The 6 best debit cards to use in Italy in 2024

Planning a trip to historic Rome, romantic Venice or beautiful Florence? If you’re visiting Italy soon, you’ll need to find a smart way to spend in euros.

The easiest option is simply to use your bank card, but which is the best American debit card to use in Italy? Read on to find out, as we’ve put together a guide to cards with no foreign transaction fees.

This includes the Wise debit card, which is tailor-made for European travel.

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Can you pay with a debit card in Italy?

Yes, Visa and Mastercard debit cards are widely accepted in Italy, especially in the big cities and tourist areas. You can also use them at Italian ATMs.

In some smaller or more rural areas, though, it could be a good idea to have some euros on you - just in case.

Wise debit card

Before we dive into our list, let’s talk about the Wise debit card. It’s perfect for trips to Italy and beyond, with no foreign transaction fees and great exchange rates.

The Wise debit card offers the following features:

• Spend and withdraw cash in 160 countries, anywhere that Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
• Automatically converts your USD to euros (EUR) at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. There’s just a small conversion fee, or no charge if you already have the currency in your Wise account.
• Withdraw $100 a month from overseas ATMs for free, with a tiny fee of 2% after that.

This means you can shop, dine and travel worldwide, knowing you're always getting a great exchange rate. And there’s no need to convert currency or carry cash around with you. All you need is your Wise debit card in your wallet.

Open a Wise Account online, and you can order a Wise debit card for a one-time fee of just $9.

Get a Wise Account today

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing: Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

What is the best debit card to use in Italy?

If you want to see what else is out there, we have you covered.

The list below includes the best debit cards to use in Italy, with no fees for foreign transactions. Some even have some additional travel perks.

This makes them ideal for short trips, and perhaps even for people considering moving to Italy, too.

1: Revolut

Digital money app Revolut’s debit card is a decent option for spending abroad. You’ll first need to sign up for a plan, with options including:¹

• Standard - free
• Premium - $9.99 a month
• Metal - $16.99 a month.

All plans come with a Revolut debit card included as standard. This lets you spend worldwide in over 150 currencies.

On the Standard plan, you won’t pay any fees on currency exchange for 25+ currencies during the week (Monday to Friday). At the weekend, a fee of 1% applies.²

The free Standard plan also offers:

• Fee-free withdrawals at 55,000 ATMs within the US¹
• $1,000 a month limit on currency exchange (including card spending)²
• Fee-free withdrawals at out of network ATMs up to $400 a month - a 2% fee applies after that.²

2: Chime³

Chime is another money app like Revolut, which offers a checking account with a Visa debit card. There are no monthly fees or foreign transaction fees to worry about.

The Chime debit card also offers:

• Free withdrawals at 60,000+ ATMs in the US
• Add your card to mobile wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay, so you can pay with your phone
• Manage your card (including security) in the Chime app.

You’ll just need to switch on international transactions in the Chime app before your trip.

There is a $2.50 charge for out-of-network ATM withdrawals, though.⁴

3: Capital One

Sign up for a 360 Checking Account with Capital One, and you’ll get a contactless Mastercard debit card.

The card has no fees for overseas transactions. It works with mobile wallets and can be used anywhere that Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

The account itself has no monthly fees or minimum deposit requirements. You’ll also get:⁵

• 24/7 mobile banking
• Fee-free cash withdrawals at 70,000 ATMs in the US
• Access to Zelle payments
• Overdraft options.

Like other debit cards, though, there are some limits to know about with the Capital One 360 debit card.

This includes a daily maximum of $5,000 on purchases and withdrawals combined. The most you can withdraw from an ATM per day (in the US or overseas) is $1,000.⁶

4: Charles Schwab

The Schwab Bank Investor Checking account comes with a contactless debit card which has no foreign transaction fees. There aren’t any monthly maintenance fees or minimum deposit requirements, either.

You’ll automatically get a brokerage account with the bank when you open the Investor Checking Account, but you don’t need to use it.⁷

The Schwab Bank Visa Platinum Debit Card offers:

• A daily purchase limit of $15,000 and max. ATM withdrawal limit of $1,000 a day⁸
• Unlimited ATM fee rebates if you’re charged by another ATM operator⁷
• Enhanced debit card security features, such as in-app card lock/unlock and travel alerts.

The Investor Checking account itself also gives you 0.45% APY interest on your balance.⁷

5: Betterment⁹

You might associate it more with investment products, but Betterment also offers a checking account and card. Both of these are very good for travel, so could be an option to consider for your upcoming Italian adventure.

The account itself has no monthly fees, while the contactless Visa debit card automatically reimburses ATM and foreign transaction fees.

The Betterment account also has the following features:

• No overdraft fees
• Cashback at US retailers and brands
• FDIC insured up to $250,000.

You can spend up to $2,000 a day and withdraw up to $510 a day using your Betterment debit card.¹⁰

6: SoFi¹¹

Lastly, we have SoFi. An online bank like Revolut and Chime, its popular checking account comes with a Mastercard included. This gives you up to 15% cashback when spending at home in the US, but can also be used worldwide.

The SoFi account is pretty much fee-free. This means no monthly fees or foreign transaction fees.

It also offers free ATM withdrawals at 55,000+ AllPoint Network ATMs worldwide. Although, unfortunately, the network doesn’t seem to extend to Italy - so you’ll need to watch out for out-of-network ATM charges.

You’ll also get the following with your SoFi account:

• Up to 4.30% APY on your savings balance
• 1.20% APY on your checking balance
• Up to $50 no-fee overdraft.

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Bottom line

So, what is the best ATM debit card to use for travel in Italy? You can’t really go wrong with any of the options on our list, as they all come with no foreign transaction fees. This means you can spend in Italy and across Europe without high charges.

However, you’ll also need to watch out for out-of-network ATM fees. And exchange rates too. Some banks won’t give you the best exchange rate, unlike the Wise debit card, which always uses mid-market rates with no margins on top.

Learn more about Wise

💡 Considering moving to Italy? Check out our guides to opening a bank account, buying and renting property, and the cost of living in Italy.

FAQs

What debit cards work in Italy?

You should be able to use all Visa and Mastercard debit cards across Italy, except in smaller or more rural areas where cash is preferred. As long as your bank lets you spend overseas, you’re sorted.

Should I bring my debit card to Italy?

US debit cards used to be an expensive option for spending abroad, but this is changing. None of the US-issued debit cards on our list have foreign transaction fees, so you can spend abroad much like you would at home. Although, watch out for any ATM or currency conversion charges.

What cards are best to use in Italy?

Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards are widely accepted in Italy. You can also shop around for the best prepaid debit cards to use in Italy, as these should be accepted in just the same way (as long as you’ve topped up the balance).

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Sources used for this article:

1. Revolut - Our pricing plans
2. Revolut - Standard fees
3. Chime - No fees
4. Chime - Help - Where can I withdraw cash?
5. Capital One - Online checking account
6. Capital One - Disclosures - Online checking account
7. Schwab - Checking
8. Schwab - Visa Debit Card Agreement
9. Betterment - Checking
10. Betterment - Consumer Deposit Agreement
11. SoFi - Banking

Sources checked on 10-Jun-2023.