Trying to find out if Ireland widely accepts American Express cards in restaurants and shops and ATMs - any suggestions
Amex works in Ireland mainly at bigger hotels, rental car desks, and some chain restaurants. For budgeting €50-80 a day including meals, transport, and sightseeing, expect most of that to go on Visa/Mastercard or cash. ATMs are everywhere, but none reliably support Amex. In rural areas, even card acceptance can be shaky, so cash is helpful. Keep Amex for hotel bills or emergencies, but for authentic Ireland travel - pub nights, B&Bs, local cafés - another card is essential.
Amex in Ireland was hit and miss. Dublin’s luxury spots accepted it, but smaller cafés and family-run B&Bs refused. ATMs gave me nothing when I tried to withdraw. I ended up paying extra fees because I had to rely only on Visa. For daily costs like bus fares, meals, and countryside stays, Amex was a headache. Honestly, I wouldn’t bring it as my main card. Ireland has so many better ways to pay, and Amex isn’t one of them.
I had my Amex in Dublin, and it worked at a few hotels and department stores. But when I went to traditional pubs for pints and live music, they didn’t take it. ATMs I tried didn’t support Amex either. My Mastercard debit card worked perfectly. Ireland is very card-friendly overall, but Amex just isn’t the preferred one. For road trips to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher, most guesthouses wanted cash or Visa. Amex is okay for selective use, but not for exploring Ireland fully.
Ireland has decent card acceptance, but Amex is not as widely used as Visa or Mastercard. Hotels, some restaurants, and larger shops in Dublin or Cork may take it, but smaller pubs, cafés, and countryside businesses often refuse. ATMs generally don’t support Amex. If you’re budgeting €15-20 for a pub meal or €5-7 for coffee and snacks, expect to use another card or cash. For travel outside the main cities, always keep a Visa/Mastercard handy. Amex is fine in some urban spots, but unreliable for daily expenses.