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Best UK credit cards to use in Europe: top 6 picks | Profee Blog

Best credit card to use in Europe: Top 6 UK picks

7 minutes

Europe and the UK are not so far away from each other — weekend trips are more than common. With the joy of travelling comes the sadness of foreign payments. To avoid fees and embarrassing situations at shops, get the best UK credit cards for travel. In this article, we’re about to compare travel credit cards in the UK — read it and choose your fighter.

Travel credit cards in the UK: Explained

Before choosing the best credit cards for travel in Europe, we should understand what they are. Travel credit cards in the UK work as usual cards but with extra perks for travellers.

No foreign transaction fees

The main reason to get one of the top travel credit cards in the UK in 2025 is the absence of fees.

  • When you pay with your regular card abroad, the bank charges you for converting pounds to euros.
  • The same is true with ATMs; the average fee for withdrawing abroad is around 3%.

The best credit cards of 2025 for travel remove this problem. Most of them don’t charge any fees at all, so you can make yourself at home while paying in Europe. Others may charge a little for ATM usage, while some apply fees for payments, but we don’t call them the best UK credit cards for travel. It’s a title to be deserved.

If you plan to use ATMs during your trip, check these articles:

Cashbacks

Travel credit cards in the UK often offer a system of points or miles. You make purchases, receive the cashback and can spend it on flight tickets or travel expenses. Each of the best credit cards in 2025 for travel has its own terms. So, it’s up to you to decide which cashback you need and how you want to spend it. Some examples:

  • airlines,
  • hotels,
  • general, including groceries and dining.

There are tons of benefits within each category: priority boarding, room upgrades, loyalty programmes, car rentals, transfers from/to the airport and more. Explore the offer carefully before choosing the best UK credit cards for travel.

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Travel insurance

Sometimes, trips don't go according to plan. A flight might be delayed or cancelled, leading to you missing the second flight, or you can accidentally get hurt. We hope it never happens, but it's good to be prepared.

You can search for credit cards with travel insurance in the UK. Some premium cards include it as a benefit; however, you'll have to pay for the coverage separately with the basic ones.

Note that credit cards with travel insurance in the UK usually have fewer payments and a shorter incident list than full travel insurance, so think twice about your final choice.

In short, finding and purchasing the best credit card for international use is definitely worth trying, especially if you’re a heavy traveller.

Best UK credit cards to use in Europe: top 6 picks | Profee Blog
Barclaycard

Best UK credit cards for travel: Barclaycard Rewards

One of the best credit cards for travel in Europe. Here’s what to expect if you want to purchase it:

Category Details
Fees No ATM and purchase fees
Cashback 0.25% on eligible purchases. There are no specific categories; cashback is earned from everyday purchases.
APR 28.9%, can go up to 31.9% for some individuals.
Extras You can add another cardholder, be it your mother, partner or a friend.
Requirements
  • Being over 21 years old.
  • Having a permanent UK address for more than two years.
  • Yearly income over 20,000 GBP.
  • Having a credit management history of at least four years.
  • Making payments on time.
Documents
  • Proof of address
  • Employment contract
  • Details of your annual income before tax
  • Details of your monthly income after tax
  • Monthly expenses (outgoings)
  • Bank sort code and account number
  • Payslips or bank statements

It’s one of the best credit cards for travel in Europe, if you use ATMs and want to get cashback for each small purchase. However, getting it might be problematic — expats who moved recently have little to no chances of getting it because of the ‘two years of permanent residency in the UK’ rule.

It doesn't matter where you are sending money from — the UK or Europe — with Profee it’s done easily.

Best UK credit cards for travel: Halifax Clarity

The next on our list of the best chip and pin credit cards for travel to Europe is Halifax Clarity.

Category Details
Fees Fee-free for cash withdrawals and foreign currency purchases.
Cashback No
APR There is no set interest rate; it’s calculated individually for each applicant. On average, it’s 23.9%.
Extras Single purchases are protected up to 100 GBP.
Requirements
  • Being a UK resident.
  • Being over 18 years old.
  • Having a regular income and a job.
  • Students, the unemployed and the bankrupt are not eligible for this card.
Documents
  • Income and employment details
  • Proof of address
  • Current account details
  • Monthly bills and expenses
  • Existing credit cards
  • Additional documents may be required to prove UK residency and legal funds to repay borrowed money

It’s not the best credit card for international use if you want cashback and side benefits. On the other hand, it works well for those who want to avoid fees abroad.

Best UK credit cards to use in Europe: top 6 picks | Profee Blog
Halifax

Best UK credit cards for travel: NatWest Travel Reward

Let’s see why we placed NatWest among the top travel credit cards in the UK in 2025.

Category Details
Fees No fees on foreign purchases. Find all the details here.
ATM fees = 3%, at least 3 GBP.
Cashback 1% on eligible purchases.
1% to 15% on selected partners.
Or 0.1% on everything.
It’s a flexible programme, making it one of the best credit cards 2025 for travel in terms of the money you get back.
APR 27.9%. May change up to 29.9% depending on your situation.
Extras Platinum accounts include travel insurance.
Requirements
  • Age over 18.
  • UK residency.
  • Earning at least 10,000 GBP yearly.
Documents
  • Personal ID
  • Proof of address
  • Additional documents about your current financial situation may be requested.

Best UK credit cards for travel: Santander All in One

Moving on to the next best credit card for international use.

Category Details
Fees No foreign exchange fees.
ATM fees = 3%, starting from 3 GBP.
3 GBP monthly fee.
Cashback 0.5% on every purchase, but up to 10 GBP per month.
APR 29.8%, may change in your individual case.
Extras 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months.
Requirements
  • Being over 18 years old.
  • Permanent UK residency.
  • Annual income of at least 10,500 GBP.
  • Not having another All in One card.
Documents
  • Personal ID
  • Proof of address
  • Employer details
  • Bank account details
  • Credit card details (if you already have any)
A standard set of documents, nothing special.

It’s one of the best credit cards for travel in Europe, if you intend to use it often. If not, it’s better to switch to a no-fee option.

Best UK credit cards to use in Europe: top 6 picks | Profee Blog
Best UK credit cards to use in Europe

Best UK credit cards for travel: Bip Cardless

We’re slowly getting to the end of our list of the best credit cards 2025 for travel. Bip provides digital credit cards, so you won’t hold a physical one. It’s convenient, but you’ll have to search for cardless ATMs, plus, some places may not accept Apple Pay or Google Pay yet. Check the offer:

Category Details
Fees No fees at all.
Cashback No.
APR 34.9%, may vary.
Extras Spending caps — set your expense limits.
Requirements
  • Over 18 years old.
  • Permanent UK address.
  • Financial stability.
  • You can check your eligibility on the Bip website before applying.
Documents It’s a fully digital app, so you won’t need physical documents.
Be ready to provide your full name, address, and information about your current financial situation.

If you prefer digital solutions, this is one of the best credit cards for travel in Europe.

Top travel credit cards in the UK 2025: Zopa

The last on our list of the best chip and pin credit cards for travel to Europe is Zopa.

Category Details
Fees No fees for payments abroad.
3 GBP for each ATM withdrawal.
Cashback No.
APR 34.9%, may vary.
Extras Credit Cushion — set aside some of the available balance so you don't spend it accidentally.
Requirements
  • Be over 18 years old.
  • Have a one-year address history in the UK.
  • Annual income before tax equals 10,000 GBP or more.
  • Have a good credit history.
  • Have two active lines of credit on an account registered to your current UK address.
Documents
  • ID or driving licence
  • Bank statement
  • Proof of address
Again, they may ask you for some additional documents.

FAQ — Travel credit cards in the UK

Which UK credit card is best for travel?

Depends on your preferences. Compare travel credit cards in the UK, for example Barclaycard Rewards, Halifax Clarity, NatWest Travel Reward, Santander All in One, Bip Cardless or Bip Cardless and go with what suits you the best.

Which UK credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees?

The top picks are Barclaycard Rewards, Halifax Clarity, NatWest Travel Reward, Santander All in One, Bip Cardless, Bip Cardless and some others.

How do I avoid 3% foreign transaction fee?

Get the special travel credit cards.

Is it cheaper to use a credit card or a debit card overseas?

Usually, debit cards are cheaper. But if you get the travel credit card, it’ll be beneficial.

How to send money from the UK?

To transfer at great rates and with low fees, choose Profee, the service trusted by 800,000 expats.

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