Euros in US or at ATM in Germany

Getting Euros prior to your departure is an extra step in your preparations that you really don't need to do. You will pay a service fee at most banks in the US. While you may pay a service fee to use an ATM in Germany, it most likely will be less that what your bank would charge you here. You might want to check your ATM network to see if there are any participating banks in Germany. Also, avoid the non-bank affiliated ATM's like Euronet, Cashpoint, etc, as their fees are high and exchange rates are not good. On the same page as the travel forum page, you will find the page about "Cash and Currency Tips" under "Useful Tools"

Getting euros while in Europe is as easy as using an ATM in the states. But the downsides to waiting are (1) you will have to find an ATM, (2) hope it works (they do malfunction at times), and (3) perhaps doing it while jet lagged and on new ground. Get 100 Euros from a local bank or AAA and be done with it. The extra cost to get them here vs getting upon arrival is negligible. Of course it's your choice, but we like to keep things simple.

I traveled in European countries a few years ago and was surprised at how many businesses don't use cash (Euros, Pound, etc) at all. I left the US with just my credit card and that was all I needed. Every place took credit cards. If you want to use Euros you can get the best exchange rate once you land in Europe. I would use a credit card that has reciprocal banking like you can get with Bank of American (there are probably others as well, you'd have to ask your bank) that pairs with banks in France, Germany, England, etc. You can go to any ATM and get Euros just like you'd do at home to get cash. The ATM exchange rate is much better.

Without having any Euros on hand, I’d get some before going over as suggested, if it would put you at ease. You can get more if needed when you’re there, While establishments in most countries readily accept credit cards, Germany is an exception. Many places still only accept cash.

Earlier this year after arriving at Frankfurt from the U.S., we checked into our hotel in Bensheim then went to walk around town. We stopped for a pastry and coffee and it was cash only. Later, we went to a restaurant for dinner and it too was cash only. In less than 4 hours I had already used 70€. While we always have Euros from previous trips, I hadn’t planned on needing so many, so soon upon arrival. I stopped at ATMs a couple times during the German part of the trip. Once we went into France, I was able to use my credit card almost exclusively. At the end of the trip, in the historic center of Frankfurt, we stopped for ice cream and again, cash only.

hccohen - the Christmas markets are heavily into cash only and you will find many, many businesses in Germany that are cash only.
Germans like it like this and frankly, so do I. Easier to keep on a budget.

Report your travel dates. Let your bank(s) know that you'll be using your debit and credit cards in Europe. Banks will want to know the countries you're visiting and the dates you'll be gone. Though some banks may tell you this step is unnecessary, it's best to alert them so they don't freeze your card if they detect unusual activity.

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money

Getting Euros ahead of time is expensive and unnecessary. Get them from an ATM when you land

Do whatever you want to do. There is no "right" answer for everyone. Some people value knowing that they have the euros ready to go. They don't mind a small fee. Others want to get the absolute best exchange rate possible and aren't worried about finding an ATM on arrival.

I do agree that the idea that you will need cash in Germany is spot on.

I do recommend using an ATM from a bank, not those EC or Reise ATMS that you will see everywhere. Use Deutsche Bank ATMs at the airport or one that is actually in a bank. The ones on street corners, in businesses, etc. are all going to give you a less than ideal rate. There are Deutsche Bank ATMs all over the airports here.

Are there Deutsche Bank ATMs in the main train station in Frankfurt?

What we currently do is change $100 to EURO here just so we can have cash if need be (taxi, metro, snack).
Then once we are in town find a bank with its own ATM and get cash there.
If there is a problem I can walk into the bank and explain my situation.

Some people are cool about not taking EUROs and getting them as soon as they land.
It all comes down to your peace of mind and what you are comfortable doing.

What is called the "Network" charges banks 1% to service the ATM transactions and convert the currency.

A few ATM cards give you zero discount on dollar to euro conversion, that is, they absorb the 1% Network charge. Two of these are Capital One and Schwab.

A lot of credit unions and some local banks only pass on the 1% Network charge, so at an ATM you will get, in euro, 99% of what you are charged.

Most mainline banks, Chase, Citi, USBank, etc, pay the 1% Network charge and then add 2% of their own profit, so you pay 3% charge for getting euro with those cards.

Wells Fargo and BofA sell euro at 5% over the conversion rate early in each morning.

So if you buy euro over here from Wells Fargo or BofA, you're only paying 2% (5% - 3%) more that what most banks will charge you at an ATM over there.

Getting Euros ahead of time is expensive and unnecessary. Get them
from an ATM when you land

No, $2 per hundred is pretty little to pay for insurance against a much bigger disaster.

If you have never been to Europe and used your ATM cards there, you really don't know that they will work. If you have been to Europe, and you are not stupid, you've brought back a few hundred euro to make sure you have cash when you land the next time.

In 2004, I arrived at FRA with three ATM cards, two (Wells Fargo and Chase) that I had used a year and a half earlier on a previous trip and one new card from a local bank. I tried to get euro at a Deutsche Bank ATM at the airport. My first two cards were declined - "call your bank" it said. I wasn't too worried, because I had a couple of hundred euro left over from my last trip, but that wasn't enough to get me through 2 weeks. Fortunately my last card, the Wells Fargo one, worked.

My point: unless you have already been to Europe, and have used the very same cards successfully, don't assume that they will work when you arrive. It's cheap insurance to get a few hundred euro from one of those two bank before going over.

Cash (Bar) is the way to go for the Markets. I use my US based Credit Union debt card here all the time to withdraw Euros from German Bank ATMs with Pin. My bank charges me 3-4 Euros per withdraw. I usually withdraw hundreds of Euros at a time. I would avoid all ATMs outside of German Banks. You might notify your home bank that you will be in Germany the specified time, so as not to have your transactions blocked by a security feature. Some banks will limit your withdrawals too. I would leave your unnecessarily cards at home. I used to use an EC card, but lately my debit card seems to work everywhere. Smaller purchases the chip is scanned and no pin or signature is required. If your card is lost or stollen I would immediately contact your bank and put a block/hold on it. If you can easily get Euro 100 from your bank prior to traveling I would considerer it if you think you will need some cash before you can get to a bank ATM.

No, there is not a Deutsche Bank ATM at the main station in Frankfurt, you would need to go across the street. Not ideal.
Either get them at the airport, or go to a bank in the city center. There is a Targo Bank at the Hauptwache and a Commerce Bank at the Konstablerwache. Those are 2 stations that people frequently use due to the many hotels that are near them and they are in the city center.