Knowing the destination's exchange rate matters before a trip and after arrival—especially when standing in front of a cash machine or a bureau de change.
A converter provides a reference, not a promise of what will be charged. The amount on a screen can still be changed by the provider's spread, the card issuer's foreign-transaction fee, ATM charges and a merchant's optional currency conversion.
Enter the amount, source currency and destination currency in the converter. Check the rate date, then compare the result with the final amount offered by the bank, card, ATM or exchange office. If a foreign terminal offers to charge in your home currency, compare carefully: selecting local currency normally avoids a markup chosen by the terminal operator.
Online currency converter
The converter uses European Central Bank reference rates distributed by the public Frankfurter API. Select the two currencies and enter an amount: the displayed date belongs to the available reference rate, not to a future bank transaction.
A reference rate is not a retail price
The European Central Bank publishes euro reference rates on working days, normally around 16:00 CET, and explicitly describes them as informational rather than transaction prices. Frankfurter makes those figures available to the converter without changing their status as reference values.
| Value | What it represents | What may be missing |
|---|---|---|
| Reference rate | Informational or average market value | Spread, fees and service costs |
| Card rate | Network conversion for the transaction | Issuer's foreign-transaction fee |
| ATM rate | Card-network rate or ATM operator conversion | ATM, bank and overseas-withdrawal fees |
| Cash rate | What the bureau offers across the counter | Fixed charge or spread built into the rate |
Convert with Google or a phone
Type 100 EUR in USD into Google, or try 50 GBP in EUR. Google identifies its data provider; the result remains an estimate, not a bank or retailer's guaranteed price.
The converter on this page works in a mobile browser and requires no installation. Before leaving, it can be useful simply to save what 10, 50 and 100 units of your home currency are worth locally. For historical data and currencies not listed in the form, the OANDA converter remains available.
Cards, ATMs and dynamic currency conversion
When a foreign card terminal or ATM offers to charge in the card's home currency, it is offering Dynamic Currency Conversion. The screen should show both amounts, the exchange rate and markup and allow the customer to accept or decline. Seeing the familiar currency immediately can hide a less favourable rate.
- read the total in both currencies and the stated markup;
- compare it quickly with the converter;
- without a clear advantage, choose local currency and let the card network convert;
- still check the overseas fees charged by your own bank.
For a Visa purchase, the official Visa calculator is also useful because it accepts an issuer fee. The statement still provides the definitive amount.
How to compare cash exchange
“Zero commission” is not enough. An office can avoid a separate fee but build a larger spread into the rate. Ask a concrete question: how many dollars, pounds or yen will I receive in total for 100 euros?
- compare the net total for the same amount;
- distinguish the buy rate from the sell rate;
- do not exchange large sums without clear conditions and a receipt;
- check your card and ATM costs before deciding cash is cheaper;
- avoid displaying cash and documents longer than necessary.
Useful tools for checking exchange rates
| Tool | Best use | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| OANDA | General conversion and historical data | Does not automatically include your card terms |
| ECB | Official euro reference rates | Working-day update, not a transaction price |
| Visa | Estimate for a Visa card transaction | Issuer may add its own fees |
| Quick check on a phone | Third-party estimate, not a guaranteed price |
Frequently asked questions about currency exchange
Does the converter show the rate I will actually receive?
It shows an up-to-date informational rate, but card issuers, banks, ATMs and bureaux de change can add spreads and fees. The provider's final total is the real cost.
Why does my card use a different rate?
The network and bank may use the authorisation or settlement date and the issuing bank can add a foreign-transaction fee. Your card terms determine the final cost.
Should I pay in my home currency or the local currency?
Choosing local currency generally avoids dynamic conversion by the merchant or ATM. Compare the displayed rate, markup and every fee before confirming.
How can I compare two bureaux de change?
Ask how much you will receive in total for the same amount, including every fee. A “no commission” sign does not guarantee a better deal when the spread is wide.
Can Google convert currencies?
Yes: search for an expression such as “100 EUR in USD”. It is an informational estimate from Google's named data provider, not a guaranteed transaction price.