European Story · before you pack
Europe travel money checklist
Map the currencies on your route, check your payment options and pack a backup.
My currencies
Start with the example, then edit or add every stop on your route.
My arrival and payment notes
Check each currency with its central bank or official tourism site. The France/EUR example uses Your Europe’s euro guide.
Saved on this device. Keep account numbers, card details and PINs out of this worksheet.
Replace your entries and checks with the starting example?
My preparation
Tick a box after you have made the check. A tick records your preparation, not a bank approval or a booking.
Turn your route into a payment plan
Write each country or overnight stop on the left and enter the currency you have checked for it. Add a stop whenever the currency changes. The example is a starting point you can replace, rather than a suggested itinerary. Several stops can share a currency; the summary counts each different currency once.
Next, work through the two checklist sections. Use the notes for a task such as checking the airport bus payment options or arranging access to your banking app abroad. Ask your issuer about fees and limits for your particular card. Check how you will pay for your first transfer and first night before leaving home.
Cards, cash and a separate backup
The EU’s travel guide advises travelers to record their issuer’s lost-card number before travel and block a lost or stolen card promptly. Save that number somewhere accessible if your phone or wallet is missing. Your issuer can explain the options available for your account.
Use the secure-packing section to give your main wallet, backup payment method and document copies separate places. The DiscoverEU packing checklist includes money, debit cards, identity documents and booking details. Here you can add checks for the way you carry those essentials on your own trip.
Take the worksheet with you
Download worksheet saves a CSV with all stops, currencies, notes, both checklist sections and your added checks. Open it in a spreadsheet or keep the file with your trip documents. The download includes unfinished checks as well as completed ones, so it is also useful the night before departure.
Your entries are saved in this browser on this device when browser storage is available. They do not sync to another device. Clearing site data removes the saved plan. On a shared device, download what you need and use Reset my plan when you finish. Keep the worksheet free of sensitive financial details.
Sources and scope
Source notes reviewed October 2026. Your Europe supports the France/euro example; the EU travel guide supports the lost-card preparation check; DiscoverEU supports the packing categories. The checklist is our practical organization of those tasks. Country and currency entries are yours to verify. There is no exchange-rate calculation or recommended cash amount. Check current bank terms and customs guidance for your route before departure.
Continue with our Europe packing list to plan the rest of your bag.