Guide to the Euro (EUR): Countries, Cash, Travel and Exchange Rates
Understand where the euro is used, what moves EUR exchange rates and how to compare the total cost of euro cash, card spending and international transfers.
Updated for Bulgaria's 2026 euro adoption
The euro at a glance
The euro (EUR) is the shared currency of 21 of the European Union's 27 member states. Bulgaria became the newest member of the euro area on 1 January 2026. The euro is also used in several non-EU countries and territories, but using the currency does not automatically make a country part of the euro area.
The practical takeaway
For travel or a euro transfer, compare the amount received after every fee—not just the advertised exchange rate. Pay in euros when a card terminal or ATM offers an on-the-spot conversion into your home currency, unless you have checked that conversion and know it is cheaper.
Quick facts
What to know about EUR
01
21 EU members
The euro area has 21 EU member states following Bulgaria's adoption of the currency on 1 January 2026.
02
EUR and €
EUR is the ISO currency code. The symbol is €. One euro is divided into 100 cents.
03
1999 and 2002
The euro launched for accounting and electronic payments in 1999. Euro banknotes and coins entered circulation in 2002.
04
One monetary policy
The Eurosystem—the European Central Bank and the national central banks of euro-area members—sets and implements monetary policy for the euro area.
05
More than the EU
Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City use the euro under formal agreements. Montenegro and Kosovo use it without a formal monetary agreement.
06
Not all Europe uses EUR
EU membership, the euro area and geographical Europe are different groups. Always check the destination's actual currency before travelling or paying an invoice.
Membership checked July 2026
Which countries are in the euro area?
The euro area consists only of EU member states that have adopted the euro. It is not interchangeable with “the EU” or “Europe”.
| Adoption | Euro-area members |
|---|---|
| 1999 founders | Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain |
| 2001–2009 | Greece (2001), Slovenia (2007), Cyprus and Malta (2008), Slovakia (2009) |
| 2011–2015 | Estonia (2011), Latvia (2014), Lithuania (2015) |
| 2023–2026 | Croatia (2023), Bulgaria (2026) |
EU countries outside the euro area
Six EU members do not currently use EUR
Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Sweden remain outside the euro area. Denmark has a treaty opt-out; the others have not yet adopted the currency.
Countries using EUR outside the EU
Currency use is not membership
Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City have monetary agreements with the EU. Montenegro and Kosovo also use the euro, but neither is an EU member or part of the euro area.
For the current official membership list, see the European Commission's EU countries and the euro page.
Travel decision panel
Cash, card or conversion before departure?
There is no single cheapest method for every traveller. The result depends on the card's foreign-transaction fee, its exchange-rate method, ATM charges, cash exchange margins and how much unused cash is converted back.
Cash
Useful as a backup
Cash can help with small merchants, tips and situations where a terminal is unavailable. Compare the buy rate and any commission, and avoid carrying more than you expect to use.
Debit or travel card
Check the full fee chain
Review the card's FX fee, exchange-rate method and ATM terms. An ATM operator may add its own charge even when the card provider advertises fee-free withdrawals.
Credit card
Convenient, but terms vary
Check foreign-transaction fees and whether cash withdrawals are treated as cash advances. Interest and cash-advance charges can make an ATM withdrawal expensive.
At the checkout or ATM
Avoid the easy conversion trap
- Choose EUR when offered a choice of currencies. A terminal or ATM conversion into your home currency is dynamic currency conversion (DCC).
- Read the ATM screen before accepting. It should disclose any operator fee and may present DCC as a convenient “guaranteed” home-currency amount.
- Let your own card provider do the conversion. This is often the cleaner comparison, although your card's own FX fees still apply.
- Keep a small alternative payment method. Card acceptance, offline terminals and ATM availability vary by place and merchant.
- Check the destination currency. A trip to Europe does not necessarily mean you need euros.
Sending or receiving EUR
Compare euro transfers by the outcome
Two providers can quote the same transfer fee but deliver different euro amounts because their customer exchange rates differ. A “fee-free” transfer can still include a margin in the rate.
01
Fix the comparison inputs
Use the same sending currency, amount, payment method, destination and quote time for every provider.
02
Record the recipient amount
Check how many euros are expected to arrive after the provider's fee and any disclosed deductions.
03
Check the route and timing
Compare funding fees, delivery estimate, rate-lock period, transfer limits and the possibility of intermediary or recipient-bank charges.
Live comparison
Compare current euro exchange costs
The market rate is a useful reference, but it is not normally the rate a consumer receives. Use the calculator to compare the estimated total cost for the same amount and currency route.
Exchange-rate context
What can move the euro?
EUR does not have a single “strong” or “weak” value. Its performance is always measured against another currency, and different EUR pairs can move in different directions.
ECB
Interest-rate expectations
Changes in inflation, wage growth and ECB policy expectations can alter the relative appeal of euro-denominated assets.
Growth
Economic performance
Business activity, employment, consumer demand and differences between euro-area economies can influence expectations for growth and policy.
Global
Risk and other currencies
US dollar moves, geopolitical risk, energy prices, trade conditions and policy decisions outside the euro area can all affect EUR pairs.
Planning a payment? A live chart shows what has happened, not what must happen next. If the timing matters, set a target budget and compare providers rather than relying on a short-term currency forecast.
Banknotes and coins
Euro cash in circulation
Current Europa-series banknotes are €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200. Older first-series notes remain legal tender. The €500 note is no longer issued, but it remains legal tender and can be exchanged at a euro-area national central bank.
Banknotes
Common designs
Euro banknotes have the same designs across the euro area. Security features vary by denomination and series.
Coins
Common and national sides
The eight denominations are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, €1 and €2. Coins have a common side and a national side and can be used throughout the euro area.
Bottom line
Treat the exchange rate and fees as one price
Whether you are buying travel cash, paying by card or sending a large euro transfer, compare the final result for the same transaction. Check who performs the conversion, which fees can be added along the route and how many euros will actually be available at the end.
Official sources
- European Commission: EU countries and the euro
- European Commission: What is the euro area?
- European Central Bank: Our money
- European Central Bank: Current banknotes
- European Central Bank: Euro coins
Factual review completed 28 July 2026. Product fees, card terms and exchange rates can change; check current provider terms before transacting.
Disclaimer: Please note any provider recommendations, currency forecasts or any opinions of our authors should not be taken as a reference to buy or sell any financial product.