Website of the UK government

Getting foreign currency

You can change your British pounds for a foreign currency at:

• some travel agents
• Bureaux de Change in airports, ferry terminals and on some ships
• banks
• some Post Offices

Not all currency exchange places will be able to supply you with coins in the currency you want, so it is worth checking this if you will need coins for things like road tolls and luggage trolleys when you arrive in another country.

If you want large amounts of currency and/or an unusual currency you may need to order in advance as it might not be held in stock.

The euro

The euro came into effect as a new currency on 1 January 2002. Euro notes and coins have now completely replaced the old national currencies in all transactions in the 15 countries that make up the 'euro area'.

The countries of the euro area are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Cyprus
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Italy
• Ireland
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Portugal
• Spain
• Slovenia

The UK, Denmark and Sweden are not part of the euro area.

There are seven banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro. There are eight coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent; and 1 and 2 euro. One euro is equivalent to 100 cents.

Euro notes are the same in all countries in the euro area. The coins are the same on one side and have a national symbol on the other. Any country's coins can be used anywhere else in the euro area (for example, you can use a Spanish 2 euro coin to buy goods in France).

• Money and euro advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Opens new window