Money in France: Banks, ATMs, cards & currency exchange

Travelling to France from the UK? One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world has it all, from cosmopolitan cities and delicious cuisine to warm, sandy beaches.

Whether you’re heading to France for a short break or relocating for good, you’ll need to know how to get and spend your money.

Read on to find out everything about money and currency in France. This includes tips on exchanging currency, finding ATMs and French banks.

So, let’s get started.

Currency in France

The official currency in France is the euro, as it’s one of the founding members of the eurozone.

The French franc was the primary currency in France until 2002, when it was replaced by the euro.

To find out how many euros you can get for your pounds, use our currency converter.

Facts about the currency in France

Here are some useful-to-know facts about the euro in France:

• The euro symbol is € and the ISO code is EUR
• 1 EUR = 100 cents
• Euro coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, as well as €1 and €2
• Euro banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, although €500 notes aren’t issued anymore¹
• Euro cash was introduced on 1st January 2002
• 21 EU countries currently use the euro
• The euro is the second most important currency in the world for borrowing, lending and central bank reserves²
• The euro symbol is inspired by the Greek letter epsilon (Є) and the first letter of the word ‘Europe’

Exchanging currency in France

If you’re travelling to France from the UK, it’s important to choose the best way to exchange your pounds for euros and make sure you’re getting good value for your money.

Tips for exchanging currency in France

To get the most EUR for your GBP, here are some tips for exchanging currency in France:

1. Get familiar with the mid-market exchange rate

The best way to ensure a fair conversion deal, avoid hidden fees and unfavourable rates is to understand the mid-market exchange rate.

By using an online currency converter, you’ll get an idea what your money is actually worth and be better prepared to spot typical tourist traps. Use this figure as a benchmark to compare against the retail rates offered to you.

Explore live exchange rates for EUR.

2. Avoid exchanging money at airports or hotels

Exchanging money as soon as you land might be the most convenient option, but the exchange rates are usually rather poor. If you need to, exchange a small amount of cash at the airport and the rest elsewhere.

Hotel exchange rates will likely also be poor and include higher fees. Instead, choose a bank or dedicated currency exchange service, but be aware that they’re often closed on weekends and holidays.

3. For quick cash, an ATM is usually the fairest deal

Withdrawing cash from an ATM is often one of the best options when travelling overseas. As long as you choose to be charged in the local currency in France instead of pounds for the withdrawal, you’ll likely get a fair exchange rate.

Make sure to watch out for any ATM operator fees and foreign transaction fees your bank may apply. These are more common if you have a UK-issued card that isn’t designed for overseas use.

4. Check your bank notes aren’t damaged

If you carry hard cash to exchange while you’re in France, then make sure that the notes you have are crisp and clean. Anything less might be refused.

Using credit cards and debit cards in France

All major credit and debit cards are accepted in France. Hotels, stores, bars and restaurants in cities and major tourist areas will take cards happily. Occasionally you might find an outlet that doesn’t accept Amex, so if this is your main card, it’s worth asking before you commit to a purchase.

Some smaller cafes and markets might operate on a cash-only basis. Carry some euros on you just in case, especially if you’re visiting smaller towns.

It’s worth letting your bank or card provider know you’ll be travelling. Otherwise a sudden spike in overseas transactions might result in your card being blocked until your bank is able to contact you.

The Wise card is a great option for spending while in France, as it can be used everywhere that cards are accepted and has no foreign transaction fees. Even better, it automatically converts the currency at the mid-market rate whenever you spend, for just a small conversion fee*.

And if you’re thinking about opening an account in France, the Wise account could be a convenient and money-saving option.

ATMs in France

You’ll have no problem finding an ATM in France if you’re visiting any city or larger town. You may only encounter difficulties in very rural areas, where you can use the ATM locators below to find the nearest machine:

• Visa ATM locator
• MasterCard ATM locator
• Amex ATM locator

As with credit and debit card spending, you may be subject to poor exchange rates if you choose to be charged in your home currency when withdrawing cash.

ATMs are called distributeur automatique de billets (DABs) in France.

Banks in France

When you travel to France, it’s worth checking if your home bank has a branch near your destination. If they don’t, they might still work in partnership with another local bank in France. In that case, you could access bank services at a reduced fee when you’re abroad.

Here are some of the most popular banks in France:

• BNP Paribas
• Crédit Agricole
• Société Générale
• Caisse d’Epargne
• Banque Populaire

See a full list of banks in France in our article below.

📚 Banks in France

Banks in France for expats

If you’re looking to open up a bank account in France, some of the most expat-friendly banks to check out include:

• Crédit Agricole - CA has a banking service called Britline designed for UK expats and English speakers in general
• BNP Paribas - France’s largest bank has a division dedicated to international clients, so it’s easy to get support in English

Send and spend money smoothly in France with Wise

A bank isn’t the only way to manage your money abroad. An alternative such as Wise could be easier and even cheaper to use.

Open a Wise multi-currency account and you can hold, send, spend, receive and convert money in 40+ currencies at once - and all online.

You can also send money back to the UK and worldwide at the mid-market exchange rates with low fees*.

The linked Wise card is ideal for international spending in France and 150+ countries in currencies. It automatically converts your money to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate, whenever you spend.

Plus, you can keep track of everything on the move using the handy Wise app.

Open your Wise account 🌍

Additional currency in France FAQs

Still have questions about money, banks and currency in France? You might find the answer in our FAQs below.

Should I exchange money before I travel to France?

You can wait until you arrive in France to buy euros, but it’s a good idea to carry a small amount of cash in euros with you when you arrive.

Is it better to carry cash or card in France?

If you’re visiting some of France’s large cities, you’ll be able to use your card most of the time. However, it’s good to have at least some cash on you.

📚 Cash or card in France

How much money can you take to France?

You can bring up to €10,000 into France without declaring it.³

What currency did France have before the Euro?

Before joining the eurozone, France used the French franc (FRF).

Sources used:

1. European Central Bank - current banknotes
2. European Union - the euro internationally
3. French Customs - declaring cash at customs

Sources last checked on date: 13-Jan-2026