Adam McCann, Financial Writer
@adam_mcan
The best credit card for travel in Europe is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card because it gives 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on purchases, plus an initial bonus of 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, worth $750 in travel. Chase Sapphire Preferred also has a $0 foreign transaction fee. The annual fee is $95, and you need good credit or better for approval.
If you’re looking to rely on a popular European airline, the British Airways Credit Card and the Lufthansa Credit Card are both good choices. There are plenty of other cards capable of saving you lots of money on European travel, too.
Best Credit Cards for Travel in Europe
- Best Overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardChase Sapphire Preferred® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Rates & FeesBest for Travel Rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One Venture Rewards Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Best for High Spenders: Chase Sapphire Reserve®Chase Sapphire Reserve®Learn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Excellent Credit: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® CardU.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® CardLearn MoreLearn More
- Best for British Airways: British Airways Credit CardBritish Airways Credit CardLearn MoreLearn More
- Best for Lufthansa Airlines: Lufthansa Credit CardLufthansa Credit CardLearn MoreLearn More
- Best for Hotel Rewards: The World of Hyatt Credit CardThe World of Hyatt Credit CardLearn MoreLearn More
Each of the best credit cards for travel in Europe has its own unique perks. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers an initial bonus of 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months and gives 1 - 10 points per $1 spent on purchases.
One thing’s for sure, though: The best credit cards for travel in Europe have no foreign transaction fees. You don’t want to be charged an extra 3% on all of your European purchases, after all. It’s also best to get either a Visa or a Mastercard, as other networks have lower rates of international acceptance.
Jack Thorne, Member
@jackthorne
I think VentureOne is also great. At the end of the day though, it depends on your score. Just look for anything that has no foreign fees, and that belongs on Visa or Mastercard.
People also ask
Do I need to get a special European credit card before going to Europe?
No, you don’t need a special European credit card before going to Europe. But you do want a card on a network that’s widely accepted in your destination of choice. Mastercard and Visa are your best options, as they’re both accepted pretty much everywhere in over 200 countries and territories. American Express is accepted in all European countries but may not be accepted by the specific merchant you’re doing business with, particularly if it’s a small operation....
read full answerWhat are the major credit card foreign transaction fees?
The major credit card foreign transaction fees range from 0% to 3% of each purchase processed internationally. The average credit card’s foreign fee is roughly 1.5%. Some credit card companies do not charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards, including Capital One, Discover and USAA. Other credit card companies charge foreign transaction fees on some, or even most, of their cards. But each of the 10 largest credit card issuers has at least...
read full answerHow do I avoid foreign transaction fees?
The best way to avoid foreign transaction fees is to use a debit or credit card that waives foreign fees when you're traveling abroad or making online purchases from international retailers. About 25% of credit card offers don't have foreign transaction fees, so there’s no reason to pay the extra charge.
How to avoid foreign transaction fees
- Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fee
- Understand that foreign fees can...
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