

  • Etihad (1:1 ratio).

  • EVA (2:1.5 ratio).

  • Finnair (1:1 ratio).

  • Qantas (1:1 ratio).

  • Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio).

  • TAP Air Portugal (1:1 ratio).

  • Turkish Airlines (1:1 ratio).

Hotels

  • Accor (2:1 ratio).

  • Choice Privileges Hotels (1:1 ratio).

  • Wyndham Rewards (1:1 ratio).

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

Best for no annual fee

Sign-up bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.

Why we like it

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card lacks some of the perks that other cards on this list have, but it still packs a punch for a card with a $0 annual fee. Its 3 points per dollar on restaurants, gas stations, travel and transit will help you rack up points quickly. Plus, you can redeem your rewards as a statement credit or by transferring them to one of Wells Fargo's transfer partners.

Airlines

Hotels

Other options

You could also get a hotel or airline credit card. But since these rewards are less flexible, this is only a good option if you already know what airline you're planning on flying or hotel brand you want to stay at.

For example, the sign-up bonus on the United℠ Explorer Card could help you save on your flight, but only if you're flying United Airlines or one of its partners. If you decide to fly American Airlines, you're out of luck. Similarly, hotel points you earn on the World of Hyatt Credit Card will only help you save money if you're staying in an area with Hyatt hotels.

On the other hand, if you don't want to bother with redeeming points and would rather earn more flexible rewards, consider sticking with a cash back card. The $0-annual-fee Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card earns rewards on both dining and entertainment, which could be really useful if you're planning to hit up some art museums in Italy or go to a play in London. Just watch out for foreign transaction fees. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn't charge this fee, but many cash back cards do.

Consider carrying more than one card

Having multiple credit cards in your wallet can increase your rewards earnings and offer more perks than one card alone. Say you get the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card for lounge access and Global Entry. You'll only earn 2 miles per dollar on your purchases. That's not a bad deal. But pair that with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and you'll also be able to earn 3% on your dining and entertainment purchases, while still earning at least 2 miles on everything else. As a bonus: any rewards you earn on the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card can be transferred to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

Frequently asked questions

The best credit card for Europe will depend on your specific situation, but most people could benefit from getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It has a modest annual fee, doesn't charge foreign transaction fees and earns 3x on dining and 2x travel purchases made outside of the Chase Travel portal, where it earns 5x on purchases. It's also a Visa, which is widely accepted in Europe.

It's often best to carry a combination of both cash and credit cards. Use your credit card for larger purchases and keep some cash on hand for smaller transactions, tips or for places that don't accept cards. Order foreign currency before you travel or pull it out of the ATM (and avoid fees) to get the best rates.

Visa and Mastercard are much more widely accepted across Europe than AmEx. That said, you'll likely have little problems using AmEx in large European cities or tourist areas, or at major retailers. If you want to patron smaller businesses/local shops or visit rural areas, you'd be better off with a Visa or Mastercard.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024:

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