"What is the best credit card for travel to Europe from Canada?"

"The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is Canada's best all-round Europe travel card — no foreign transaction fee, 6 lounge visits per year, and comprehensive travel insurance at $150/year. For maximum Aeroplan point earning toward a transatlantic business class redemption, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege or Amex Cobalt (for Amex MR → Aeroplan transfers) are the top choices."

"How many Aeroplan points do I need for a business class flight to Europe from Canada?"

"A one-way Aeroplan business class award from Canada to Europe on Air Canada costs approximately 55,000–70,000 points, depending on the route and booking class. For Star Alliance partner airlines (Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels Airlines), the partner award chart may offer fixed pricing — check the Aeroplan website for current partner award tables. Round-trip business class to Europe typically requires 110,000–140,000 Aeroplan points."

"Do I need a no-foreign-transaction-fee card for Europe?"

"Yes — if you're spending in euros (or British pounds, Swiss francs, etc.), a 2.5% FX fee adds up quickly. On a $5,000 CAD European trip budget spent in local currency, the FX fee alone costs $125 in wasted money. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, Scotiabank Gold Amex, and Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard all waive foreign transaction fees."

"Is Amex accepted in Europe?"

"American Express is widely accepted in Western Europe — especially at hotels, airlines, major retailers, and tourist areas. Acceptance is lower at smaller restaurants, markets, and in Eastern Europe. Always carry a no-fee Visa or Mastercard as a backup when travelling in Europe. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite (no FX fee, comprehensive insurance) is an ideal Visa backup to an Amex primary card."

"Can I use Canadian credit cards at Airbnb rentals and European hotels?"

"Yes. Airbnb accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express from Canadian cardholders globally. European hotels accept all major networks. Note that some smaller European hotels require a credit card at check-in to hold the booking — ensure your card has sufficient available credit. Always confirm whether the property charges in local currency (preferred) or converts to CAD (Dynamic Currency Conversion — always decline this)."

Best Credit Cards for Travel to Europe from Canada 2026

Europe is one of the most popular destinations for Canadian travellers. The right credit card can eliminate foreign transaction fees on every euro spent, earn Aeroplan points toward a business class flight, provide lounge access at Canadian departure airports, and offer comprehensive travel insurance — all from a single card.

Best Credit Cards for Europe Travel from Canada

Card	Annual Fee	FX Fee	Lounge Access	Travel Insurance	Best For
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite	$150	None	6 visits (DragonPass)	Comprehensive	Best all-round Europe card
Scotiabank Gold Amex	$120	None	None	Emergency medical	Dining + no FX fee
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege	$599	2.5%	Maple Leaf Lounge (unlimited)	Comprehensive	Aeroplan point earning; Air Canada flyers
Amex Cobalt	$156	2.5%	None	Emergency medical	Amex MR → Aeroplan transfers
Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard	$0	None	None	Basic	No-fee no-FX backup card
Amex Platinum Card	$799	2.5%	Centurion + Priority Pass	Comprehensive	Ultra-premium; frequent international travellers

Best Overall: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite

At $150/year, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is Canada’s top card for European travel:

No foreign transaction fee: Every purchase in euros, pounds, Swiss francs, or any European currency costs exactly the Visa exchange rate — no 2.5% surcharge. On a €3,000 European trip, this saves approximately $100+ CAD.

6 complimentary lounge visits: The Visa Airport Companion programme (DragonPass) gives 6 visits per year — ideal for pre-departure use at Canadian airports before the transatlantic flight.

Comprehensive travel insurance:

Emergency medical: up to $1M, up to 25 days
Trip cancellation: $1,500 per person
Trip interruption
Flight delay (including missed connections)
Baggage delay and baggage loss
Rental car collision/damage

Scene+ earn: 3x Scene+ at grocery stores, 2x on all other purchases (including European travel spending). Scene+ redeems at 1¢/point for travel bookings.

For Aeroplan Earners: The Transatlantic Strategy

Europe is where Aeroplan delivers its highest per-point value. Business class to Europe on Air Canada:

Typical cash price: $3,000–$7,000+ CAD
Aeroplan points required: ~55,000 pts one-way (Air Canada) or ~55,000–70,000 pts on Star Alliance partners
Effective value: 3–6¢ per Aeroplan point — far above the ~1¢ baseline

To accumulate enough Aeroplan points for a transatlantic business class redemption:

Card	Annual Aeroplan Earn (at $3,000/month spend)	Years to 120,000 Points (Round-trip business)
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege	2x everywhere = 72,000 pts/year	~1.7 years
Amex Cobalt + Aeroplan transfer	5x food, 2x travel (blended ~2.5x) = 90,000+ pts/year	~1.3 years
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite	1.5x groceries/gas/dining, 1x other = ~45,000 pts/year	~2.7 years

Strategy: Use the Amex Cobalt for all food and dining spending (5x MR → Aeroplan at 1:1), and a TD or CIBC Aeroplan card for all other spending. Transfer Amex MR to Aeroplan once you have a specific flight to book.

Using British Airways Avios for Europe

Avios (British Airways’ loyalty currency) is an alternative to Aeroplan for European flights. The Avios distance-based chart is excellent for short European hops from London:

London to Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Brussels: 4,500–7,500 Avios one-way
Canada to the UK on British Airways: 30,000–50,000 Avios economy; 50,000–80,000 Avios business

How to earn Avios in Canada:

American Express Membership Rewards transfer to Avios at 1:1 (via Avios)
Amex Cobalt, Amex Gold Rewards: transfer MR → Avios
RBC Avion Rewards: transfer Avion points to Avios

See our British Airways Avios Guide for Canadians for full details.

Avoiding Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) in Europe

At many European merchant terminals, you may be asked: “Pay in euros or Canadian dollars?” Always choose local currency (euros). When you choose CAD, the merchant (not Visa/Mastercard) does the currency conversion — typically at a rate 3–7% worse than the card network rate. This is called Dynamic Currency Conversion and it is always a worse deal, even with a no-FX card.

At ATMs: When withdrawing euros, choose to see the amount “without conversion” or in local currency. Decline the ATM’s exchange rate.

Travel Insurance: What Your Card Covers in Europe

Most Visa Infinite and World Elite Mastercard cards include travel insurance that activates when you pay for your trip with the card. Key coverages for European travel:

Coverage	Why It Matters in Europe
Emergency medical	European OHIP reciprocal agreements are limited — your card’s $1M–$5M emergency medical is essential
Trip cancellation	Covers non-refundable airfare and hotel if you can’t travel
Flight delay	Covers meals and accommodation if connecting through Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or London
Baggage loss	European airlines lose bags; card coverage bridges the reimbursement gap

Note: Most card travel insurance requires you to pay for the trip (or at least a portion) with the card. Always charge at least the airfare to your card to trigger coverage.

For comprehensive coverage, see our guide on credit card travel insurance in Canada.

Practical Tips for Using Credit Cards in Europe

Call your bank before leaving — notify your card issuer of your travel dates to prevent fraud blocks (most cards have an in-app travel notice option)
Bring two cards — Visa/Mastercard backup in case Amex isn’t accepted at a small restaurant or market
Use tap-to-pay — contactless payments (tap) are universal across Western Europe; chip-and-PIN is also standard
Avoid cash advances — withdrawing euros from an ATM on a credit card incurs cash advance fees (2.5–3%) and immediate interest. Use a Visa debit card or no-fee travel card for ATM withdrawals.
Decline DCC — always pay in local currency at European terminals and ATMs

Card benefits, FX fees, and travel insurance terms are subject to change. Aeroplan award pricing is dynamic and subject to change. Verify with card issuers and Aeroplan before booking. See our Advertiser Disclosure.