The Best Debit and Credit Cards for European Travelers
From Amex to Revolut: the ultimate guide for Europeans
For us Europeans, there are not a lot of great credit card options
Especially compared to our neighbors in North America.
There, it sometimes feels like an obsession to collect the most credit cards possible, profit from welcome bonuses, and get as many points as you can for free stays or cheap airline upgrades.
If you’re looking for such a guide, we suggest you look elsewhere.
However, if you’re interested in checking out some of the best travel debit and credit card options for European citizens, you’re in the right place!
American Express: Your (Only) Way to Points
American Express cards are one of the few cards in Europe where you can save points when spending. Spending on their cards earns you Membership Rewards (MR) points, which you can swap for hotel stays, flights, or upgrades. Here’s what’s on offer, though fees might vary across countries:
Blue Card: (€0/month) Every two euros spent earns 1MR point.
Green Card: (€5-6.5/month) Each euro spent also earns 1MR point
Gold Card: (€12-20/month) Each euro spent also earns 1MR point.
Platinum Card: (€55-65/month) Every euro spent earns you 1MR point.
The more you pay, the more perks you get, such as travel insurance (came in very handy when Mike missed his flight in Abu Dhabi 😉), car insurance (which will come in handy for our upcoming trip to Canada!), dining credits, and lounge access. The Platinum plan, for instance, boasts benefits up to €3175.
In some countries, like France and the Netherlands, you can get branded cards like the AirFrance-KLM ones, perfect for racking up Flying Blue miles and even earning XP points yearly.
Entry Card: (€0/month) Each euro spent earns at least 0.5 FB Miles.
Silver Card: (~€6.5/month). Yearly 15XP bonus. Each euro spent earns at least 0.8 FB Miles.
Gold Card: (~€15/month). Yearly 30XP bonus. Every euro spent earns at least 1 FB Miles.
Are you considering signing up for an Amex Gold Flying Blue Card? You now get 6k miles when you sign up for the Gold Card through my referral link
Platinum Card: (~€55/month). Yearly 60XP bonus. Every euro spent earns at least 1.5 FB Miles (you earn more with partners, such as AirFrance-KLM Tickets, Hertz car rental, etc.
Are you considering signing up for an Amex Platinum Flying Blue Card? You now get 12k miles when you sign up for the Platinum Card through my referral link
One of the best perks of Amex cards? Amex doesn’t cap your spending. They adjust your limit based on your spending habits and payment history. Just remember, they're not as universally accepted as Visa or Mastercard, and their currency conversion fees can be slightly higher.
Recommendation: Big spender? Frequent flyer? Amex might be your match, offering a chance to earn miles and snag extra perks for a monthly fee. Just be mindful that Amex is not accepted everywhere in the world.
Revolut: The Traveler’s Best Companion
Based in Lithuania and open to all Europeans, Revolut is shaking things up. Though they don’t offer credit cards, their Mastercard and Visa-backed cards mean you're welcome pretty much everywhere. Here’s the rundown of their plans:
Standard: (€0/month) Comes with a slew of benefits including free virtual cards and up to €200 or 5 cash withdrawals without fees.
Plus: (€3.99/month) same as Standard, you have some additional buyer protections and a higher limit on fee-free cash withdrawals.
Premium: (€9.99/month) customizable cards, free memberships for apps like NordVPN & Tinder, decreased fees when dealing with foreign currencies & more.
Metal: (€18.99/month) customizable metal card, increased benefits compared to Premium
Ultra: (€50/month) platinum-plated card, and €4,500+ in annual benefits
Are you considering signing up for Revolut? Great news! You can use my referral link to set up your account. Full transparency: if you use my link, I'll receive a €70 reward from Revolut if you meet all conditions (see the offer for full details)
Recommendation: If foreign currency withdrawals are your thing, Revolut’s got your back, saving you more than its small monthly fee. Want to make your friends jealous? Go for the Metal card. Just be mindful that Revolut charges a weekend fee, regardless of the plan you choose.
N26: The Smart Banker’s Choice
Germany’s N26 is making waves across Europe, offering Mastercard-backed debit cards that promise global acceptance without the credit card fuss. They’ve got four main plans:
N26 Standard: (€0/month) You get a free (virtual) debit card. You can also choose to pay a one-off €10 delivery fee for the physical edition.
N26 Smart: (€4.9/month) same as the free tier, but the physical card is now free and has 5 colors, and you get additional benefits for banking.
N26 You: (€9.9/month) same as the Smart tier, but additional banking benefits, such as insurance.
N26 Metal: (€16.9/month) same as the You tier, you get a metal card for free, and additional banking benefits, such as insurance.
Recommendation: N26’s minimal fees are attractive, especially if you’re sticking to the Eurozone since you get 3 withdrawals for free in the Eurozone. For those venturing further, Revolut might be a better choice. But for card use alone, N26’s offerings are hard to beat.
Local Options: Not The Best, But Fine for Most
This bit’s tricky as it varies by country, but many banks offer credit cards with their own set of perks and fees. For example, in the Netherlands, there are credit cards from ABN AMRO, ING, and more.
These cards usually have base fees between €2 and €5 (on top of your normal banking fees) and often come with a relatively low spending limit. Which often means you have to get the higher plan if you’re planning on traveling.
Recommendation: If you don’t want the fuss of having multiple bank accounts, and you need a credit card for your occasional travel. Checking the credit card plan with your bank can be a good idea. Just be mindful of your spending limit when going abroad!
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