What Credit Cards to Use in Europe

Planning a trip to Europe involves numerous exciting decisions, from selecting your destinations to curating your itinerary. However, before finalising your travel arrangements, it's wise to choose the best credit card for Europe. 

The right credit card can provide secure transactions and significant savings by helping you avoid foreign transaction fees. These fees, often around 2% to 3% of the transaction amount, can accumulate quickly and negate any potential rewards earned. 

So, which credit card should you use for your trip to Europe? It’ll depend on your particular travel needs and spending habits, and answering the questions will help determine the best credit cards for your European adventure.

The timing of your trip to Europe can influence the best credit card. Ideally, you should aim to apply for a credit card several months before your departure to capitalise on sign-up bonuses. This can significantly reduce travel costs. Even with a last-minute trip, a rewards-focused card can still minimise foreign transaction fees and earn you miles or cashback.

Whether you’re travelling to Europe as a student or a working professional, it's important to weigh the value of potential benefits against the cost of annual fees. Generally, credit cards with a higher annual fee often come with more attractive perks. These can include complimentary travel insurance, access to airport lounges, and higher rewards rates. That said, you can still find excellent, fee-free cards with solid rewards for your European adventure.

When choosing a credit card for Europe, consider the potential cost savings and convenience of built-in travel insurance. Some cards offer comprehensive coverage for trip cancellations, lost baggage, and medical emergencies, reducing the need for separate policies. However, to activate these protections, you might need to pay for most or all of your trip expenses using that specific credit card.

Tailor your European credit card choice to your spending habits. If you'll be frequenting fine dining establishments, opt for a card with excellent dining rewards. For extensive travel between cities, prioritise cards with high rewards on transport. But if your spending is varied and doesn't quite fit into specific categories, consider a flat-rate credit card that offers consistent rewards on all your purchases.

When evaluating credit cards for European travel, consider the ease of redeeming your earned rewards. Some cards offer straightforward cashback options, providing immediate and simple gratification. Others involve more complex redemption processes, such as transferring points to airline or hotel partners.

While transferring points can potentially yield higher value, particularly for maximising KrisFlyer miles, it requires greater effort and planning. If you prioritise simplicity and convenience, opt for cards that offer direct statement credits or allow you to book travel directly through the issuer's user-friendly travel portal. This ensures you can effortlessly enjoy your rewards without navigating intricate redemption procedures.

• Citi PremierMiles Card

• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card

• UOB PRVI Miles Card

• OCBC 90°N Card

• DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card

Sign-up bonus: Enjoy a welcome gift of up to 30,000 Bonus Citi Miles when you open an account.

Why we like it

The Citi PremierMiles Card is a strong contender for the best credit card to use in Europe. It's known for its reliable miles earning on both local and overseas spending, offering 1.2 Citi Miles per S$1 on local spending and 2.2 Citi Miles per S$1 on foreign transactions. Accumulate miles without limits or expiry dates, and leverage them for conversions to frequent flyer programmes like KrisFlyer, providing long-term travel value.

List of Citi PremierMiles Card transfer partners

• Asia Miles

• AirFrance & KLM

• British Airways

• Etihad

• Eva Air

• Malaysia Airlines

• Qantas

• Qatar

• Singapore Airlines

• Thai Airways

• Turkish Airlines

Sign-up bonus: Get up to 17,000 KrisFlyer miles with a minimum spend of S$1,000 within the first month of card approval.

Why we like it

For those prioritising high KrisFlyer miles redemption rates, the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card is an excellent choice. It allows you to earn 1.1 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 spent locally. Furthermore, cardholders enjoy an accelerated earning rate of 2 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spent on eligible Singapore Airlines transactions and Grab Singapore transactions (capped at S$200 per calendar month).

Plus, transferring your accumulated miles to KrisFlyer is a seamless and hassle-free process, ensuring you can quickly convert your spending into valuable travel rewards.

Sign-up bonus: Earn up to 58,000 miles if you pay the first year's annual fee, or 38,000 miles if the annual fee is waived.

Why we like it

For frequent travelers looking to rapidly accumulate miles beyond just KrisFlyer, the UOB PRVI Miles Card is a compelling choice. It boasts competitive earning rates, offering 1.4 miles per S$1 spent locally and up to 3 miles per S$1 on overseas spending. Furthermore, cardholders can significantly boost their mile accumulation by earning 8 miles per S$1 (and potentially more) on bookings with major airlines and hotels through Agoda and Expedia.

List of UOB PRVI Miles Card transfer partners

• AirAsia

• Cathay Pacific

• Singapore Airlines

>> LEARN MORE: Best premium credit cards in Singapore

Sign-up bonus: Get a free 1-year Disney+ Premium subscription when you make 1 qualifying transaction within 30 days of card approval. Valid till 31st March 2025.

Why we like it

The OCBC 90°N Card is a compelling option for those seeking a credit card to use in Europe without incurring an annual fee. It offers competitive earning rates, making local spending more rewarding with 1.3 miles per dollar (mpd) on local spending. Notably, it also provides higher miles for foreign currency spending, which is excellent for travel to Europe, at 2.1 mpd. Furthermore, cardholders can earn up to 7 mpd on bookings made with Agoda. There's also no cap on the miles you can earn. While there's no annual fee in the first year, subsequent years require a minimum spend of S$10,000 per year for the fee waiver.

List of OCBC 90°N Card transfer partners

• Singapore Airlines

• Air France

• British Airways 

• Cathay

• Etihad 

• United Airlines

Sign-up bonus: Earn up to 38,000 miles when you spend at least S$800 within 60 days of card approval and pay the first annual fee, and 28,000 miles if the annual fee is waived.

Why we like it

The DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card is a solid choice for those seeking flexibility in their travel rewards. It allows you to earn up to 2.2 miles per S$1 on overseas spending (made in foreign currency) and up to 1.3 miles per S$1 on local spending. A key advantage is that DBS Points earned don’t expire. Plus, cardholders gain access to complimentary Priority Pass™ Digital Membership, enhancing the travel experience.

List of DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card transfer partners

• Singapore Airlines

• Qantas

• AirAsia

>> LEARN MORE: Ways to maximise your credit card points and perks

While travel credit cards with a focus on miles are popular, there are other types of credit cards that can be effective for your trip to Europe. For example, cashback credit cards offer a straightforward way to get value back on your spending. Other cards like no-annual-fee options, or those specifically designed for hotel rewards, can also be beneficial depending on your travel style and spending habits, allowing you to tailor your credit card choice to maximise savings and rewards during your European adventure.

For instance, consider these two cards:

• UOB Credit Card: This card provides valuable travel insurance benefits, including Public Conveyance Personal Accident coverage of S$500,000 and Emergency Medical Assistance, Evacuation & Repatriation coverage of up to S$50,000, even for COVID-19 incidents.

• HSBC Revolution Card: This card offers up to 10X reward points on online shopping, without requiring a minimum spend, and comes with no annual fees, making it a budget-friendly option for European purchases.

Ultimately, the best credit card for your travel in Europe depends on your individual spending habits and travel priorities.

>> LEARN MORE: Cashback or rewards credit cards: Which is better?

To maximise your rewards and benefits while travelling in Europe, consider a strategy that involves using multiple credit cards. Carrying different cards can allow you to take advantage of the specific strengths of each.

For example, you might use a miles card, like the Citi PremierMiles or UOB PRVI Miles, for booking flights and accommodations to earn miles, while using a cashback card for your daily spending on food, shopping, and local transportation. With this combination, you can earn different types of rewards and optimise your spending.

How to maximise your rewards

When you want to get the most out of your travel credit card, choose an option that prioritises your lifestyle and needs. Here are some of the best air miles credit cards of 2025:

• Flexibility, point transfers, and a large bonus: Citi PremierMiles Card

• No annual fee: OCBC 90°N Card

• Flat-rate travel rewards: UOB PRVI Miles Card

• Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card

• Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®

• Business travellers: DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card