Currency & Money Guide

France uses the euro (EUR), the common currency of the Eurozone, which France adopted on January 1, 2002, replacing the French franc. The euro is divided into 100 cents. Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, plus EUR 1 and EUR 2. Banknotes come in EUR 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500, though the EUR 500 note has been phased out and is rarely seen. Each country mints euros with a national design on one side (the French coins feature Marianne, the sower, or a tree), but all euro coins are valid throughout the Eurozone. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted throughout France, and card payment has become the dominant method since the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated cashless adoption. France was actually a pioneer in chip-and-PIN technology (the Carte Bleue system), so chip-based cards are universally accepted. Contactless payment (sans contact) is available at most terminals for transactions under EUR 50. Visa and Mastercard are accepted virtually everywhere — restaurants, shops, supermarkets, toll booths, parking meters, and even many market stalls. American Express is accepted at hotels, upscale restaurants, and department stores but rejected at many smaller businesses. Discover and JCB cards have very limited acceptance. Important note for American travelers: while France fully supports chip-and-PIN cards, some older American chip-and-signature cards can occasionally cause issues at unmanned terminals (autoroute toll booths, train station ticket machines, automated gas pumps) that require a PIN. Before your trip, ensure your bank has assigned a four-digit PIN to your credit card and that you know it. Also notify your bank of your travel dates to prevent fraud blocks on your card. Consider bringing a card from a bank that does not charge foreign transaction fees — many US cards charge 3% on international purchases. Banks like Charles Schwab, Capital One, and certain travel cards (Chase Sapphire, for example) waive these fees. ATMs (distributeurs automatiques de billets, often abbreviated DAB) are found throughout France in banks, post offices, shopping centers, and train stations. Your home bank card with a Visa or Mastercard logo will work at French ATMs. Use ATMs attached to banks rather than standalone machines in tourist areas, which may charge higher fees. When the ATM asks whether to charge you in euros or your home currency, always choose euros — the 'dynamic currency conversion' option in your home currency uses a terrible exchange rate. Typical ATM withdrawal limits are EUR 300-500 per day. Currency exchange bureaus (bureaux de change) exist at airports, train stations, and in tourist areas, but their rates are generally poor compared to simply using your debit card at an ATM. Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports have exchange counters, but these are among the worst rates you will find. If you must exchange cash, look for bureaux in central Paris along the Champs-Elysees or Rue de Rivoli and compare rates. The Banque de France provides reference exchange rates. Cash remains useful for small purchases, markets, some bakeries, taxis (though most now accept cards), tipping, and as a backup. Carrying EUR 50-100 in small notes (EUR 5, 10, 20) is sensible. Markets, especially food markets and flea markets (marches aux puces), often prefer cash, particularly at smaller stalls. Some very small businesses and rural establishments may not accept cards for purchases under EUR 5-10. Banking hours in France are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00, though some branches close for lunch (12:00-14:00) and open on Saturday mornings. Banks are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Post offices (La Poste) also offer basic banking services and currency exchange. Sales tax (TVA, taxe sur la valeur ajoutee) is included in all displayed prices in France — what you see is what you pay. The standard TVA rate is 20%. Non-EU residents can claim a VAT refund (detaxe) on purchases exceeding EUR 100 at a single store on the same day. Ask for a detaxe form at the shop, then validate it electronically at the airport (using the PABLO kiosks) before checking in for your departure flight.

France uses the euro (EUR), the common currency of the Eurozone, which France adopted on January 1, 2002, replacing the French franc. The euro is divided into 100 cents. Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, plus EUR 1 and EUR 2. Banknotes come in EUR 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500, though the EUR 500 note has been phased out and is rarely seen. Each country mints euros with a national design on one side (the French coins feature Marianne, the sower, or a tree), but all euro coins are valid throughout the Eurozone. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted throughout France, and card payment has become the dominant method since the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated cashless adoption. France was actually a pioneer in chip-and-PIN technology (the Carte Bleue system), so chip-based cards are universally accepted. Contactless payment (sans contact) is available at most terminals for transactions under EUR 50. Visa and Mastercard are accepted virtually everywhere — restaurants, shops, supermarkets, toll booths, parking meters, and even many market stalls. American Express is accepted at hotels, upscale restaurants, and department stores but rejected at many smaller businesses. Discover and JCB cards have very limited acceptance. Important note for American travelers: while France fully supports chip-and-PIN cards, some older American chip-and-signature cards can occasionally cause issues at unmanned terminals (autoroute toll booths, train station ticket machines, automated gas pumps) that require a PIN. Before your trip, ensure your bank has assigned a four-digit PIN to your credit card and that you know it. Also notify your bank of your travel dates to prevent fraud blocks on your card. Consider bringing a card from a bank that does not charge foreign transaction fees — many US cards charge 3% on international purchases. Banks like Charles Schwab, Capital One, and certain travel cards (Chase Sapphire, for example) waive these fees. ATMs (distributeurs automatiques de billets, often abbreviated DAB) are found throughout France in banks, post offices, shopping centers, and train stations. Your home bank card with a Visa or Mastercard logo will work at French ATMs. Use ATMs attached to banks rather than standalone machines in tourist areas, which may charge higher fees. When the ATM asks whether to charge you in euros or your home currency, always choose euros — the 'dynamic currency conversion' option in your home currency uses a terrible exchange rate. Typical ATM withdrawal limits are EUR 300-500 per day. Currency exchange bureaus (bureaux de change) exist at airports, train stations, and in tourist areas, but their rates are generally poor compared to simply using your debit card at an ATM. Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports have exchange counters, but these are among the worst rates you will find. If you must exchange cash, look for bureaux in central Paris along the Champs-Elysees or Rue de Rivoli and compare rates. The Banque de France provides reference exchange rates. Cash remains useful for small purchases, markets, some bakeries, taxis (though most now accept cards), tipping, and as a backup. Carrying EUR 50-100 in small notes (EUR 5, 10, 20) is sensible. Markets, especially food markets and flea markets (marches aux puces), often prefer cash, particularly at smaller stalls. Some very small businesses and rural establishments may not accept cards for purchases under EUR 5-10. Banking hours in France are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00, though some branches close for lunch (12:00-14:00) and open on Saturday mornings. Banks are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Post offices (La Poste) also offer basic banking services and currency exchange. Sales tax (TVA, taxe sur la valeur ajoutee) is included in all displayed prices in France — what you see is what you pay. The standard TVA rate is 20%. Non-EU residents can claim a VAT refund (detaxe) on purchases exceeding EUR 100 at a single store on the same day. Ask for a detaxe form at the shop, then validate it electronically at the airport (using the PABLO kiosks) before checking in for your departure flight.