Travel Money In

Travel Money in Germany

What is the local currency in Germany?

The currency of Germany is the Euro (EUR.) One Euro is 0.90 GBP (as of July 3 2020).

Do I tip whilst in Germany?

In Germany, tipping is accepted and appreciated for exceptional service. However, on most occasions, a ‘round-up’ to the nearest Euro will suffice.

Caxton conducted a study on Tipping etiquette, results for Germany show that a guideline expectation for tipping hotel staff is approximately 3-5 euro tip per day, any tour guides would be an additional 10% added on to the bill, but for bars, restaurants or taxis, a rounding up to the nearest 1, 5 or 10 euros will be enough.

View our tipping guide for more advice on tipping abroad.

Using cash in Germany

When travelling, our experts would recommend always bringing a small amount of cash with you on every trip, for initial taxi transfers or hotel deposits etc. The rest of your travel money should be put onto a Caxton multi-currency card, for safe and secure spending.

Cash is no longer king in Germany (even more so after COVID-19,) and almost all establishments accept credit/debit cards.

Most international banks and money outlets now charge a fee for using ATM machines, as do most card providers. Taking a travel pre-paid card and a credit card is recommended as Caxton does not charge for international ATM use regardless of sum or number of times, (but check with your card provider about charges.)

We would recommend still bringing your bank card on your trip as a backup option. However, if you decide to take your bank card, we recommend telling your bank before you go so the transaction isn’t identified as fraudulent, but be prepared for fees and high exchange rates.

All major cards are accepted widely in Germany at key tourist hubs.

The price of food and drink in Germany

As a rough guideline, we’ve put together a list of the costs of spending an average day in Germany:

Domestic beer = €2.50

One-way ticket on local transport = one-way fare is approx. €2.80

Meal, inexpensive restaurant = €10.00

Bottle of wine (mid-range) = €5.00

Bottle of water = €2.00

What happens if I have my wallet stolen whilst in Germany?

Germany is known to be a safe country with friendly and helpful people, but this shouldn’t stop you from being smart whilst you travel. If the majority of your cash is on a prepaid card, this will be automatically protected. However, in case the worse happens, here are the list of major debit/credit card ‘lost and stolen’ numbers:

HSBC/First Direct - +44 1442 422929

Natwest - +44 1268 500 813

Lloyds - +44 1702 278270

Barclays - +442476842099

Santander - +44 1908 237 963

The cost of tourist attractions in Germany

Some examples of Germany's most popular tourist attractions are:

Cologne Cathedral: entrance fee €4, concessions €2.

Oktoberfest: Germany's most popular annual beer festival doesn't have an entrance fee, it's free to wander around. However, a particular part of the festival - The “Oide Wiesn”, is separated from the main Wiesn and costs 3 euros entry.

Brandenburg Gate: Undoubtedly Berlin's most iconic landmark, it's free to see so worth adding to your Berlin bucket-list.

What can I do with spare currency in Germany?

Whilst in Germany, you may as well spend any remaining Euro, if only small amount, on some traditional German souvenirs, such as:

Beer stein
Sauerkraut
Dirndl or Lederhosen
Bratwurst sausage

History of the Euro

The Euro came into existence on 1 January 1999 - though it had been a goal of the European Union since the 1960s. Notes and coins didn’t begin circulation until 2002.
Today the euro is the sole currency of 19 EU member states, with the original dozen being joined by: Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia. These countries constitute the "eurozone".
The rise of the Euro in its short lifespan is remarkable with it now being the second-largest reserve currency as well as the second-most traded currency in the world after the United States dollar.

Get your Holiday Money Delivered

Beat the queues with the Caxton Cash Delivery service. With next day cash delivery to your home and 58 different currencies, it couldn’t be easier to get your holiday money sorted. Simply Login to your Caxton account and select ‘Cash Delivery’ to get started.

Travel the world with the Caxton prepaid travel card. Experts in Travel Money.

Check out our Travel Money Guides for around the world:

Alternatively, if lederhosen isn’t your thing, you can use Caxton’s buy back guarantee to get rid of any unused Euro. By doing this you ensure that if the exchange rate moves against you, you won't lose out.