The 6 Best Travel Money Cards for Greece 2024
Greece is an easily accessible travel destination from the UK which has loads to offer, whether you’re into history and culture, food and drink, beachside getaways or party vibes. Plus, using a travel debit, prepaid or credit card can help cut the overall costs of spending in euros so you can do more while you’re in Greece.
Different travel money cards have their own benefits and drawbacks. Join us as we look through your key travel money card options, and introduce a couple of our favourites from each category so you can see if any suit your preferences and needs.
Wise - our pick for travel debit card for Greece
Wise accounts can hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and you can get a linked Wise card for a one time delivery fee. Top up your account in GBP and switch to EUR before you travel. All currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate, with low fees from 0.41%. Here are some of the pros and cons of the Wise travel money debit card, to help you decide if it’s right for you.
Pros:
Hold and exchange 40+ currencies, including GBP-EUR
No fee to spend any currency you hold, low conversion fees from 0.41%
Mid market exchange rate on all currency conversion
Some fee free ATM withdrawals every month
No ongoing fees and no interest to pay
Cons:
7 GBP delivery fee
No option to earn points or rewards
What is a travel money card?
A travel money card is a debit or credit card that’s been optimised to help you cut costs whenever you spend in foreign currencies.
Depending on the specific card you pick, you could hold a balance in euros and multiple other currencies, benefit from low or no foreign transaction fees, or get cash back and rewards for spending and withdrawals overseas. Greece uses the euro which means as well as easy ways to spend, you could decide to get an account which lets you get paid flexibly by others in EUR, too.
This guide walks through the most common options for travel money cards for Greece and globally so you can pick the right one for you.
What are different types of travel cards?
We’ll walk through the features and benefits of a selection of different travel cards in a moment, but first it helps to know that most UK travel cards are one of the following card types:
Quick summary: Best travel cards for Greece
There’s no single best travel card for Greece, so the best one for you will depend on how you tend to transact, what you’ll be up to while you’re there, and whether or not you intend to use your card regularly in Greece or other overseas destinations. To help you weigh up some different options, we’ve included reviews of 2 of our favourite travel money cards from each category to help you choose. Here’s what we’ll be looking at:
Wise travel debit card: Hold 40+ currencies including EUR, with no ongoing fees, and spend with the mid-market exchange rate with no foreign transaction fee and low conversion costs from 0.43%
Revolut travel debit card: Hold 25+ currencies including EUR, in one of 4 different plan types, including some with no monthly fee, and some which comes with ongoing costs but which unlock more benefits and no fee transactions
Post Office travel money card: Hold EUR and 21 other currencies, with no fee to spend a currency you hold - 3% fee applies if you don’t have the currency required in your account
Monese travel money card: Hold a balance in GBP or EUR with some currency conversion available with no fees, up to your plan’s limit. Different plans on offer, including Simple which has no ongoing fees to pay
Barclays Rewards Visa travel credit card: Spend with the Visa exchange rate, and earn 0.25% cash back, with no foreign transaction fee and no cash advance fee. Interest and penalties can apply
Halifax Clarity Mastercard travel credit card: No foreign transaction fee, no annual fee, and no cash advance fee if you withdraw money at an ATM. Variable interest and penalties can apply
Travel money cards for Greece compared
Here’s a brief comparison of all the cards we’ve picked out - in a moment we’ll also look at each card in more detail.
| Provider | Type | Delivery fee | Overseas ATM fee | Interest rate | POS fees | Exchange rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Debit | 7 GBP order and delivery fee | 2 withdrawals, to 200 GBP value per month for free, then 0.5 GBP + 1.75% | Not applicable | Free to spend currencies you hold in the account | Mid-market rate with conversion costs from 0.43% |
| Revolut | Debit | Variable fees may apply depending on account plan | No fees to plan limit, 2% fair usage fee may apply once you exhaust your plan no fee limit | Not applicable | No fee to spend currencies you hold in the account | Mid-market rate to plan limit Fair usage fees of 0.5% - 1% apply after you exhaust your plan limit |
| Monese | Debit | No fee | No fee | Not applicable | No fee for spending up to your account limit, which varies based on plan chosen | Network exchange rate |
| Post Office | Debit | No fee | 2 EUR | Not applicable | Free to spend currencies you hold in the account 3% fee to spend a currency you don’t hold in your account | Variable exchange rate depending on how you top up |
| Barclays | Credit | No fee | No cash advance fee, but interest may apply | 28.9% representative APR | No fee - interest may apply | Network exchange rate |
| Halifax | Credit | No fee | No cash advance fee, but interest applies instantly | Variable based on credit score | No fee - interest may apply | Network exchange rate |
Different travel money cards have their own features which makes them more suitable for different customer needs. If you want a low cost travel card you can use to hold, send, spend, and receive a really broad range of currencies as well as euros, the Wise travel debit card might suit you.
If you’d prefer a card which allows you to pick different subscription plans to unlock the specific features and benefits you need, it's worth looking at Revolut and Monese. Or if you want a credit card, we’ve got some smart travel credit cards coming up later too - great for spreading the costs of travel, as long as you don’t mind paying interest.
Travel Debit Cards for Greece
Travel debit cards from specialist providers come with their own digital multi-currency accounts which are managed online or through an app. Because EUR is a major global currency you’ll be able to find a travel debit card which lets you hold a balance in euros easily, and you can also choose an account with local bank details to get paid in EUR by others if you need it. Different cards have their own features and fees, but the good news is that there are several great options for EUR travel cards - let’s look at a couple in more detail:
Travel debit card option 1: Wise
There’s no fee to open a personal Wise account, but you’ll pay a one time card order fee of 7 GBP. After that there’s no minimum balance and no monthly charge. Wise accounts can support 40+ currencies for holding and exchange, with low fees from 0.43% when you convert currencies, and transparent ATM fees when you exhaust the monthly free transactions available with your account. Accounts come with local bank details for EUR so you can get paid easily.
No fee to open a personal Wise account, no minimum balance requirement
7 GBP one time fee to get your Wise card
2 withdrawals, to 200 GBP value per month for free, then 0.5 GBP + 1.75%
Hold 40+ currencies, convert between them with the mid-market rate
Get local account details to receive GBP, NZD, EUR, USD and a selection of other major currencies conveniently
Travel debit card option 2: Revolut
Revolut has a selection of different account tiers for personal customers in the UK, including Standard plans with no monthly fee, to the top end Ultra plan which has a 45 GBP/month fee and comes with loads of perks including a fancy platinum plated card. You can hold around 25 currencies, and convert currencies with the mid-market rate to your plan’s allowance. The higher account tiers also come with extras like various different forms of complimentary insurance, discounts, cash back opportunities and travel benefits.
No monthly fee for a Standard Revolut account, or upgrade to one of 4 different account plans which have monthly fees running from 3.99 GBP/month to 45 GBP/month
All accounts have some no fee weekday currency conversion with fair usage fees after that which are 1% for Standard plan holders
Standard plan holders can withdraw 200 GBP overseas per month for free
Hold around 25 currencies
Pros and cons of using debit travel cards in Greece
| Pros of using debit travel cards in Greece | Cons of using debit travel cards in Greece |
|---|---|
✅ Hold and exchange 25+ currencies in the same account ✅ Spend in 150+ countries - including spending in currencies the card can’t support for holding balances ✅ Order your physical card and get instant access to a virtual card for mobile payments ✅ Accounts can be opened and managed digitally ✅ Safe for spending and withdrawals when travelling overseas | ❌ Some account plans have ongoing monthly costs ❌ Transaction and currency conversion fees may apply ❌ You may need to wait a few days for delivery of your physical card |
How much does a travel debit card cost?
Using a travel debit card can mean you pay less overall when you’re spending in euros - but it’s not usually completely free. You’ll need to check through your preferred card fee schedule before you sign up, particularly looking at transaction fees and limits, and monthly costs.
The good news is that you can select the provider and card that works best for you easily. Wise has a one time fee to get your card, but then no monthly charges or minimum balance requirements. Revolut customers in the UK can choose from different account plans, including one with no ongoing charges, or several different account options with a monthly fee in exchange for extra perks and benefits.
How to choose the best travel debit card for Greece?
There’s no single best travel debit card for Greece. If you travel in Europe or elsewhere often it might be worth considering a travel debit card which supports a good variety of currencies as well as EUR, with no ongoing charges, like the Wise card or the Standard Revolut card, to try out whether or not a travel debit card suits you.
Is there a spending limit with a travel debit card in Greece?
You’ll probably find there’s a spending limit for your travel debit card. However, this limit can vary quite significantly, depending on the provider you pick. You can also usually adjust your spending limits for security in the provider’s app which means you can set the limit you’re comfortable with.
For the providers mentioned above, Revolut UK travel debit card holders have some spending caps based on merchant and transaction type. This applies to things like sending money to others, buying travellers cheques or money orders, and betting. Wise caps monthly card spending at 30,000 GBP but you can also move your limit lower if you’d like to, for security reasons.
ATM withdrawals
ATM withdrawals with a travel debit card are also likely to be subject to limits. Revolut applies a 3,000 GBP limit based on any given 24 hour period. Wise ATM withdrawal limits are 4,000 GBP per month. Both providers allow you to make some no fee ATM withdrawals monthly, but the exact amount you can withdraw will depend on your account type.
Prepaid Travel Cards for Greece
Prepaid travel cards from a non-bank provider like the Post Office or Monese offer multi-currency balance options, which usually cover euros. Prepaid cards need topping up in advance of travel, and can have quite different fee structures compared to a travel debit card. Let’s look at these options in more detail.
Prepaid travel card option 1: Post Office Travel Money Card
You can order a Post Office Travel Money Card online or pick one up in person at a branch as long as you have a valid ID on you. You’ll be able to top up and hold in 22 currencies, although bear in mind a fee applies if you add money in GBP. There’s no fee to add foreign currencies. The exchange rate used when you top up or convert may include a markup, but once you hold a currency balance in your account you can spend it with no further charges.
EUR and 21 other currencies are supported for holding and exchange
No fee to spend a currency you hold on your card
3% cross border fee if you spend in an unsupported currency
2 EUR ATM withdrawal fee
Manage your account and card from the Post Office travel money app
Prepaid travel card option 2: Monese Travel Money Card
Monese offers several different account plans which come with linked cards you can use while overseas. Depending on the plan you pick you’ll get some free international spending and some free ATM withdrawals. Simple account plans have no monthly fees, but are more limited in terms of no-fee transactions compared to the other account tiers. While Monese does offer foreign currency account plans, these are not available in AUD.
- Pick the account plan that suits your needs, including a Simple plan with no monthly costs and some plans which do have a fee to pay every month
- Accounts offered in GBP, EUR and RON
- Simple account plan holders can spend up to 2,000 GBP a month in foreign currencies with no fees - other account plans have unlimited overseas spending with no extra fees
- All accounts have some fee free ATM withdrawals every month, with variable limits based on account plan
- Virtual cards available
Pros and cons of using prepaid travel cards in Greece
| Pros of using prepaid travel cards in Greece | Cons of using prepaid travel cards in Greece |
|---|---|
✅ Secure way to hold a balance and make overseas payments ✅ Cards available with no monthly fees ✅ Usually free to spend a currency you hold ✅ Issued on globally supported networks for easy spending and withdrawals ✅ Some cards can be picked up instantly if you’re in a hurry | ❌ Ongoing charges may apply to your account ❌ Not all providers offer multi-currency holding options ❌ Transaction fees apply to most accounts |
How much does a prepaid card cost?
Prepaid travel cards fees can include monthly maintenance fees, currency conversion charges, top up costs, and account dormant fees. If you choose the Post Office card, there’s a fee of 3% to spend in a currency you don’t hold in your account, while some Monese cards only offer a limited amount of no fee foreign currency spending, depending on the account plan you pick. Weighing up a few different prepaid travel cards is the only way to decide which is the best value for your particular needs.
How to choose the best travel prepaid card for Greece?
There is no single best prepaid travel card for Greece. That means you’ll need to shop around and compare a few to find the best fit for your needs and preferences. The good news is that because EUR is a common currency, there are quite a few travel card options out there, so you’re sure to find a good match with a little research.
Prepaid travel card spending limit
The Post Office travel card lets you top up to 5,000 GBP at a time, with the maximum balance at any given time set at 10,000 GBP, or 30,000 GBP annually. Monese accounts may have different limits based on the tier you pick - usually set at a maximum holding balance at any time of 40,000 GBP. You may be limited to spending up to 7,000 GBP a day, depending on your account type.
ATM withdrawals
With the Post Office card, you can make up to 450 EUR maximum daily withdrawals and each withdrawal costs 2 EUR. Monese accounts may have a maximum ATM withdrawal of 300 GBP a day, depending on the specific account you pick, so it’s worth reading the fee schedule carefully to understand the details.
Travel credit cards for Greece
Travel credit cards have been optimised for travel and can offer perks like no foreign transaction fee or more rewards and cash back for overseas spending. If you prefer to spend on a credit card while you’re on holiday you could get a slightly lower overall cost with a travel credit card which offers network exchange rates with no foreign transaction fees, and no annual fee. Bear in mind though that while credit cards can be safe and convenient, interest and penalty costs mean that they’re often more expensive than a debit or prepaid card.
Travel credit card option 1: Barclaycard Rewards Visa
The Barclaycard Rewards Visa credit card is a good, straightforward option for UK customers looking for a credit card which does not have foreign transaction fees, and which doesn’t have an annual fee. As with any credit card, some costs can apply including interest fees if you don’t clear your bill monthly, but you’ll be able to earn 0.25% cash back on all your card spending at home and abroad.
No annual fee, with 0.25% cash back on card spending
Currency exchange uses the network rate and no foreign transaction fee
No ATM withdrawal fee - but interest can still apply
28.9% representative APR, with penalty fees for late payments
Secure spending with extra protection on some purchases
Travel credit card option 2: Halifax Clarity Mastercard
The Halifax Clarity Mastercard has a variable interest rate which is based on your creditworthiness, but doesn’t use different rates for different transaction types as some cards do. There’s no foreign transaction fee when you spend or withdraw in foreign currencies, but bear in mind that an ATM operator might charge a fee, and interest accrues instantly for cash advance transactions.
No foreign transaction fee when spending or making a cash withdrawal overseas
Interest applies instantly when making cash withdrawals
Same interest rate applies on all purchase categories
Variable APR based on your credit score - you’ll need to check your eligibility online to see the APR you’d be offered
Spending is covered by the Consumer Credit act which means extra protections for purchases from 100 GBP to 30,000 GBP in value
Pros and cons of using credit cards for Greece
| Pros of using credit cards in Greece | Cons of using credit cards in Greece |
|---|---|
✅ Spread the cost of your travel over several months ✅ Check eligibility for a card online with no impact on your credit score ✅ You may pay no foreign transaction fee ✅ Can be used where a payment guarantee is required ✅ Network exchange rates usually apply, which are pretty fair | ❌ Interest can accrue instantly on ATM withdrawals ❌ Interest charged on POS spending if you don’t repay in full every month ❌ Eligibility rules apply |
How much does a travel credit card cost?
As with any credit card, you may find that you run into fees when you use a travel credit card. While the travel credit cards highlighted above have no annual charge, and no foreign transaction fee, interest applies if you don’t pay your bill in full every month. If you’re late making a payment, penalties can also apply. Consider carefully if using a credit card is right for you to avoid running up unexpected or unmanageable bills.
How to choose the best travel credit card for Greece?
There’s no single best travel credit card for Greece but choosing a card with no annual fee, and the lowest available interest rate is usually a smart plan, just in case you can’t always repay your bill monthly. If you can also get a card with some cash back or reward options that can also be attractive - although you’ll need to check that the rewards outweigh any costs you’ll incur.
Travel credit card spending limit
Your travel credit card spending limit will be set by the card provider, and will depend on your credit score. You’ll be shown details of your spending limit when you’re approved for a travel credit card.
ATM withdrawals
The cards we’ve looked at earlier don’t charge a cash advance fee, but this is a common cost when using a credit card at an ATM, so worth looking out for when you select any credit card. It’s also worth noting that it’s very common for ATM withdrawals to start accruing interest instantly, so you’ll end up needing to repay some charges whenever you use your credit card in an ATM.
How much money do I need in Greece?
Greece has a massive tourism industry which means there are accommodation and food options for people on a budget, as well as anyone looking for a luxury getaway. That can make budget planning a bit tricky, and will mean you have to do some research into what you can get for your money wherever in Greece you’re heading. Here’s a quick look at some common costs in Greece:
| ✈️ Flights to Greece | The very cheapest return flights can be under 50 GBP, but as Greece is a very seasonal destination, costs rise in the summer. Average prices can be about 200 GBP return from the UK |
| 🛏️ Accommodation | Greece has a broad range of destinations, and in most you’ll find accommodation ranging from 20 GBP to well over 200 GBP a night depending on quality |
| 🥣 Lunch in a restaurant | 3 course meal for 2 in a mid-range restaurant will cost under 40 GBP on average |
| 🚍 Transportation | Local transportation can cost about 1 GBP a ticket. Taxis should cost about 1.4 GBP a mile |
Conclusion: Which travel money card is best for Greece?
Using a travel money card for your trip to Greece can help you to avoid unnecessary costs and make your money go further. However, there are several different card types and provider options, so you’ll need to shop around a bit to find the right card and account for you.
Consider a Wise travel debit card if you need ways to pay and get paid in EUR, with the mid-market rate and low fees. Or as an alternative, check out a Monese travel prepaid card which also supports holding euros, or a travel credit card like the Barclays Rewards Visa for cash back opportunities and ways to spread your costs over several months if you need to.
FAQ - Best travel cards for Greece
Can you withdraw cash with a credit card in Greece?
Yes. You can use your credit card to make an ATM withdrawal at any ATM in Greece where your card network is accepted. However, bear in mind you’ll pay interest instantly when you use a credit card in an ATM. Choosing to withdraw with a low cost travel debit card from Wise or Revolut may bring down your overall fees.
Can I use a debit card in Greece?
Yes. Debit cards can be used in many places in Greece, although cash is still a popular option and you may struggle to pay by card at some independent merchants or at markets. Carrying a prepaid or travel debit card which you can use to pay with, or to make an ATM withdrawal to get some euros in cash if you need them is a smart plan.
Are prepaid cards safe?
Yes. Prepaid cards are not linked to your normal UK bank account which means that they’re safe to use. Even if you were unlucky and someone stole your card while you’re in Greece, they would not be able to access your main account - and you could freeze your prepaid card in the app easily if you needed to.
What is the best way to pay in Greece?
Paying for things with a specialist travel debit, prepaid or credit card in Greece is most convenient. However, having a few options for payment is a good plan, just in case your preferred payment method can’t be used for some reason. Consider getting a travel card from a provider like Wise or Revolut, which has some no fee ATM withdrawals so you can also conveniently get cash as a back up, and for when card payments aren’t offered.