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  • 🇨🇦 Canada: bunq Community Travel Tips

✈️ Heading to Canada? We've gathered some tips from the bunq community to make sure your trip is the smoothest it can be. 😎

Check them out below! 🌈 👇


Using your card

💳 Do I need cash in Canada, or can I use my card everywhere?

You can use your card everywhere in Canada, you are unlikely to need cash.

💰 What currency do they use here?

The currency here is Canadian Dollars! The symbol is $ or CAD.

🏧 Which ATM’s can I use for free?

The bunq community has reported free withdrawals at these ATMs.

  • National Bank
  • Tangerine
  • Community Credit Union
  • Scotiabank

💵 If I want cash, how much should I take out of an ATM?

50 CAD should be enough for a few days, since you can use your card for nearly everything.

💳 Should I choose local currency or Euros when paying?

If you're asked to choose between local currency and Euros, always choose local currency.

That way bunq does the conversion for you, and you get to take advantage of the best rates with bunq ZeroFX.


Staying connected

📱 Can I roam, or should I get a local SIM?

Most EU mobile plans will charge you for roaming in Canada.

Wifi is readily available in Canada, especially in coffee shops.

If you want to get a local SIM card, you can learn about your options here.


Useful things to know

💁‍♀️ How does tipping work?

Tipping is expected in Canada. It is normal to tip 15-20% of the bill before tax.

If you recieved bad service you can tip less, and if you recieved amazing service you can tip more.

🍺 How much does a 0.5L beer cost?

€4,10

🍽 How much does an average meal cost?

€11,00

🚨 What’s the emergency number?

911

🔌 What type of plug do they use?

This one! It’s the standard American plug.

🚗 What side of the road do they drive on?

They drive on the right side of the road here.

🗺 How do I navigate my way around?

Google and Apple Maps both work well in Canada.

Otherwise, we recommend Rome2Rio as the best way to find out how to get anywhere. It even tells you the cost of each option. 🙌

👀 Any other good tips?

  • If a shop assistant asks you "Debit or Credit" say Credit. Thst really just means the Mastercard network, instead of the local Canadian payment networks.

Travel Perks

🎢 Visit famous attractions with 10% off

We've partnered with Tiqets to bring you discounts on attraction tickets in Canada 🇨🇦. To get your discount, simply follow the link here and use our coupon code BUNQTIQETS10 at checkout. That's it! 🎊

Travel hands-free with a 20% discount on Stasher

Our partnership with Stasher will allow you to enjoy your destination to the fullest without having to worry about your luggage. You’ll be able to drop off your bags at trusted shops and hotels in Canada with a 20% discount through this link 👌🏻.

If you've been to Canada 🇨🇦 share your experience! The following would be really useful for other bunqers to know:

  • Which ATMs are free to use?
  • What card should I use and where?
  • Any other info you think may be useful.

Share your experience with us in the comments below! 🌈 👇

    a year later

    Je tien a dire au Canada que tous comme au USA certain commerçant utilise la bande magnétique pour payer

      2 years later

      I’ve travelled through Canada (as a Dutch citizen) for 4 months and used a prepaid SIM card plan from Koodo. In my experience, this is the one with a big service network both east and west, and for a relatively low price.

      Make sure you have a credit card in advance. Your Dutch debit card won’t work. (It will at ATM’s, but not in stores). Plus you will really need it at airports, hotels etc.

      Also: If you plan on staying for a longer period, don’t forget to buy a visa!

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