Germany uses the euro. Despite a modern economy, cash remains culturally normal in bakeries, beer gardens and some smaller shops — UK visitors should not assume everywhere is tap-and-go yet.
Markets and festivals
Christmas markets and street food are cash-heavy. Seasonal peaks in Munich, Cologne or Berlin mean ATM queues — land with euros from the UK when possible.
Road trips
Autobahn services take card, but rural petrol stations can have minimum spends or offline terminals. Keep €50–€100 accessible.
Order euros at home
Use our comparison and euro page. Airport pre-flight exchanges remain a weak default for whole-trip budgets.