Quick answer. Chase Sapphire Preferred charges 0 percent foreign transaction fees in Italy. Use it for every restaurant, shop, and hotel. Almost every other Chase card charges 3 percent. For ATM cash, do not use the Chase debit. Bring a Wise or Schwab card.
Chase fees in Italy, card by card
Here is what every common Chase card costs in Italy:
| Card | FX Fee | ATM Fee | Use Abroad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire Preferred | 0% | n/a (credit) | Yes, for all purchases |
| Sapphire Reserve | 0% | n/a (credit) | Yes, top pick for purchases |
| Ink Business Preferred | 0% | n/a (credit) | Yes, for business spend |
| United Explorer / Club / Quest | 0% | n/a (credit) | Yes, for purchases |
| IHG One Rewards Premier | 0% | n/a (credit) | Yes, for hotels |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless / Bold | 0% | n/a (credit) | Yes, for hotels |
| Freedom Unlimited | 3% | n/a (credit) | No, leave at home |
| Freedom Flex | 3% | n/a (credit) | No, leave at home |
| Slate Edge | 3% | n/a (credit) | No |
| Amazon Prime Visa | 3% | n/a (credit) | No |
| Total Checking debit | 3% | $5 per withdrawal | Emergency only |
| Premier Plus debit | 3% | $5 per withdrawal | Emergency only |
| Sapphire Banking debit | 3% | $0 | Acceptable for cash |
| Private Client debit | 3% | $0 | Acceptable for cash |
The Chase ATM trap in Italy
Chase Total Checking charges a flat $5 per non-Chase ATM withdrawal abroad. Chase has zero ATMs in Italy. Every withdrawal there is non-Chase. On top of the $5, Chase charges 3 percent FX on the dollar amount.
A 200 euro withdrawal works out like this:
Starting amount: 200 euro converts to roughly $220 at recent rates. Chase ATM surcharge: $5 flat per withdrawal. Chase FX markup: 3% of $220, which is $6.60. Local operator fee: 0-3 euros from the Italy bank that owns the ATM. Total cost: about $11.60-15.
That is 5-7 percent of the withdrawal amount, every single time. A Wise card or Schwab card eliminates almost all of it.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chase charge a foreign transaction fee in Italy?
Most Chase cards charge a 3 percent foreign transaction fee. The exceptions are Chase Sapphire Preferred and the rest of the Sapphire and travel-card line, which have a 0 percent foreign transaction fee.
What does Chase charge to use an ATM in Italy?
Chase Total Checking charges $5 per ATM withdrawal abroad plus a 3 percent currency conversion fee. A 200 euro withdrawal costs about $11.60-15 in Chase fees. The best option is to use Wise or Charles Schwab for cash.
Does Chase Sapphire Preferred work in Italy?
Yes. Chase Sapphire Preferred has 0 percent foreign transaction fees and uses Visa, accepted at virtually every restaurant, hotel, and shop in Italy.
Should I tell Chase I'm traveling to Italy?
Chase no longer requires travel notices for personal cards. Their fraud system uses behavior, not pre-trip notifications. Business card holders should still set a travel notice in the Chase app.