Europe to USA: ESTA Guide, Money Tips & Top Cities for European Travellers

Visa requirements

Flights from Europe (Schengen) to United States

Money, cards & forex fees

ATMs in United States

Top cities in United States

US visa for European (Schengen) passport holders: ESTA and VWP

Citizens of most European Union and Schengen-zone countries can enter the USA without a traditional visa, thanks to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). As of 2026, VWP participating countries include Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Greece, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and others. If your country is on this list, you travel using an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) rather than a visa. The ESTA costs $21 and is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever is earlier. It allows multiple entries with a maximum 90 days per stay. To apply, go to esta.cbp.dhs.gov — the only official CBP website. Avoid any third-party sites that appear in Google search results charging €50–100 for the same application. Completing the ESTA takes about 10–15 minutes. You will need your biometric passport details, your US travel address (hotel), and answers to questions about criminal history and prior travel to restricted countries. Most applications are approved within minutes. If your ESTA is denied or you are not a VWP country national, you need a B1/B2 Tourist Visa from the US Embassy in your country — a more involved process requiring an appointment, documentation, and an interview. Countries that are not on the VWP list include Russia, China, India, several Southeast Asian nations, and most of Africa and the Middle East.

Step-by-step: applying for a US ESTA from Europe

The ESTA application process is entirely online and takes approximately 15 minutes. Step 1: Go to esta.cbp.dhs.gov (official only — verify the .gov domain). Step 2: Click 'Apply' and choose 'Individual Application' or 'Group Application' if travelling with family. Step 3: Enter your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport. This includes your full legal name, date of birth, passport number, issue date, and expiry date. Any discrepancy between your ESTA and your passport will cause problems at check-in or immigration. Step 4: Enter your travel information — country of destination is USA, city of arrival, and your US address (hotel). Step 5: Answer the eligibility questions. These cover criminal history, health conditions, travel to restricted countries, prior US visa refusals, and other immigration questions. Be accurate — CBP has extensive records. Step 6: Review and pay the $21 fee by credit or debit card. Step 7: Save your ESTA Application Number and the approval confirmation. Most applicants receive immediate approval. Some applications show 'Pending' — check back within 72 hours. If 'Travel Not Authorized', contact the US Embassy in your country to apply for a B1/B2 visa. Once approved, your ESTA is automatically linked to your passport and carriers can verify it electronically. You do not need to print it, though having the number handy is useful.

What to bring to the USA: document checklist for Europeans

For smooth entry at a US port of entry, have the following ready. Essential: valid Schengen/EU e-passport with biometric chip, ESTA application number, US accommodation address for at least the first night. Strongly recommended: return flight booking confirmation showing you will leave the USA within 90 days, travel insurance with USA coverage (minimum €5 million medical), debit or credit card valid for USA, and hotel or Airbnb confirmation for your first few days. Optional but helpful: bank statement showing sufficient funds (CBP may ask how you intend to finance your stay), travel itinerary (helps explain your plans if questioned), any tour or activity bookings. CBP officers are looking for evidence that you intend to visit as a genuine tourist and will return home before 90 days. Evidence of ties to your home country — employment letter, property ownership, family — strengthens your case if questioned. Note: EU citizens with a US visa in an expired passport can still use it (within its validity period) alongside a valid new passport — confirm this with your airline before travelling.

Best flights from Europe to the USA

Europe has outstanding direct connectivity to the USA. From Germany: Lufthansa flies from Frankfurt and Munich to New York (JFK/EWR), Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC, Houston, Boston, and more. Fares start around €450–600 return in economy. From France: Air France operates from Paris CDG to most major US cities; KLM from Amsterdam AMS is similarly comprehensive. From Spain: Iberia has excellent transatlantic connections from Madrid to JFK, MIA, LAX, ORD, DFW. From Italy: ITA Airways (formerly Alitalia) and Delta code-share from Rome FCO and Milan MXP. Budget options: Norwegian Air has offered transatlantic fares from various European cities including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Rome to US East Coast cities at €150–300 one-way during promotions, though schedule reliability is less consistent. Icelandair offers cheap transatlantic options via Reykjavik (KEF) — the Iceland stopover is a genuine free add-on to your USA trip. Connecting via London Heathrow on British Airways or Virgin is often the most seamless option for connecting from smaller European cities. Best booking windows for transatlantic economy: 6–10 weeks in advance for summer travel, 3–6 weeks for shoulder season.

Where to go in the USA: favourite cities for European visitors

New York City tops the list for nearly every European visiting the USA for the first time — and it deserves the hype. The Metropolitan Museum of Art alone could fill three days. Central Park is one of the world's greatest public spaces. The food scene spans every cuisine on earth. For a European visitor who loves cities, New York is the most satisfying American experience. Miami is the second most popular entry point for Europeans, particularly from Germany, Spain, and France — the Latin influences, the warm weather, and the Art Deco architecture of South Beach all feel vaguely European while being unmistakably American. Los Angeles divides opinion among Europeans — those who embrace the car culture, the outdoor lifestyle, and the celebrity-watching find it endlessly entertaining; those expecting European-style walkability will be frustrated. San Francisco is the American city most loved by Europeans: compact, walkable, intellectually lively, and with food that reflects the city's extraordinary immigrant heritage. For something different: New Orleans is unlike anywhere else in America — its French colonial history, jazz culture, Creole cuisine, and slightly chaotic energy are unlike any other US city. The Deep South, national parks of the American West, and the Pacific Northwest (Seattle, Portland, Olympic National Park) offer experiences with no European equivalent.

ATMs and cash in the USA for European travellers

Card payments are near-universal in the USA — Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere from food trucks to national parks. Contactless payments work at almost every terminal. European chip-and-PIN cards work fine; in some older US terminals you may need to sign rather than enter a PIN, but this is increasingly rare. Cash is useful for tips, small purchases, and markets. When withdrawing from US ATMs, the fee structure catches many Europeans off guard. Your European bank likely charges 1.5–2% currency conversion plus a fixed international ATM fee of €2–3. The US ATM operator adds a further $3–5 surcharge. Total fees on a $200 withdrawal with a standard European bank card can reach €12–15. The solution: N26, Revolut, or Wise cards have zero or very low foreign transaction fees. N26 Metal offers free global ATM withdrawals. Revolut Standard provides €200/month free ATM withdrawals. Wise provides 2 free withdrawals per month up to €200. Allpoint network ATMs (inside CVS, Walgreens, Target) are surcharge-free for many card types. The most expensive ATMs in the USA are airport terminals, hotel lobbies, and standalone tourist-area units in Times Square or near theme parks — avoid these.

Best European travel cards for spending in USD

Standard European bank cards typically charge 1.5–2% in foreign transaction fees. Some banks (particularly in Germany and France) charge less, but the combination of currency conversion markup and ATM fees adds up quickly. The zero-fee alternatives have become mainstream across Europe. N26 is popular across Germany, Austria, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. Its standard current account charges zero on foreign currency purchases and has competitive ATM withdrawal policies. For premium users, N26 Metal offers completely free global ATM withdrawals. Revolut is perhaps the most widely used fintech in Europe for travel spending. Its Standard tier offers zero-fee currency conversion up to €1,000/month (then 1%), and €200/month free ATM withdrawals. Paid plans (Plus, Premium, Metal) remove these limits and add travel insurance. Wise, while technically a money transfer service, offers a multi-currency debit card that holds balances in dozens of currencies including USD. Converting euros to dollars before your trip at the mid-market rate through Wise and spending from your USD balance means you pay zero on every US transaction. Vivid Money and Bunq (popular in Netherlands and Belgium) also offer competitive zero-fee international spending options. For users of traditional banks: Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, and ING all offer premium accounts with reduced or zero forex fees.

How much does a US trip cost for European travellers?

The USD/EUR exchange rate significantly affects the cost of a US trip for European visitors. At approximately 1.10–1.15 USD per euro (mid-2026), prices feel broadly comparable to Western Europe for accommodation and food, though the USA has significant variability by city. New York City is one of the world's most expensive destinations. A budget traveller staying in a hostel ($60–80/night) and eating at delis and food halls can manage on $120–150 USD per day. Mid-range travellers in a 3-star hotel ($200–280/night) with restaurant meals should budget $300–350 USD/day including tips and activities. Los Angeles is similar but adds mandatory car rental costs ($50–80/day with insurance and gas). Miami is cheaper for accommodation than NYC but similar for food and nightlife. Las Vegas hotel rates vary wildly by day and event — Strip hotels on weekdays can be $80–120/night, the same room on a peak weekend might be $300. San Francisco is expensive for food and accommodation — comparable to New York. National parks (Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Zion) require a park pass ($35 per vehicle) and are among the USA's best-value experiences. For a 14-night USA trip including New York and Miami, a European mid-range budget: flights €700–1,000 return, accommodation €180–250/night ($1,700–3,500 total), food/entertainment/activities €150/day ($1,400 total), tips €200. Total: approximately €4,000–5,500 per person.

Cryptocurrency and digital payments in the USA

The USA leads the world in Bitcoin ATM density with over 30,000 machines. CoinFlip and Bitcoin Depot are the largest operators; machines are found in convenience stores, gas stations, and supermarkets nationwide. For European crypto holders visiting the USA, BTMs provide a way to access USD cash from crypto holdings, though the 8–15% fee is expensive compared to card-based spending. More practically useful: Apple Pay and Google Pay work at essentially every US retailer with contactless terminals. Tap-to-pay is as ubiquitous in New York and LA as it is in Berlin or Paris. Venmo and Cash App are the dominant peer-to-peer payment apps for splitting bills and settling up with US friends, but require a US bank account. PayPal (widely used in Europe) can be used for online purchases in the USA but less commonly for in-person spending. For European visitors interested in spending crypto directly, Miami has the largest concentration of crypto-accepting merchants, and some New York restaurants and coffee shops accept Bitcoin via Lightning Network. The overall pattern: bring your Revolut or Wise card, use contactless everywhere, and keep some USD cash for tips.

Arriving in the USA: immigration, customs, and first impressions

Arriving at a major US airport — JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD — is an experience in controlled chaos. As a VWP/ESTA traveller, you will use the Automated Passport Control kiosks (or Mobile Passport app) for a faster queue. The process: scan your e-passport, enter customs declaration answers, take a photo, print a receipt, hand it to an officer. The CBP officer may ask you basic questions about your visit. Answer confidently and briefly. Fingerprints are taken on your first US entry. After immigration, collect bags and proceed through customs. Declare any food items — US agricultural inspectors are serious about this, and fines for undeclared food are real. First impressions: the USA is larger, louder, and more diverse than many Europeans expect. The political and cultural landscape varies dramatically by city and region — New York and San Francisco feel cosmopolitan and progressive; the rural South and Midwest offer a very different America. Practical tips for your first day: get a local SIM or activate your eSIM at the airport, download Uber and Google Maps, and exchange some cash if you need tips (or use your zero-fee card everywhere and tip in card). The speed of US restaurant service surprises Europeans — meals move faster than in France or Italy, and lingering over the table post-meal is less common.

On-arrival tips

• 1Apply ESTA at esta.cbp.dhs.gov at least 72 hours before flying — have your application number ready at check-in
• 2The US address field in ESTA requires a street address — use your hotel address, not just a city name
• 3Tax is added at the register in the US, not shown on price tags — budget for 6–10% added to all purchases
• 4Portion sizes in US restaurants are enormous — sharing mains or taking half for later is perfectly normal
• 5Download Uber or Lyft before arrival — taxis in US cities are expensive and often difficult to hail
• 6NYC subway contactless (tap your European Visa/Mastercard directly) works perfectly — no need for a MetroCard