Is it better to pay taxis in Ireland with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
My experience in Ireland was that taxis are very card-friendly, especially compared to other European countries. In Dublin, every taxi I used accepted card payments, and many also worked seamlessly with the Free Now app. Outside of the big cities, it’s still smart to keep a little cash in euros, but you won’t run into too many problems. I’d say cash is optional here, but always keep a backup just in case a machine goes down.
Taxis in Ireland were refreshingly easy to deal with when it came to payments. Nearly all of them took cards, and the Free Now app made it even simpler by letting me pay automatically without handing over anything. I only carried a little cash in euros, and I never actually needed it in Dublin. Some drivers outside the main cities said they preferred cash, but even they had machines. Honestly, Ireland was one of the more convenient countries for card taxi payments.
I had no problems paying by card for taxis in Ireland. In Dublin, Cork, and Galway, every driver I used had a working terminal. It was very straightforward. That said, one driver mentioned that sometimes machines lose connection in rural areas, so cash can be useful if you’re traveling far out of the cities. Still, compared to many other countries, Ireland is extremely card-friendly, and you can expect to pay electronically without hassle most of the time.
In Ireland, taxis have modernized a lot, especially in Dublin. Most drivers now have card readers, and I was able to pay with my Visa every time without issue. Apps like Free Now also let you link a card, so you don’t even have to discuss payment. That said, one or two drivers in smaller towns still preferred cash, so I kept some euros handy. Overall, though, card payments are widely accepted and easy.