What are the ATM fees in Italy?
FR

Translated into English.

Original post
PA
Hi, I'm heading to Italy soon and I wanted to know if Italian banks charge fees when you withdraw cash at an ATM, or if, like in Spain or Greece, it's better to avoid taking out money and bring cash instead. Looking forward to your replies... Thanks
MI Mitch341 Regular ·
Hi, I'm leaving for Italy soon and I wanted to know if Italian banks charge fees when withdrawing cash from ATMs, or if, like in Spain or Greece, it's better to avoid withdrawing money and bring cash instead. Looking forward to your replies... Thanks

Hello! With a Gold card, no fees, same with an online bank. Hi Bak from me.

Best regards.
Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/
EN Envallis Globetrotter ·
Hi, I'm leaving for Italy soon and I wanted to know if Italian banks charge fees when withdrawing cash from an ATM, or if, like in Spain or Greece, it's better to avoid taking out money and bring cash instead. Looking forward to your replies... Thanks

Hi,

I’ve never had any fees when withdrawing or paying by card in Spain or Italy. Everything is in euros.
Il n'y a pas de problème sans solution... et si il n'y a pas de solution, il n'y a pas de problème !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
Hi,

I don’t think this is the issue, nor a matter of Gold status or online banking. It seems some ATMs have started charging withdrawal fees, regardless of bank or currency exchange fees—which don’t even apply here anyway. But I don’t know if that’s the case in Italy. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
Yeah, some Spanish banks charge withdrawal fees even though we're in the eurozone.

I don’t remember that being the case in Italy, though.
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
PA Pass007 ·
Yeah, I agree with Attila—banks charge fees at ATMs in Spain and Greece, which is why I’m asking about Italy. Even in the Eurozone, they can do that... I have a Fortuneo Gold card that limits fees outside the Eurozone. Here’s a good article on fees worldwide: https://www.tourdumondiste.com/argent-carte-visa-master-card-tour-du-monde#frais-des-banques-locales

But what about Italy? Thanks for your replies...
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
A little research will quickly show you—and others—that some operators in Italy have started charging a 5 € fee (an amount I find absolutely outrageous). These include, though not exhaustively and with no guarantee that all ATMs from these providers do this, UniCredit and Poste Italiane. Institutions that meddle in everything these days would do well to ban these practices.

Michel
EN Envallis Globetrotter ·
Yes, some Spanish banks charge withdrawal fees even though we're in the eurozone.

I don’t remember that happening in Italy, though.

Really?

In any case, I always pay by card everywhere, and there’s never a fee ;) (in Europe, that is...)
Il n'y a pas de problème sans solution... et si il n'y a pas de solution, il n'y a pas de problème !
TA Tatra Globetrotter ·
Good evening,

We're talking about withdrawals, not payments.

Michel
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
Yes, the issue is only with withdrawals.

It's getting harder and harder to withdraw cash without fees from local banks around the world.
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
AM AmoreVenezia Regular ·
hi there.

my experience. I live in Venice but I have accounts with French banks.

Avoid ATMs—there are plenty of them, but every withdrawal comes with hefty fees.

I only take out cash from Italian Post Office ATMs; no fees despite the warning message.

But... you’ve gotta find the post office.

Have a great trip.
EN Envallis Globetrotter ·
Yes, the issue only concerns withdrawals.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to withdraw cash without fees from local banks around the world.

The two are connected: instead of withdrawing—and paying—in cash, I pay for everything by card. That way, no commission. I always keep a small amount of cash on hand for emergencies 😉
Il n'y a pas de problème sans solution... et si il n'y a pas de solution, il n'y a pas de problème !
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
I also prefer paying by card. But there are a few countries where it's not possible everywhere. Kyrgyzstan, for example, where I just came back from.

I don’t want to carry around a fortune in euros in my pockets or look for currency exchangers.

That leaves ATMs...

For Italy, like Spain, cards work pretty well. I take 200 euros from France for very small expenses or even a (paid) withdrawal just in case. (One big one to spread out the fees.)

It’s 2 to 7 euros, sure, but it doesn’t break the overall travel budget!
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
EN Envallis Globetrotter ·
I also prefer paying by card. But there are a few countries where it's not possible everywhere. Kyrgyzstan, for example, where I just came back from.

I didn’t want to carry around a fortune in euros or look for currency exchangers.

We agree that we were talking about Italy and Spain, where you can pay for almost everything with a card starting from the first euro.

There are indeed countries where card payments aren’t as widespread. In those places, you have no choice but to use cash, and in that case, you have to get it from the local ATM (often in remote areas, at the airport ATM). There are fees—it’s part of the travel budget...😕
Il n'y a pas de problème sans solution... et si il n'y a pas de solution, il n'y a pas de problème !
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
Yes.

There’s an app that lists ATMs and the fees they charge, but I’ve tried it and it’s not up to date.

Before I leave, I do some research to find out which banks aren’t too greedy.

Some ATMs stack high fees on top of low withdrawal limits...

7 € for 500 € withdrawn—yes! 7 € for 50 €—no way...🤪
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
PA Pass007 ·
Thanks for the replies... is the app Cash Now? Or ATM Free Saver?
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
ATM Fee Saver
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
EX Explora30 ·
Yes, some Italian banks charge fixed fees (often between 2 € and 5 € per withdrawal) at ATMs, in addition to any fees your own bank may apply.

Avoid independent ATMs at all costs (like Euronet), which have very high commissions.

Opt for ATMs from major local physical banks (like Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, or Poste Italiane), which are often free or cheaper for eurozone cards.

Bring some cash with you for your first expenses and small shops, as Italy is still a country where cash is widely used.

Pay by card as much as possible directly at merchants, which is usually fee-free within the eurozone.
TI Tinka69 ·
EU regulations are very strict on this: your French bank can't charge you more for a withdrawal in Italy than for one made at an ATM of a competing bank in France.
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
This isn't about the fees charged by your own bank, but rather the fees charged by the bank that owns the ATM. Like a usage fee for the machine.
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
KU Kurtinet Regular ·
Hi there,

At any post office, it's free in Italy...
SO Solene40 Globetrotter ·
Hi there, Just a quick recap from my recent trip to Naples last month. I withdrew 200 € from an ATM using my Boursobank card with no fees. Result: 4.50 € deducted from my account! This is happening more and more in Spain too, but over there, we pay almost everything by card. In a week in Italy, we were told at least 10 times that they only accepted cash—including hotels and restaurants. I really wasn’t expecting that in such a "developed" country. I’m almost concluding that tax evasion is a national sport over there! But maybe those who know the country better have another explanation 🤔? Christelle
Le monde est comme un miroir, si tu lui souris, il te sourit aussi!
MI Mitch341 Regular ·
Good evening, Just a quick recent experience in Naples last month. I withdrew 200 € from an ATM using my Boursobank card with no fees. Result: 4.50 € deducted from my account! This is happening more and more often in Spain too, but over there, we pay almost everything by card. In a week in Italy, we were told at least 10 times that they only accepted cash, including at hotels and restaurants. I really wasn’t expecting that in such a "developed" country. I almost conclude that tax evasion is a national sport over there! But maybe those who know the country better have another explanation 🤔? Christelle

Naples is still Naples. And in Italy or elsewhere, I don’t know many people who refuse cash.

I go to Italy very often, and cash is as common as cards.

Nothing surprising in this "developed" country.

Take a trip to the beaches in France, and you’ll judge for yourself that there’s a national sport there too.

Best regards,
Evita Bella ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/201886709@N02/albums/
KU Kurtinet Regular ·
Hi,

I always pay everything in cash there, and it's really appreciated... 😉 I’ve often seen cards refused, especially for small amounts.

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