I Norway this summer it was difficult to find any bank that would give you more than 500NKK outside of the airport. They expect tourists to walk around with mounds of cash because of so much fraud. I blame the Poles and the Estonians for this. Russian gangsters, too.

It varies. UK and Scandinavia have quickly moved to cards for everything. Even the smallest purchases like a can of coke.

But the continent, especially the Germanic countries and eastern Europe, cash is still widely used.

Anonymous wrote:Tips. Street vendors.

Went to Granada Spain in the spring. Only thing we needed cash for were street vendors and small eating places. we could have avoided them. We just went to an ATM to get money.

No cash needed in Sweden or norway. Elsewhere cards are much more readily accepted than in the past but cash is still useful or necessary.

Yes, I was in Berlin last week and was surprised that cash was still necessary, but it is. Even places like coffee shops, etc. don’t necessarily take card.

Yes. For one, in most restaurants in Europe you cannot add tip onto a credit card charge. Need small bills/coins in order to tip (amounts vary by country of course).

Just spent 2 weeks in Greece and Italy and even small hotels wanted cash. I had paid online for my hotel, they refunded it and wanted me to go to an ATM to get cash as I checked in (ATMs charge an ATM fee plus a conversion fee, credit cards would charge me nothing and give me 2% cash back).

I noticed a tendency for stores and cabbies to overcharge via charging in USD if I used a card, unless I preemptively said "I want to pay in euros." Easier to just pay by cash. Also there are definitely still places that don't take card especially smaller vendors

We were in Florence and Munich this summer, and primarily used cash. I think we only used credit to pay for our big bills, like our hotel. We just pulled Euros out of the ATM instead of bringing US dollars and converting.

Cash is good to have some eveywhere but just used your ATM. Nobody converts anymore -- too expensive!

Tips. Street vendors.

It's always good to have cash on hand in Europe.

-former European resident

Its good to have cash for street vendors or outside markets

Completely depends on the country. A lot of restaurants are upset to get ccs still and if you're buying things, they want cash.

I’ll convert a little at the airport, but I can get away with credit, right?