Finding where to buy cheap euros can save you substantial money. Even a tiny markup of 2 cents/£ can cost you €20 per €1,000. For a family of four exchanging €3,000, that’s a €120 loss. With heightened travel costs, every cent counts. This guide is packed with actionable tips, explanations, and product suggestions—from cash bundles to travel cards—tailored to the savvy traveler and buyer.

How Exchange Rates & Fees Work

1 Interbank, Mid‑Market & Retail Rates

• Interbank/mid-market rate: the true market rate you see on XE, Wise, or Reuters.

• Retail rate & spread: providers add a margin (“spread”) to make a profit, often the biggest cost factor.

2 Fee Types

• Commission: fixed or % charge per transaction.

• Markups: built into the poor exchange rate.

• ATM/withdrawal fees: often £1–£5, plus network charges.

• Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC): local ATM/merchant suggests paying in your home currency—avoid it. Always opt to pay in euros.

Best Places to Buy Cheap Euros

1. Online currency exchange providers – CompareHolidayMoney, Wise, CurrencyFair, and CurrencyTransfer.com let you lock in mid-market rates with minimal delivery fees.

2. Banks & credit unions – Often the cheapest option if ordered ahead, especially with no additional fees (NerdWallet, MSE) forbes.com+11nerdwallet.com+11thetimes.co.uk+11businessinsider.comforbes.com.

3. Supermarkets (e.g., Sainsbury’s, Tesco) – Competitive rates + loyalty perks, though fees may apply (forums) .

4. ATMs abroad – Use bank-affiliated ATMs and fee-free travel cards like Wise, Revolut, Barclays—best interbank rates with capped fees, thetimes.co.uk.

5. Airport bureaux – Convenient but costly—travelers lose up to £274 per €1,000 at Gatwick forums.moneysavingexpert.com+11thetimes.co.uk+11thescottishsun.co.uk+11.

Top Strategies to Save

• Buy early & monitor GBP/EUR trends: The pound often strengthens in July, August, thesun.co.uk.

• Lock-in rates: Online providers and prepaid travel cards let you fix the rate ahead of time.

• Charge by debit, not credit: Credit card cash withdrawals may be coded as “cash advances” with 3%+ fees thescottishsun.co.uk+2thetimes.co.uk+2moneysavingexpert.com+2thesun.co.uk.

• Always pay in euros: Avoid DCC surcharges nerdwallet.com+15businessinsider.com+15thesun.co.uk+15.

• Minimize ATM use: Withdraw larger sums to avoid repeated fees.

Deep Dives by Channel on where to buy cheap euros

1 Online Providers

• Wise: mid-market rates + low fee, free ATM withdrawals up to monthly limits.

• CurrencyFair: peer-to-peer exchange, no hidden commissions, thetimes.co. forbes.com+11en.wikipedia.org+11forbes.com+11.

• CurrencyTransfer.com: brokerage marketplace—great for larger transfers (£5k+) en.wikipedia.org+1moneysavingexpert.com+1.

• XE: reliable converter and transfer tool with transparent fees forbes.com+1forbes.com+1.

2 Banks & Brokers

• Credit unions/banks: often cheapest if you order ahead—banks rarely impose extra fees for amounts over minimums nerdwallet.com.

• Currency brokers: for large transfers (e.g., home purchase), brokers can save you ~4% vs banks.

3 Supermarkets & Bureaux

• Supermarkets: Sainsbury’s Travel Money offers decent rates; using debit often avoids extra charges businessinsider.com+15forums.moneysavingexpert.com+15forbes.com+15.

• High-street bureaux (e.g. Eurochange): online orders ahead get better rates than walk-ups due to captive pricing forums.moneysavingexpert.com+1moneysavingexpert.com+1.

4 ATMs Abroad

• Fee-free cards (Barclays, Chase, First Direct, Halifax Clarity) allow up to £500–£1,500 free monthly, per MoneySavingExpert thesun.co.uk+2thetimes.co.uk+2thesun.co.uk+2.

• Avoid non-affiliated ATMs; surcharge network fees apply.

Cost Comparisons & Pitfalls

Key Pitfall: Airport bureaux and DCC are major drains—Gatwick loses up to £274/€1,000 moneysavingexpert.comforums.moneysavingexpert.com+6nerdwallet.com+6currency.coach+6thesun.co.ukforums.moneysavingexpert.comforums.moneysavingexpert.com.

FAQs about where to buy cheap euros

Q: When should I buy?
A: Historically, GBP strengthens in early–mid summer. Buy in July–August to lock in better rates thesun.co.uk.

Q: Are prepaid travel cards safe?
A: Yes. Wise and Revolut support PINs, locking, and top-up limits, with added safety vs. cash thetimes.co.uk+1forbes.com+1.

Q: Can I lock an exchange rate?
A: Absolutely—many online and prepaid card services allow locking until travel date.

Q: Is ATM withdrawal safer/better than cash exchange?
A: Often yes, especially with fee-free cards and partner bank ATMs abroad.

Quick Action Plan

1. Track GBP/EUR using XE or Reuters.

2. Pre-order euros online or through your bank.

3. Pick up cash or opt for home delivery.

4. Download a fee-free travel card (Wise/Revolut) and top it up.

5. Use leftover euros or top up your card balance after your trip.

6. Avoid airport exchange & DCC at all costs.

Trusted Bills and Clones Products

• [Prepaid Euro Travel Cards] – Lock mid-market rates, discuss top‑up and ATM use.

• [Bulk Euro Cash Bundles] – Perfect for planned travel or gifting.

• [Premium Travel Wallets] – RFID protection, compartments for cash and cards.

Authoritative Resources on where to buy cheap euros

• MoneySavingExpert: How to buy euros & avoid fees thetimes.co.ukforbes.com+4forbes.com+4forbes.com+4forums.moneysavingexpert.com+7moneysavingexpert.com+7forums.moneysavingexpert.com+7

• Forbes Advisor: Where to exchange currency forbes.com+9forbes.com+9currency.coach+9

• MoneySavingExpert: Cheapest travel money methods moneysavingexpert.com

• Business Insider: 3 ways to avoid FX fees businessinsider.com+1thescottishsun.co.uk+1

• The Guardian: Fee-free ATM entry strategies en.wikipedia.org+2theguardian.com+2thetimes.co.uk+2

• The Times: Holiday money management forbes.com+8thetimes.co.uk+8theguardian.com+8

Final Takeaway:
To answer where to buy cheap euros, shop smart, plan ahead, and avoid overpriced channels. Pre-order online or via your bank, supplement with a fee-free travel card for flexibility, and say no to airports and DCC. Combine these tactics and you’ll travel with confidence—and keep more euros in your pocket.