Ireland - Methods of Payment (2024)

FAQs

What payment method do Ireland use? ›

The most widely recognized paymen\t methods in Ireland include credit and debit cards, PayPal, and other digital wallets. Your business can accept all of them if you sign up with Pay.com.

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted throughout the island of Ireland; American Express is accepted in some places but not all. Credit cards can be used for purchases and also to withdraw cash from ATMs (although this usually is accompanied by a fee).

The Euro is the currency in the Republic of Ireland. Because most places you visit will be able to take your credit or debit cards, you don't need to take much cash. In fact, you don't really need to get Euros before you leave the US (unless you really want to).

Most US, UK and Australian debit and credit cards should be usable in Ireland. Visa, Mastercard (Cirrus and Maestro) and American Express are all widely accepted. However, you may have a little more trouble using a Diner's Club card, and Discover isn't often accepted in Ireland.

Yes, Apple Pay is available in Ireland. Apple Pay has arrived in Ireland as a new contactless payment option. The service enables iPhone and Apple Watch owners to pay for their purchases at contactless terminals in retail stores by using the NFC chips in their devices.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Ireland, especially in the bigger cities. So, you should have no problem using your card in restaurants, bars, stores and for travel across the country. That said, it's always handy to have some cash - just in case.

It's wise to arrive in Ireland with least €300 euros in cash. In the worst case scenario, your debit or credit card might not work upon arrival in Ireland. Or it may get lost. In this unlikely event, you'll need backup.

We recommend bringing a small amount of cash in euros to Ireland with you. Around €300 euro should be more than enough to get you through your first days in Dublin.

You may want to exchange money to EUR before you leave, but it's also usually convenient to make ATM withdrawals locally once you arrive in Ireland. You'll usually find you can use a card to make payments in Ireland, but carrying some cash in EUR is also reassuring.

For a 7-11 day Europe trip, I bring $200-$300 Euros in cash. I find it less stressful to order Euros from my bank a few weeks before my trip, so I have local cash upon arrival. The exchange rate is usually better this way. While you can exchange money at the airport, I recommend this alternative.

Do you tip in Ireland? ›

In larger and more frequently visited cities tipping is more and more common; Americans are accustomed to leaving 20%, however the most common practice in Ireland is to leave between 10 and 12%. In nicer restaurants up to 15% (provided that the service charge is not included) is a good rule of thumb.

Credit and debit cards

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted throughout the island of Ireland; American Express is accepted in some places but not all. Credit cards can be used for purchases and also to withdraw cash from ATMs (although this usually is accompanied by a fee).

If you really want to bring euros with you, don't go overboard. One hundred euros is enough to get you a cab and a meal if need be before you need to seek out an ATM. Order enough that you feel comfortable and get the rest in Ireland.

Establishments in Ireland do not accept U.S. dollars as a form of payment. You will need Irish currency for cash transactions in Ireland. In places that do accept physical U.S. dollars, such as hotels, using them may result in very unfavorable exchange rates or additional fees.

The short answer is no. Venmo is not internationally supported, and the app is only available to US residents. To use Venmo in the first place — let alone send and receive money via online banking — both the sender and the recipient must have US bank accounts and, in some circ*mstances, Social Security Numbers too.

You can't use dollars in Ireland so we advise paying for your vacation using a mix of cash withdrawals and card payments. The Republic of Ireland uses euros (€) and Northern Ireland uses pounds (£). For Ireland tours visiting Northern Ireland, you'll need a small amount of pounds alongside euros.

Can I send money through Zelle internationally? Zelle is only available for customers with a US bank account and US registered mobile number. That means it's not an option for sending international payments to friends and family overseas.

In September 2023, more than 50 million people in the US and UK were using Cash App. In 2016, the company opened its European headquarters in Dublin but has yet to launch its services in Ireland and Europe.