Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for Germany
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Around €0.61 to the dollar. Germany is mid-priced by European standards - cheaper than France for food, dearer for trains booked late.
Mostly - cards work in cities and tourist areas in Germany, but you still need cash outside them.
5 travel card options for Germany, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday
Orange Everyday
22k0% with monthly criteria
ubank Spend
Spend account
9k0% international fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Transaction account
6k0% international fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | Rebated if you meet the monthly criteria | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | $0 from ubank, ATM operator fees may apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | $0 from Macquarie | $0 |
Paying for things in Germany
Can you pay by card in Germany?
Improving but still the weakest in Western Europe. Assume any small independent business may be cash-only, and check before you order.
Cash and ATMs in Germany
Sparkasse, Volksbank and Deutsche Bank ATMs are reliable and mostly fee-free. Avoid Euronet machines.
Carry €100-€150. This is the one Western European country where running out of cash is a real inconvenience.
Do you tip in Germany?
Round up to the nearest euro or add 5-10% for good service, and say the total you want to pay as you hand over the money rather than leaving coins on the table.
Worth knowing about paying in Germany
Choose euros over Australian dollars when a card terminal offers you the choice.
Before you pay for anything in Germany
Pay in Euro or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
How much cash to take overseas
What Germany needs in cash, next to 35 other destinations.
How to avoid ATM fees overseas
Three fees stack on a withdrawal. Two of them are avoidable outright.
What one Australian dollar buys in Germany
€0.62 EUR per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More Germany essentials
Germany visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Germany
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Germany eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Germany travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Germany airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in Germany
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Germany travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Germany
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Germany money & payments FAQs
Is Germany really still a cash country?
Partly, yes. Card acceptance is the weakest in Western Europe: bakeries, bars, kiosks and small restaurants are often cash-only, and a sign reading "Nur Barzahlung" is common. Carry EUR 100-150 and ask before you order.
Planning Germany?
We will send you the Germany guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.