Currency in Germany: Euro Guide for New Zealand Travellers

The currency in Germany is the euro (EUR, €). If you’re visiting from New Zealand, bring a card but keep some euro cash handy too. Cards and mobile payments are increasingly common, but cash is still widely used. This guide from Remitly⁠ covers the euro in Germany, everyday payments, ATMs and what you’ll need when sending money to Germany from NZ.

At a glance

• Germany uses the euro (EUR, €), which is shared by 21 EU countries in 2026.
• Cash is still useful: 45% of recorded everyday payments in Germany were made in cash in 2025.
• Debit cards, contactless payments and mobile wallets are common, but card acceptance can vary by business.
• At an ATM or card terminal, choose EUR if you’re offered a choice between EUR and NZD to avoid dynamic currency conversion.
• For a bank transfer to Germany, you’ll usually need the recipient’s German IBAN. Your provider may also request a BIC/SWIFT code.

What currency does Germany use?

Germany uses the euro, with the currency code EUR and the symbol €. Euro notes and coins replaced the Deutsche Mark as cash in 2002, after the euro had been introduced for accounting and electronic payments in 1999.

Since Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, the euro area has 21 EU member countries. That means euros you withdraw or receive in Germany can also be used in euro-area neighbours such as Austria, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Don’t assume every country near Germany uses the same currency, though. Switzerland uses the Swiss franc, while Czechia uses the Czech koruna. If you’re crossing a border during your trip, check the local currency before you go.

Euro denominations and what is useful to carry

Euro coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent pieces, plus €1 and €2 coins. Current euro banknotes are issued in €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200 denominations.

You may occasionally hear about the €500 note. It is still legal tender and keeps its value, but the European Central Bank no longer issues it. For everyday travel, smaller notes are far more practical.

How to pay in Germany: cash or card?

If you’re deciding between cash or card in Germany, the practical answer is to carry both. Germany is becoming more cashless, but cash hasn’t disappeared. In the Bundesbank‘s latest payment study, 55% of recorded purchases in 2025 were cashless, and 45% were paid in cash.

Debit cards were the second most frequently used individual payment method after cash, with Germany’s domestic Girocard particularly common. For a New Zealand traveller, the important point is that a shop accepting cards doesn’t automatically mean every overseas card will be accepted.

Visa and Mastercard are useful cards to carry, but it’s still worth having cash available for smaller businesses, markets or anywhere your card isn’t accepted. Some businesses may also set a minimum purchase for card payments.

Paying with debit card in Germany

Paying with a debit card in Germany is straightforward at businesses that accept your card network. Look for the Visa or Mastercard logo that matches your NZ-issued card.

Contactless and mobile payments are well established too. Mobile payments made up 10% of recorded payments in Germany in 2025, and Apple Pay was the most frequently used mobile payment method at the point of sale in the Bundesbank study.

Before leaving New Zealand:

1. Check whether your bank wants you to add a travel notification.
2. Review your card’s overseas transaction and ATM withdrawal fees.
3. Check your daily purchase and cash-withdrawal limits.
4. Make sure you know your card PIN.
5. Consider adding an eligible card to Apple Pay or Google Pay as a backup, while still carrying your physical card.

Tipping in Germany

Tipping is common in restaurants, cafés and taxis, but it isn’t usually treated like a fixed service charge. Rounding up the bill or leaving a modest tip for good service is common. When paying at a restaurant, people often tell the server the total amount they want to pay rather than leaving money on the table afterwards.

Cash can make tipping simpler, especially if a card terminal doesn’t offer a tipping option. Keeping a few coins and small notes in your wallet can be useful for this as well as other small cash payments.

Getting cash in Germany: ATMs and fees

ATMs are widely available in Germany and are usually labelled Geldautomat. Before withdrawing, check that the ATM supports your card network and review any fee displayed on screen. Your New Zealand bank may also charge a fee for an overseas withdrawal, so it’s worth checking its terms before you travel. Our guide to withdrawing cash abroad without paying high fees⁠ covers some of the costs to look out for.

There can be two different costs to think about: a fee from your NZ bank for an overseas cash withdrawal and a fee charged by the ATM operator. Check your bank’s current terms before travelling and read the ATM screen carefully before accepting a withdrawal.

If an ATM asks whether you’d like to be charged in NZD or EUR, choosing EUR avoids dynamic currency conversion by the ATM operator. This isn’t about finding a particular exchange rate; it’s simply a way to avoid having the ATM convert the transaction into New Zealand dollars for you. Our guide to paying in local currency versus NZD when travelling abroad explains the difference in more detail.

A few ATM habits can make withdrawals easier:

• Use a machine in a well-lit location and, where practical, an ATM at or inside a bank.
• Shield the keypad when entering your PIN.
• Check the card slot before using the machine and stop if anything looks loose or unusual.
• Read any fee notice before confirming the withdrawal.
• Take your card, cash and receipt before walking away.

Sending money to Germany from NZ

Sending money to Germany from NZ is different from paying for things while you’re travelling. If the recipient is receiving a bank deposit, the most important detail is usually their IBAN, or International Bank Account Number.

A German IBAN has 22 characters and begins with DE. Your transfer provider may also ask for the receiving bank’s BIC/SWIFT code, the recipient’s full legal name or other details needed to process the payment. Requirements can vary depending on how the transfer is being delivered. If you’re new to sending money overseas, our guide to how international money transfers work⁠ explains the process in more detail.

For a bank deposit, have these details ready:

• The recipient’s full legal name as it appears on their account.
• Their German IBAN.
• Their bank’s BIC/SWIFT code if your provider asks for it.
• Any recipient contact details requested during the transfer.
• Your own identification if verification is required.

For the New Zealand-to-Germany corridor, Remitly currently lists bank deposit and cash pickup as local delivery methods. Available options can depend on the recipient and provider, so check the choices shown when you set up the transfer rather than assuming every delivery method will be available.

FAQs

What currency does Germany use?

Germany uses the euro (EUR, €). Euro notes and coins have been Germany’s cash currency since 2002, replacing the Deutsche Mark. Germany is one of 21 EU countries using the euro in 2026, so the same euro cash can be used across the other euro-area member countries.

Can I use my New Zealand debit or credit card in Germany?

Yes, NZ-issued cards can be used where the merchant accepts the card network shown on your card. Visa and Mastercard are useful to carry, but acceptance isn’t universal. Keep some euro cash available as a backup, particularly for smaller businesses or when a card terminal doesn’t accept your card.

Are New Zealand dollars accepted in Germany?

New Zealand dollars aren’t used for normal day-to-day purchases in Germany. Prices are shown in euros, so you’ll need euro cash or a payment card that works internationally. An ATM or card terminal may offer to process a transaction in NZD, but that is dynamic currency conversion rather than NZD being accepted as local currency.

How much cash should I carry in Germany?

There isn’t one amount that suits every traveller. Carry enough euro cash to cover a few smaller purchases if your card isn’t accepted, then adjust based on where you’re travelling and how you prefer to pay. Small notes such as €5, €10 and €20 are generally more practical than large denominations.

Do German ATMs charge fees for New Zealand cards?

They can. Your NZ bank may charge an overseas withdrawal fee, and the German ATM operator may also display its own fee. Charges vary, so check your bank’s current terms before travelling and review the ATM screen before confirming. If you’re offered NZD or EUR, choosing EUR avoids the ATM’s dynamic currency conversion.

What details do I need to send money to a German bank account?

You’ll typically need the recipient’s full legal name and German IBAN. German IBANs contain 22 characters and begin with DE. Depending on your transfer provider, you may also be asked for the receiving bank’s BIC/SWIFT code, recipient contact details and identification information for your own account verification.

Is contactless payment common in Germany?

Yes, contactless and mobile payments are now a normal part of paying in Germany, particularly in larger shops and cities. Mobile payments accounted for 10% of recorded payments in the Bundesbank’s 2025 study. Even so, acceptance varies by merchant, so carrying a physical card and some cash remains useful.

Key takeaways

• The currency in Germany is the euro (EUR, €), and 21 EU countries use the euro in 2026.
• For how to pay in Germany, the most flexible approach is to carry both a card and some euro cash.
• Euro denominations range from 1-cent coins to €200 current-issue banknotes; €500 notes remain legal tender but are no longer issued.
• When an ATM or card terminal offers NZD or EUR, choosing EUR avoids dynamic currency conversion by the operator.
• When sending money to Germany from NZ, you’ll usually need the recipient’s German IBAN, with a BIC/SWIFT code requested in some cases.

Final checklist for paying in Germany

Before you travel or send money, run through this quick checklist:

• Carry a mix of smaller euro notes and coins for places where cash is easier.
• Take an internationally enabled debit or credit card and know your PIN.
• Check your NZ bank’s overseas card and ATM fees, limits and travel-notification settings.
• Keep a second payment option available rather than relying on one card.
• At ATMs and terminals, select EUR rather than NZD if you’re offered dynamic currency conversion.
• If you’re sending to a German bank account, double-check the recipient’s legal name and IBAN before confirming.

With some euro cash, a working card and the right recipient details if you’re sending money, you’ll be prepared for most everyday payment situations in Germany.

Last reviewed: November 2026