Euro Countries

The euro is the official currency of 20 European Union member states. These Euro Countries are: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. The euro simplifies trade and travel within the eurozone, eliminating the need for currency exchange.

Beyond the official euro countries, the currency is also used in several overseas territories of EU member states. These include places like the Azores, the Canaries, Ceuta and Melilla (Spain), French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France). This widespread use further strengthens the euro’s position as a major global currency.

Several small European nations also utilize the euro as their official currency through agreements with the European Union. Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City all use the euro, demonstrating the currency’s influence beyond the EU’s borders. Furthermore, Kosovo and Montenegro use the euro as their de facto currency, though without a formal agreement with the EU.

Within the eurozone, all euro banknotes and coins are universally accepted. This means a euro spent in Italy is just as valid in Finland or any other euro country. This ease of transaction facilitates business and tourism across the region.

When traveling within the eurozone, using debit and credit cards is generally preferred over carrying large amounts of cash for security and convenience. Transactions within the EU, regardless of the specific euro country, should incur no additional charges compared to domestic transactions. This applies to payments made in euros, even if the transaction occurs outside the euro area, for example, between two euro-denominated accounts.