Buy Euros Online

You can use the Euro in 20 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

Wherever you’re visiting in Europe, it’s a good idea to take both cash and cards. While card payments are accepted in most developed areas, this shouldn’t be relied on. You should always have cash on hand for tipping and visiting more remote areas.

As a large continent, prices vary widely across Europe. A coffee in Monte Carlo is likely to cost roughly €3 (around £2.50), while the same drink in Vilnius will only set you back around €2.05 (£1.71).

That depends on where you’re visiting. Expect to only be able to use Euros in Eurozone countries, but other European currencies like the Polish złoty, Czech koruna or Swedish krona, Norwegian krone and Icelandic kronur may be accepted in areas near the country borders. You shouldn’t, however, rely on this.

For short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area, you don’t need a visa as long as both of the following apply: you're visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons, or you're staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period.

Again, it depends where you’re travelling to in Europe. But generally speaking, tipping is more appreciated than expected. It’s polite to tip around 10% of the total bill.

Europe has a diverse range of languages and cultures. English is a common second language across the continent, but Europe’s 24 official native tongues include: 

Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish.

Security levels vary across Europe, but it is generally considered a safe place to visit, though it’s always wise to check and follow government travel advisories before planning your trip.

You can also visit the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

That all depends on where you’re visiting and what you’re hoping to do when you get there. To ski through the Alps, aim to travel December to April. To soak up the sun in Marseilles, choose June to August for peak sun. The capital cities offer attractions all year-round, whether taking a spring walk through Montmartre in spring or spending a cosy autumnal afternoon in an Amsterdam cafe.