credit or debit?

ATM cards access your checking or savings account. There has to be money in one of these to get cash in Europe using your ATM card. You will not be able to choose which account to access; if your card is tied to both checking and savings, the card will pull money from checking. So, make sure there's enough in this account. If you use a credit card in an ATM, this is a "cash advance" on your credit card. This works in an emergency, but has VERY high fees and interest charges. You don't want to do this if you can help it. Here are Rick's tips on money. Read all the links, and you'll be an expert: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/money-travel-tips.htm

It is either a debit card, most common, or sometimes just a card used at ATMs and called an ATM card - less common.

I guess Americans do stuff differently,, but I need to clarify this. ATM .. stands for "automated Teller machine". Any card you shove in it is technically an "ATM" card then isn't it? But a CC is a CC, you can have a CC that have been activated to work in an ATM.. right? A debit card takes money out of your account, you can't over spend as it will just reject your attempts to withdraw more then is left in an account( "insufficent funds") .. UNLESS you pay for an have "over draft protection".
A credit card used in an ATM is like taking a cash advance.. bad. In Canada both an ATM card, and newer Credit Cards all have 4 digit PINS.

"Any card you shove in it is technically an "ATM" card then isn't it?" Yes, that is technically correct. However there is a difference between a true "debit" card and an ATM only card. An ATM only card is exactly what it says, it can be used to get cash from an ATM but CANNOT be used as a debit card for POS or internet purchases. Maybe no Cannadian banks offer ATM only cards. Only some US banks do.

Canadians commonly call their debit cards "ATM" cards. The banking system is highly centralized and an ATM-only card would be rare. Most cards are chip-and-PIN by now. For travel abroad, it is wise to depend on a chequing account withdrawal as that's what some foreign machines require. Also don't expect a Canadian debit/ATM card to work at a souvenir shop or bistro. Those centralized banks extract a stiff fee for foreign transactions so it can be much cheaper to make occasional large withdrawals and then use cash where, back under the maple trees, you might blithely tap your debit card.
And you are right, John, about a cash withdrawal on a credit card. Interest rates will approach 19 per cent, and may be applied to the entire balance owing rather than just the withdrawal. Carry enough cash for regular purchases and keep the balance in your hotel safe.

^^^ The OP is from the US, not Canada. So much of that info is not relevant. Also, plenty of US banks still issue ATM only cards (mine included). They tend to be smaller, local banks and credit unions. In general, those still work just fine in European ATMs (always confirm and notify your bank of your travels). Any debit or ATM-only card will deduct funds directly from the primary account source (usually a person's checking account). There are no options for other account withdrawls. If using a credit card in an ATM, almost all cards will consider that a cash withdrawl and charge you high interest rates from the moment you make the withdrawl.

True not relevant to Op, but I learned something, and perhaps someone else did too, so its not really a bad thing..

John, We have just returned from France and did ask this question to our financial institution before we left. What we were advised is to take out larger amounts of cash as needed because we COULD be charged from our bank for a foreign ATM and the French bank as we were not a customer, and to wait to get the majority of your euros when you arrive because you pay less fees..our bank charges a set exchange rate for purchasing which was at that time €1/$1.37 and the exchange rate was actually $1.29; the buy back rate was $1.23; plus a bank fee. But if it was available then to use the card as a Visa since they do not charge fees for foreign transactions. When all was said and done using this advice we paid less than $10 in financial fees. Hope this helps,
Steven & Ragan