Currency in France: A Practical Euro Guide for New Zealand Travellers (2026)

TL;DR

• The euro (EUR, €) in France is the official currency, and euros are used for everything from everyday purchases to public transport, tolls, and ticket machines.
• Cards are widely accepted in French cities, with chip-and-PIN commonly used, while contactless, Apple Pay, and Google Pay work at most compatible terminals. Carrying some cash is still suggested for markets, small businesses, rural areas, and places that require coins.
• Keep smaller euro notes and coins handy. €5, €10, and €20 notes are perfect for everyday spending, but the €100 and €200 notes can be difficult for smaller businesses to change. The €500 note is no longer issued.
• Use bank-branded ATMs where possible, and be alert for dynamic currency conversion. When a terminal offers to charge you in NZD or EUR, choosing euros lets your own bank handle the conversion rather than the ATM or merchant terminal.
• New Zealand travellers should prepare before departure by memorising their card PIN, carrying a backup card, notifying their bank of travel dates, and keeping an emergency contact number separate from their wallet.
• Cash of €10,000 or more must be declared when entering France, and this requirement applies across the wider EU.
• The main takeaway for Kiwis is to use cards for most spending, but keep some euros available for smaller or cash-only purchases, while taking basic precautions when withdrawing cash or dealing with unfamiliar payment terminals.

Currency in France (2026): the quick answer for NZ travellers

When travelling from New Zealand, it’s important to know what currency you’ll be dealing with when you land at your destination. France’s official currency is the euro (EUR), shown with the symbol €. Cards are accepted almost everywhere when paying in France, but it’s worth keeping a little cash on hand for small shops, markets, and rural areas, and ATMs are common in most towns. Cash still matters even in a card-friendly country, since a card reader that’s offline or a stall that only takes coins can catch you out at the wrong moment. At Remitly, we know a new currency is just one more thing to think about before a trip, so here’s a short playbook for spending confidently in France.

Before you land, a few small preparations make the first day easier:

• Around €20 – €50 in small euro notes, so you can cover a taxi, a snack, or a coin-only locker as soon as you arrive
• A backup card, in case your main one is lost, blocked, or doesn’t work in a particular terminal
• Your card’s PIN memorised. Most French card machines expect chip-and-PIN rather than a signature or a tap function, especially with foreign cards.

Many travellers also compare their options for exchanging currency at New Zealand airports before they fly, since departure lounges aren’t always the most convenient place to sort this out once you’re already through security.

What currency does France use? The euro (EUR)

The official currency of France is the euro (EUR), according to the European Central Bank. It’s the same currency used across most of the European Union, and France has used it as everyday legal tender since 2002, when it replaced the French franc (FRF). You’ll see the euro symbol, €, on menus, price tags, toll roads, and ticket machines throughout the country. If your trip continues into other eurozone countries, like Germany, Italy, or Spain, you won’t need to change currency again along the way. If you’re relocating rather than just visiting, our guide to moving to France from New Zealand covers the longer-term banking steps that you don’t need to worry about on a short trip.

Euro notes and coins you’ll use in France (and what’s practical to carry)

Euro coins and notes look the same in every country that uses them, so once you recognise them in France, you’ll recognise them anywhere else in the eurozone too.

The smaller notes, like the €5, €10, and €20, are the most useful to carry around, since they cover most everyday spending, from a coffee to a train ticket. Larger notes can be awkward for small vendors to break, so it’s worth changing a €100 or €200 note at a bank or larger store rather than a market stall. It’s handy to keep a few coins aside too, since some public toilets, lockers, and short bus or tram rides in France still expect exact change. The European Central Bank stopped issuing the €500 note in 2018–19, though it remains legal tender. You’re unlikely to come across one on a trip to France.

How to pay in France: cards, cash, and mobile wallets

Card payments in France

Chip-and-PIN is the standard way to pay by card in France, so it helps to have your PIN memorised rather than relying on a signature. Cards carrying the Carte Bancaire (CB) mark alongside Visa or Mastercard are the most widely accepted, and American Express is accepted less consistently outside larger hotels and department stores. Some smaller businesses set a minimum card spend, often somewhere around €10 – €15, so consider asking before you tap or insert your card for a small purchase. Don’t be surprised if a cashier asks to see photo ID alongside your card for higher-value purchases, since this is a pretty routine anti-fraud check as opposed to a sign of any problem with your card. Unattended terminals, like those at some train stations and parking machines, can also be fussier about card type, so a backup card is worth having.

Contactless, Apple Pay, and Google Pay

Contactless payments are widely accepted in France, and Apple Pay and Google Pay both work at most terminals that take contactless cards. If a terminal asks you to insert your card instead of tapping, that’s a normal fallback for larger amounts or a random security check, not a rejection of your card. France’s contactless limit is very similar to what New Zealanders are used to at home, though the exact cap can vary by bank and card. When a machine asks whether you’d like to pay in euros or New Zealand dollars, our guide on paying in local currency or NZD when travelling explains why choosing euros is usually the simpler option.

Cash in France

Cards cover most spending in French cities, but cash still has its place, like at some small bakeries, cafes, or market stalls that only take cash. Rural areas, weekend markets, and some public toilets are also easier to navigate with a bit of change on hand. Tipping isn’t expected in the same way it is in some other countries, since a service charge is usually already built into the bill, but rounding up or leaving small change for good service is common and always appreciated rather.

ATMs, bank fees, and common money pitfalls in France

ATMs are easy to find in France, especially the cities and larger towns, and it’s generally a good idea to use ones attached to a bank branch instead of standalone machines in convenience stores or busy tourist areas, which can carry higher fees. Before you travel, let your own bank know your travel dates so a card payment or withdrawal in France doesn’t get mistaken for suspicious activity and blocked partway through your trip. Banks like ANZ, ASB, BNZ, and Westpac NZ might charge their own overseas transaction or withdrawal fees, so you’ll want to check this before departure.

At the ATM, or at a card machine in a shop, you may be asked whether you’d like to withdraw or pay in euros or have the amount converted to New Zealand dollars on the spot, often called dynamic currency conversion. Choosing euros keeps the conversion with your own bank, which tends to be the easier and more transparent option, as opposed to a conversion rate set by the machine or terminal itself.

A few habits go a long way for safety, too:

1. Use ATMs inside a bank or a well-lit, busy area instead of isolated machines
2. Check the card slot for anything loose, unusual, or taped on before inserting your card
3. Cover the keypad with your other hand while entering your PIN
4. Keep an eye on your card and your surroundings, especially in busy tourist spots

If your card is lost or stolen, contact your bank as soon as possible to freeze it, and keep a note of your bank’s international contact number somewhere separate from your wallet in case the card itself goes missing. Our guide to withdrawing cash abroad without high fees has more on keeping ATM costs down wherever you’re travelling.

FAQ: Currency in France for New Zealanders

Can I use New Zealand dollars in France?

No. The euro is the only legal tender in the country, so you’ll need to pay in euros for cash purchases. Cards linked to a NZD account still work, since the conversion happens automatically, but carrying some euros makes small, cash-only purchases much easier.

What is the euro’s symbol and currency code?

The euro’s currency code is EUR, and its symbol is €. You’ll see both used interchangeably on price tags, receipts, and menus throughout France, and either version is easy to recognise once you’ve spotted it a few times.

Should I pay with cards or cash in France?

Cards work for most spending in French cities, so they can comfortably cover the bulk of a trip. It’s still worth carrying some cash for small vendors, weekend markets, and rural areas where card machines aren’t always available or reliable.

Are ATMs easy to find in France?

Yes. ATMs in France are easy to find, especially in cities and larger towns, and bank-branded machines are usually a safer, lower-fee choice than standalone ones in convenience stores or tourist strips.

What does it mean if a card machine asks for euros or NZD?

This is dynamic currency conversion, where the machine or ATM offers to convert your purchase to NZD on the spot. Choosing euros instead usually means your own bank handles the conversion, which tends to be the more transparent option.

Is there a limit on how much cash I can bring into France?

Travellers entering France with €10,000 or more in cash need to declare it at French customs. It’s a rule that applies across the wider EU (EU Regulation 2018/1672), not just France, so it’s worth knowing if you’re carrying a large amount for any reason.

What was France’s currency before the euro?

The currency of France was the French franc (FRF), used until France adopted the euro in 2002. The franc is no longer legal tender and can’t be used for everyday purchases anymore.

Key takeaways: currency in France

• France’s official currency is the euro (EUR), symbol €, used as legal tender since 2002.
• Cards are widely accepted, but small cash purchases are still common in bakeries, markets, and rural areas.
• Bank-branded ATMs are usually the safer, lower-fee choice for cash withdrawals.
• Choosing to pay or withdraw in euros, rather than accepting an on-the-spot NZD conversion, usually keeps costs down and more transparent.
• Cash of €10,000 or more must be declared at French customs, an EU-wide rule.

Final tips for NZ travellers spending in France

Spending in euros isn’t complicated once you know what to expect. Cards will cover most day-to-day purchases, a little cash smooths over the rest, and a few small habits keep your money safer along the way. Before you fly, it helps to confirm your PIN, pack a backup card, let your bank know your travel dates, and save an emergency contact number somewhere other than your wallet.

If you’re also sending money back to New Zealand or supporting family while you’re away, it’s worth understanding how an international money transfer works before you need one in a hurry, because knowing your options for fees and delivery times ahead of time is easier than sorting it out from overseas.

Last reviewed: November 2026