The 6 Best Credit Cards For Travel to Italy in 2024

When choosing the best credit card for your foreign travels, steer clear of cards with foreign transaction fees and opt for ones with universal acceptance. In Italy and the EU more broadly, Visa and Mastercard are seamless choices, while it'll be harder for you to find businesses that accept AMEX and (especially) Discover.

Italian law requires businesses to accept card, so you should have no trouble relying on your credit cards (and earning points while you're at it). But it doesn't hurt to have cash on hand for local markets, street vendors, and emergencies. In this guide, we also consider debit cards like Revolut and Wise for ATM withdrawals to dodge credit card cash advance fees.

Revolut Travel Multi-Currency Debit Card

Revolut is the best option to take out cash cheaply in Italy, thanks to its favorable ATM withdrawal policy that allows for $400 worth of free withdrawals each month. By converting your USD ($) deposits to EUR (€) prior to your transaction (which you can do in the mobile app), the ATMs will recognize your Revolut card as local, bypassing the need for dynamic currency conversion.

Moreover, Revolut offers the added luxury of lounge access not only across major Italian airports like FCO, VCE, and MXP but also worldwide, at a cost of $37 per person. This one-off cost certainly beats the high annual membership fees charged by lounge-access credit cards. If you are a paid member of Revolut's higher tiers, you'll receive discounts on lounge access and get a suite of travel insurance benefits.

While the paid tiers offer higher allowances and more perks, this is what you'll get under Revolut's Standard plan:

• No monthly fee for the Standard Plan;
• $400 of fee-free ATM withdrawals per month, then a 2% fee;
• Airport lounge passes for $37 per person;
• Supports 35 currency balances including EUR;
• No FX fee for the first $1,000 exchanged monthly;
• Revolut's FX rate is industry-low, usually ~0.5% (check live here).

Learn more: Read our in-depth Revolut review or watch our video review.

Wise Multi-Currency Card

The Wise Multi-Currency Account is well-suited if you just need a small amount in cash in Italy, since Wise offers a $100 limit on fee-free withdrawals per month. Beyond this, withdrawals incur a $1.50 fee plus 2%.

If you are not going to take out cash, then card or digital wallet purchases with Wise are a great debit option because it applies the mid-market exchange rate on your purchases (Wise will instead charge an industry-low fee of around 0.5%).

However, just remember that Revolut offers a slightly better deal with $1,000 of fee-free exchanges per month, a feature that Wise does not match.

Here are benefits of the Wise multi-currency account at a glance:

• Opening an account costs $0;
• Offers $100 fee-free ATM withdrawals per month;
• Supports over 40 currencies, including EUR;
• Offers foreign bank details for 10 countries;
• Uses the mid-market rate (check live here), with a small fixed fee.

Learn more: Read our in-depth Wise review or watch our video review.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a staple in my Apple Wallet, serving as my go-to card for all card transactions. Back when I earned the bonus offer, I was able to pay for a round-trip flight from Japan to California, when redeemed through Chase Travel.

For the perks that Chase offers, the $95 annual fee is very reasonable. You'll pay 21.49%–28.49% variable APR on unpaid balances, so pay your monthly balance on time in full to avoid accumulating interest.

Here's a breakdown of the card's offerings:

• Earn 60,000 points after meeting a $4,000 spend in the first 3 months;
• Get $50 in credits each year for hotels through Chase Travel;
• 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel;
• 2x on other travel purchases;
• 3x points on dining, online groceries, and select streaming services;
• 1x points on all other purchases;
• Each anniversary, get points equal to 10% of total yearly purchases;
• 1:1 point transfer to partners;
• Comprehensive travel and purchase coverage;
• Uses Visa network rate (check live rate here);
• No foreign transaction fees.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

My brother chose this card for last year for his international travels, largely for its generous bonus offer and the simplicity of earning 2x miles on every purchase. He was confident he would meet the spending threshold to secure the bonus miles, which helped him cover the entire cost of a US to EU round trip this year. The next time I plan a big flight, this will be the first card I consider to help me with the cost.

The card carries a $95 annual fee, a great trade for the value it delivers, especially for avid travelers. The 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR is similar to that of Chase. It's wise to pay off your full balance monthly to avoid interest.

Here's what makes the Capital One Venture Card a great option for travelers to Italy:

• Earn 75,000 miles after meeting a $4,000 spend in the first 3 months;
• Unlimited 2x miles;
• Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel;
• If you find a better price with 24 hours, Capital One will match it;
• Get up to $50 in travel credit if price drops within 10 days of booking;
• Emergency replacement and cash advance if card is lost or stolen;
• Flexibility to transfer miles to over 15+ travel loyalty programs;
• Uses Visa (check here) or Mastercard network rate (check here);
• No foreign transaction fees.

American Express® Gold Card

The American Express® Gold Card is an appealing option for those looking for a travel card from American Express, which is known for its points programs. This card is best for domestic spending within the USA since some spending categories can only earn extra points within the country. AMEX has the most airline points transfer partners of any major U.S. credit card loyalty program, making it an ideal card to help you pay for your flight to Italy.

Some of the best airlines active in Italy that also allow the transfer of AMEX points include Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Delta, Iberia, Air France, and British Airways.

With a $250 annual fee, the AMEX Gold Card is more expensive than the other cards on this list. But when compared to other AMEX cards, this one is fairly average in terms of price (The Green Card has a $150 annual fee while the Platinum Card's fee is $695). AMEX Gold charges a variable APR of 21.24% to 29.24%.

Here are the benefits that come with this AMEX credit card:

• Earn 60,000 points after meeting a $6,000 spend in the first 6 months;
• 4x points at restaurants worldwide;
• 4x points for takeout and delivery in the US;
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year);
• 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AMEX Travel;
• 1x points on other eligible purchases;
• $120 Dining Credit, up to $10 monthly at participating partners;
• $120 Uber Cash, get $10 each month for Uber;
• Receive $100 credit with a two-night minimum stay on AMEX Travel;
• Uses AMEX network rate (check here);
• No foreign transaction fees.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X credit card is one of the best-priced premium cards on the market, offering exceptional benefits for frequent travelers. It has an incredible 10x reward rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's portal and 5x on flight purchases, with 2x on all other purchases. The card essentially pays for itself with a $300 travel credit applicable to any booking through Capital One's travel portal.

Moreover, subscribers receive a membership to the Cultivist, a museum membership program. In Venice, this perk grants free access to renowned attractions like Ca’ Rezzonico, Doge’s Palace, and Palazzo Grassi.

The 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR is the same as the regular Venture Rewards card. The main up front difference is the $395 annual fee, as opposed to the Venture card's $95 annual fee.

Here are the key benefits of the Venture X card:

• Earn 75,000 points after meeting a $4,000 spend in the first 3 months;
• Receive 10,000 bonus miles every year starting on first anniversary;
• $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel;
• Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®;
• If you find a better price with 24 hours, Capital One will match it;
• Get up to $50 in travel credit if price drops within 10 days of booking;
• Unlimited lounge access for you and 2 guests worldwide;
• Hertz President’s Circle status for free car upgrades;
• Uses Visa (check here) or Mastercard network rate (check here);
• No foreign transaction fees.

What Are the Best Credit Cards to Use in Italy For Travel in 2024?

Revolut stands out as the best option for withdrawing cash at ATMs in Italy, thanks to its generous $400 monthly fee-free withdrawal limit. If you exceed this limit, Wise is a reliable backup, also doubling as an excellent debit card for international spending.

When it comes to Chase and Capital One, it's a tough call for me; I'd use both if I wanted. The great AMEX rewards program pays for itself, but also seems like a good tool to use before heading to Italy.

Ultimately, your choice of card for your trip to Italy will likely hinge on a mix of cash withdrawal needs, earning points while on your trip, and using accumulated points to pay for your flights:

1. Revolut Standard Card — Cheapest way to get cash and lounge access
2. Wise Multi-Currency Card — Best prepaid travel debit card
3. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Best for dining and travel points
4. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Best intro offer
5. American Express® Gold Card — Best way to transfer points to ANA
6. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — Best premium travel

How To Choose the Best Credit Cards for Travel to Italy

When searching for for a travel credit card to use in Italy, the main principle is to get a card that fits your lifestyle (i.e. if you dine out often, visit airports often, prefer the simplicity of cash back, don't mind high annual fees, etc).

Here are six good points to take into consideration as you look around for credit cards to use during your travels across the peninsula:

1. Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees: One non-negotiable for us is to find a card that waives foreign transaction fees. Otherwise, these extra charges add up, since you're making purchases made in a foreign currency.
2. Earn Bonus Rewards: Look for cards offering bonus rewards on travel expenses like dining, flights, hotels, and transportation. You can redeem those points for cash or future purchases.
3. Improve Your Airport Experience: Consider cards with lounge access to enhance your travel experience and provide added comfort during layovers.
4. Consider Global Entry: Some credit cards offer Global Entry credits to expedite airport security processes, saving time and hassle upon your return home.
5. Get Statement Credits: Many cards offer statement credits of around $50 to $300 for travel expenses, helping to offset costs associated with accommodations and transportation. The caveat is that you need to spend the credit through that credit card's travel portal.
6. Receive Valuable Protections: All credit cards come with fraud protection. However, some provide additional valuable protections like travel insurance in Italy for delayed flights, lost baggage, lost cell phones, extended warranties on goods, and car rental damage waivers.

What Credit Cards Are Accepted in Italy?

Any US credit card bearing the Visa or Mastercard logo will generally work in Italy. American Express is also accepted in some places. Discover cards may be the least widely accepted. Just make sure your card does not charge foreign transaction fees, as these can accumulate quickly.

Is Visa or Mastercard Accepted in Italy?

Yes, Visa and Mastercard are accepted in nearly all establishments that take cards, like hotels, restaurants, and retail stores.

Can I Use Credit Cards to Take Out Cash in Italy?

Using credit cards for cash withdrawals should be considered an emergency option only, as it triggers a cash advance with high APR charges from your bank. For cash withdrawals, we highly recommend you use debit cards, both in the US and abroad, to avoid these high fees.

Is It Better to Use a Credit Card in Italy?

Using credit cards in Italy can be great for earning points while you spend on travels. All businesses in Italy are required to accept card as well. It's also a good idea to withdraw cash cheaply from ATMs with a Revolut or Wise debit card (and not with a credit card).