Can I use my credit card in France?

Romantic Paris. Fragrant Grasse. Historic Loire. Beachy Corsica. No wonder France is a top tourist destination. But how will you pay for things while you’re there?

The good news is that credit cards are widely accepted—even for tourists who may not have access to Cartes Bancaires, the national payment system common to French residents.

What you’ll learn:

• Credit cards are widely accepted in France.

• Using a credit card can be easier than managing and handling euros, the currency of the European Union and France.

• Many cards come with security features that can help if your card is lost or stolen.

• Some credit card issuers charge foreign transaction fees for purchases made abroad. Capital One doesn’t. View important rates and disclosures.

In general, credit cards are widely accepted in France and throughout Europe. Whether your card is accepted can depend on the payment network. Although having cash can come in handy, using credit cards in France may be a more convenient option.

Depending on the credit card, you might incur fees when making purchases abroad. Here’s a closer look at types of fees.

Some credit card issuers may charge a foreign transaction fee when you make a purchase outside the U.S. The fee is typically 1%-3% of the purchase amount. Capital One doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. View important rates and disclosures.

Credit card issuers can be charged currency conversion fees as part of an international transaction. These fees are typically about 1% of the purchase price. Capital One doesn’t pass on currency conversion fees to its cardholders. View important rates and disclosures.

Another type of currency conversion is dynamic currency conversion. This service fee is typically charged by a merchant or an ATM. And it gives people the option to convert the purchase price from euros to dollars directly at the payment terminal. It’s not necessary to do so, and you’ll typically have the option to decline it before completing your purchase.

There are some advantages to using your credit card when traveling in France, including:

• Simplified payments: Using a credit card means you don’t have to worry about converting your U.S. dollars to euros when you’re traveling internationally.

• Security: Many credit cards come with fraud detection and other systems to help protect your account. And if your Capital One card is lost or stolen, you can use the Capital One Mobile app to lock your card and prevent others from using it. Plus, Capital One offers $0 fraud liability for unauthorized charges.

• Rewards: Some credit cards—like cash back or travel credit cards—let you earn rewards on purchases you make abroad. If you’re a Capital One Venture X cardholder, you can earn as much as 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights, vacation rentals, and activities booked through Capital One Travel.

• Easy to carry: As opposed to cash, a credit card’s thin profile means there’s less to keep up with. And if you’re using a digital wallet you can access your account through a phone or smartwatch.

Credit cards are widely accepted and generally easy to use in France. Even so, having cash on hand could give you another option for things like transportation or purchases at local markets where credit cards might not be accepted. 

Debit cards could be another option thanks to chip-and-PIN technology.

Whether you’re strolling the streets of Paris or sunning in St. Tropez, you can make purchases with your credit card in France. That could be easier than dealing with euros, if you’re not familiar with them. And with the right card, you won’t pay foreign transaction fees either.

Capital One offers travel rewards credit cards with exclusive benefits and elevated rewards that can help make your travel experience more enjoyable.

Explore travel rewards cards with unlimited miles you can actually use.