Ireland enchants with its windswept coasts, cozy pubs, and rich cultural heritage – but navigating money in Ireland helps you avoid unnecessary costs. The official currency is the Euro (EUR), and card payments are nearly universal – even small cafés and buses accept tap-to-pay or mobile wallets. That said, it’s still wise to carry some cash for rural areas, tipping, or smaller vendors. ATM access is widespread, but exchange rates and withdrawal fees vary depending on your card. This guide walks you through how to get, use, and manage currency in Ireland efficiently while soaking in the Emerald Isle’s charm.
How to pay in Ireland – cash or card?
You can use cash for:
- Budget hotels (some small or family-run accommodations)
- Hostels (some independent hostels)
- Tips and gratuities
- Public buses
- Street food (market stalls, festival booths)
- Small eateries / restaurants (local snack bars, e.g., FEBO)
- Small purchases
- Local expenses at grocery stores, local markets
- Laundry services (coin-operated)
- Mobile SIM and phone top-up (at convenience stores)
You can use card for:
- 4 and 5 star hotels
- Online bookings for hotels, flights, and tours
- Fancy sit-down restaurants
- Professional pre-paid taxi booking services (such as Uber, Lyft, etc.)
- Food from local restaurants, even some sit-down restaurants
- Spas
- Good looking coffee shops
- Many tour operators
- Many hostels and budget hotels
- Entry fees for major tourist attractions and theme parks
- Tailoring services
- Expensive tour operators
- Car rentals
- Street shopping
- Upmarket hotels
- Local trains
- Local taxis
- Shopping in malls and branded stores
What’s the best currency to take to Ireland?
Ireland uses the Euro (EUR), and that’s the only currency you’ll need. Paying in Euros means no hassle, no poor exchange rates, and no confusion – everything from taxis to takeaways expects it.
USD, GBP, or any other foreign currency isn’t accepted, even in tourist areas. Even if you’re hopping over from Northern Ireland (which uses GBP), you’ll need Euros as soon as you cross the border.
So just bring Euros or use your card – contactless and mobile wallets are widely accepted and convenient.
Where to get the local currency in Ireland?
In Ireland, you can get the local currency in 3 ways. These are:
ATMs, or
Currency exchange
Money transfer and local pick-up
Types of cards to swipe in Ireland
Visa and Mastercard transactions are commonly accepted for swiping. You might also find some places that accept Amex and other cards, albeit less frequently.
Types of cards at ATMs in Ireland
ATMs in Ireland will mainly accept Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, Plus, Maestro and Amex. Don’t expect ATMs to to accept Diners, Discover, JCB and UnionPay and RuPay cards.
Should I exchange money before travelling to Ireland?
Ireland uses the Euro (EUR), and if you’re coming from within the Eurozone, there’s no need to exchange anything at all. Travelers from the UK, US, or other non-Euro countries may want to carry a small amount of Euros for arrival expenses.
ATMs are easily accessible across the country, including airports, cities, and even small towns. They accept Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Plus cards, but check with your home bank for international withdrawal fees.
Currency exchange is available at banks and airports, though airport kiosks tend to offer worse rates. You’re often better off using a low-fee international card to withdraw cash as needed.
Contactless cards and mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted, even for small transactions. Still, cash is useful for things like street markets, taxis, or tips.
Where to withdraw money in Ireland
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Ireland are those owned by popular banks such as:
Bank of Ireland,
AIB, and
Permanent TSB.
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards. Some international banks also have their ATMs in Ireland, namely:
Royal Bank of Scotland,
Barclays,
HSBC, and
Nationwide.
Global ATM alliance: Global ATM Alliance is a partnership among many banks in the world to allow its customers to withdraw cash from all partner banks abroad without any ATM fee. Many banks in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and Latin America are part of the Global ATM Alliance, including Bank of America, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and others. BUT, there is no local bank in Ireland part of this network. So don’t rely on this.
For a detailed guide, read Cash and ATMs in Ireland.
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Ireland. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Ireland.
Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
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Where to exchange currency in Ireland
In Ireland, you can exchange currency at:
Authorised currency exchange centres: Located in tourist areas, brands like No 1 Currency Exchange, ICE Ireland, Eurochange, and Ria Money Transfer are popular, but local places are equally good. Mainly found in cities like Dublin and Cork.
Banks: Convert your currency to Euro at bank branches, especially for currencies like US dollars, Pounds, Japanese Yen, Thai Baht, and Singapore dollars. A commission of 0.5% to 2% per transaction is standard.
Hotels and airports: Both offer currency exchange services, but rates may not be favorable. Some larger hotels may have rates similar to banks.
Pro-tips:
Avoid exchanging at airports due to poor rates.
Stay away from the black market to avoid scams.
Use new notes for better rates or lower fees.
For US dollars, larger bills typically receive higher rates.
Is carrying money in Ireland safe?
Mugging, threats, or robberies are rare in Ireland, making it generally safe to carry cash while traveling. However, take these precautions:
Carry only the cash you need.
Do not keep all the cash in one pocket or wallet.
Put some cash in a safety belt or fanny pack.
Do not flash your cash.
When paying, do not remove or display your entire cash.
Keep wallets preferably in front pockets.
Cross-wear your purses if possible.
When withdrawing cash, keep the cash low while you count it so people around don’t see it.
If you’re dining alone, don’t leave your wallet / bag unattended while you go to the restroom.
If sitting outdoors in a restaurant, don’t leave your wallets / bags on the table.
Is it better to use debit or credit cards or pay by cash in Ireland
Use a card if it is fee-free i.e. your bank does not charge any fees to swipe the card, when the merchant / POS also does not impose any extra charge to use a card, you need to use the insurance of the card, don’t want to block cash of large purchases and card’s swipe fees are lower than withdrawal fees.
Pay by cash by withdrawing cash from ATM or exchanging currency where – fees on ATM withdrawals are lesser than fees on swiping cards, you don’t want to leave any digital footprint of your expenses, it is convenient and easier to conduct transactions.
