The French currency is called the euro sterling ( € / EUR).
- Paper notes come in units of £5, £10, £20, £50, £100.
- For smaller denominations of money, you can use coins.
- There are £1 and £2 coins, as well as coins in smaller increments that work much like U.S. cents. These coins come in 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, and 50p. Learn to identify each coin
Exchanging Money
Most credit cards charge foreign transaction fees for each purchase you make. ATMS, however, charge a flat fee, which is usually lower than the fees charged at currency exchange centers. As a result, the cheapest way to spend money in Paris is usually to use ATMs that will distribute EUR.
Tipping in Paris
- In Paris, a 15% service charge is added to your bill.
- Usually no tipping in bars or cafes beyond pocket change/coins for a drink or two/cup of coffee.
- More information on tipping here.
Planning Before you Leave
- Before leaving for our trip, let your bank/credit card company know that you’ll be traveling internationally. Your bank/credit card company may also have a special number you need to c
all if you want to reach them from outside the U.S. They will often freeze cards when you start using them abroad, so find out if you’ll need a different number than the one you would use at home, and save it in your phone before we leave.
