European tap-and-go (Apple Pay, Google Pay, contactless cards) varies by city.
Tier 1 — universal tap-and-go
- London: Tube, buses, taxis, restaurants — universal.
- Stockholm: Sweden is largely cashless.
- Copenhagen: Same.
- Helsinki: Same.
- Amsterdam: Strong card culture; transit + restaurants accept tap.
Tier 2 — strong tap infrastructure
- Paris: Most restaurants and transit accept.
- Berlin: Improving fast; older establishments still cash-preferred.
- Madrid, Barcelona: Good but some smaller shops cash-only.
- Vienna: Mostly excellent.
- Lisbon: Growing rapidly.
Tier 3 — workable but cash often needed
- Smaller German towns: Cash-preferred.
- Italian smaller cities + restaurants: Some cash-only.
- Greek islands: Limited tap.
- Eastern European countryside: Often cash.
What about contactless transit?
- London Tube: Tap with credit/debit card or phone — no separate ticket.
- Stockholm public transit: Tap with smartphone or card.
- Most modern systems support this.
- Older systems require buying paper or rechargeable cards.
Strategy
- Carry €100-€200 cash: For tap-and-go failures.
- Use foreign-fee-free credit cards: Most banks now offer.
- Verify ATM fees: Withdraw larger amounts to reduce per-fee impact.