What credit cards are accepted in Europe?

Most European vendors accept Visa, MasterCard, EuroCard and occasionally American Express, while only U.S. vendors accept Discover. Some vendors may not take credit cards for smaller purchases, says Europe for Visitors, so it is advisable to keep local currency on hand.

In 2004, most European countries began converting their credit card system to a smart card (or chip and PIN) system. Nearly 80 European countries use this system as of 2015, and some places no longer recognize traditional magnetic strip credit cards, according to CreditCards.com. For example, gas pumps and railroad ticketing booths typically only accept smart cards, notes Europe for Visitors.