Paying for public transport by card

Austria

In Vienna, buy tickets at the machines in U-Bahn stations, which take cards, or in the WienMobil app. Since 28 May 2026 a one-year Tap+Ride trial lets you buy a single ticket by tapping a Visa or Mastercard card, Apple Pay or Google Pay on a reader next to the ticket machines at nine U-Bahn stations, including Stephansplatz, Schwedenplatz, Westbahnhof and Hauptbahnhof. Keep the same card or phone with you, as inspectors check it.

Checked October 2026

Bulgaria

• Sofia metro, buses, trams and trolleybuses: tap a contactless card, Apple Pay or Google Pay on the gate reader (on the left side in the metro) or the blue readers on board. A single ride is 0.80 euro, and taps in a day are capped at the 2 euro day ticket.
• Sofia Airport: metro line 4 runs from just outside Terminal 2 to the city centre in about 40 minutes, and bus 84 serves both terminals, with contactless payment on board.

Checked October 2026

Estonia

• Tallinn buses, trams and trolleybuses: tap a contactless bank card or phone on any validator on board for a 2 euro one-hour ticket. Once your taps in a day pass the 5.50 euro day ticket price, further rides that day are free.
• Tallinn Airport: trams T2 and T4 run into the city. Tap your card on board or buy a ticket at the airport machine.
• For a longer stay, buy an Ühiskaart travel card at a sales point such as the Tallinn Tourist Information Centre and load a 1, 3, 5 or 30-day ticket.

Checked October 2026

France

• In Paris, buy a Navigo Easy card (2 euros) at any metro station and load single tickets or day passes onto it, or load tickets onto a compatible phone with the Bonjour RATP app.
• Tapping a bank card works only on some routes so far: the line 14 exit at Orly airport (from 30 June 2026), the Montmartre funicular (from July 2026) and buses as they are equipped through 2026, at 3.35 euros a metro trip with no free transfers. Metro line 1 is due in 2027 and the whole metro, RER and tram network by 2030.
• The RER B train from Charles de Gaulle airport costs 14 euros, loaded on a Navigo Easy card or phone.
• In Lyon, tap a contactless card or phone on the whole TCL network (metro, trams and buses) since 2022, with an hour of transfers included.
• Ride-hailing apps such as Uber charge about 45-70 euros from Charles de Gaulle to Paris, with the price fixed when you book.

Checked October 2026

Germany

In Berlin there is no tap-to-ride yet: buy a ticket before you travel from a machine (cash, debit or credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay) or in the BVG app, which takes credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Bus drivers only sell tickets for card payment, and trams have on-board machines that take coins or cards.

Checked October 2026

Greece

In Athens, tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard (or a phone wallet) on the validators of the metro, tram, buses and trolleys with the Tap2Ride system, launched in January 2025. A 90-minute trip costs 1.20 euros and charges stop at 4.10 euros a day; the airport express bus is 5.50 euros and the metro to the airport 9 euros. Greek taxis must take cards.

Checked October 2026

Italy

• In Rome, tap a contactless card or phone at metro gates (lines A, B and C) and on ATAC buses and trams with tap&go: each tap is a 1.50 euro BIT ticket, and charges are capped at the daily ticket price after several trips in 24 hours.
• From Fiumicino airport, the Leonardo Express train to Termini costs 14 euros, and official taxis charge a fixed 55 euros to the centre.
• In Milan, paper tickets ended on 1 January 2026: tap a contactless card on metro gates, trams and buses at 2.20 euros a trip, capped at 7.60 euros a day.
• The Malpensa Express airport train costs 15 euros, and you can pay by tapping your card at the Pay&Go turnstiles at Milan stations and Malpensa terminals 1 and 2, tapping again when you get off.

Checked October 2026

Latvia

Riga buses, trams and trolleybuses all use the e-talons ticket system. Tickets and cards are sold at ticket offices, ticket machines, some shops and in the Rīgas Satiksme app.

Checked October 2026

Lithuania

• Vilnius buses and trolleybuses: tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard card, Apple Pay or Google Pay on any validator for a 60-minute ticket at 1.25 euro. One tap buys one ticket.
• If a validator will not take your card, buy a ticket in the m.Ticket or Trafi app.

Checked October 2026

Netherlands

• Across the Netherlands, including Amsterdam's GVB trams, buses and metro, Rotterdam and all NS trains, you can tap in and out with a contactless Visa or Mastercard card, Apple Pay or Google Pay (OVpay, since June 2023). Each traveller needs their own card or phone. On GVB in Amsterdam your spending is capped at about €10 a day.
• On trains, tapping with a bank card buys second class only.
• The train from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam Centraal takes about 15 minutes and costs about €5.50 (reported).

Checked October 2026

Portugal

In Lisbon, the metro takes contactless Visa and Mastercard cards and Apple Pay or Google Pay at the gates, at €1.92 a trip. Since November 2024 Carris buses, trams and the city elevators also take contactless cards on board, but this buys the on-board fare, which is much higher than with a reloadable Navegante card (for example on Tram 28). For several rides, buy a Navegante card and load it with credit.

Checked October 2026

Romania

• Bucharest metro: tap a contactless card or phone at the gates of any station. A combined metro and surface trip costs 7 lei for 120 minutes (July 2026).
• Bucharest buses, trams and trolleybuses (STB): most buses and trams 1, 10 and 41 take contactless cards on the validator, 3 lei for 90 minutes of changes. Elsewhere, use an Activ card (3.70 lei) or a Multiplu card from STB sales points, including at the airport.
• Bucharest Airport: express bus 100 runs to Piața Victoriei and Piața Unirii, paid with the same card. Trains also run to Gara de Nord.
• Uber and Bolt work in Bucharest and at the airport, and airport kiosk taxis take contactless cards.

Checked October 2026

Slovakia

• Bratislava buses, trams and trolleybuses: since summer 2025 the TAPni sa service lets you buy a basic 30-minute ticket by tapping a contactless card or phone on the validator inside the vehicle. Keep the same card or phone for ticket checks.
• Drivers do not sell tickets. Yellow machines at stops take coins and contactless cards (some only coins); the big red machines at larger stops take all cards and notes.

Checked October 2026

Slovenia

• Ljubljana city buses (LPP): tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard card on the validator, 1.50 euro within one zone, but each bus is a new fare. With the Urbana card (2 euro, from tourist information centres and the green Urbanomat machines, which take cards) or the Urbana app, one fare covers 90 minutes of changes.
• Ljubljana Airport: LPP bus 64 to the main bus station costs 4.10 euro and takes Urbana or a Visa or Mastercard card (reported January 2026). The Arriva bus is paid to the driver.

Checked October 2026

Spain

• In Madrid, every Metro station has turnstiles that take contactless Visa and Mastercard cards and phone wallets for single trips since 1 June 2026, and EMT city buses take contactless cards.
• For several trips, a Multi card (2.50 euros) loaded with a 10-trip ticket (7.30 euros) is cheaper. Metro line 8 to Barajas airport adds a 3 euro airport supplement.
• In Barcelona, tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Amex at the reader by the front door of TMB buses or at marked metro gates; it buys a single ticket at the normal fare with normal transfers.
• Barcelona taxis all take cards; Uber, Cabify and Bolt still run there in 2026 but a Catalan law to phase them out is in progress.

Checked October 2026

Switzerland

Buy a ticket before you board, from an SBB ticket machine (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, franc cash or euro notes) or in the SBB Mobile app, which takes the major credit and debit cards and Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Checked October 2026

United Kingdom

• London: tap a contactless bank card or phone on buses, the Tube, DLR, trams, London Overground, most of the Elizabeth line, Thames Clippers boats and most National Rail in Zones 1-9, with daily and weekly caps. Buses do not take cash.
• From Heathrow, the Piccadilly line and Elizabeth line take the same contactless cards, and Heathrow Express also lets you tap in and out (£26 single).
• Edinburgh: tap a contactless card or phone when you board a Lothian bus (no need to tap off), capped at £5.70 a day and £26.50 a week; on Edinburgh Trams tap on and off at the platform validators.
• Your bank may charge its foreign transaction fee on each charge.

Checked October 2026

Cambodia

• Phnom Penh and Siem Reap: tuk-tuks are the main way around. Grab lets you register with a foreign phone number and pay by card in the app; PassApp and street-hailed tuk-tuks are cash only, so carry small notes.

Checked October 2026

China

• In Beijing, all subway lines take contactless Visa and Mastercard at the gates (since September 2024).
• In Shanghai, all metro lines take contactless Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB and UnionPay at the gates (since June 2025), and ticket machines take foreign cards.
• In both cities and most others, you can also scan an Alipay or WeChat metro ride code. Beijing's airport lines are part of the subway and take the same cards. In Shanghai, the Maglev to Pudong Airport was the first line to take foreign cards.
• For taxis, the international DiDi Rider app works with a foreign phone number and a foreign Visa or Mastercard, or book DiDi inside Alipay.

Checked October 2026

Hong Kong

• MTR, including the Airport Express: tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay credit card, or your phone, at the gates. Not on Light Rail or MTR buses.
• KMB and Citybus buses and the trams: contactless Visa and Mastercard are reported to work at the fare reader.
• Minibuses mostly take only Octopus or cash, so carry an Octopus card for them.

Checked October 2026

India

In Delhi, the Metro sells single-journey tokens at counters (cash or UPI) and machines, a rechargeable Smart Card, and Tourist Cards for unlimited rides (reported ₹150 for 1 day, ₹300 for 3 days); the Airport Express Line uses the same tickets. In Mumbai, Metro Line 1 is reported to need UPI or a metro card. Uber is reported to take foreign cards; Ola and Uber auto-rickshaws are usually paid in cash or UPI.

Checked October 2026

Indonesia

In Jakarta, the MRT takes contactless Visa and Mastercard cards at the gates across the whole line (since July 2026), the first transit system in Indonesia to do so. Other Jakarta transport, such as Transjakarta buses, does not take foreign cards yet. In Bali there is no metro or rail: use Grab or Gojek and pay by card in the app.

Checked October 2026

Japan

• In Tokyo, a Suica or PASMO (prepaid transit cards, as a card or on your iPhone) works on every train, subway and bus. Tokyo Metro, Toei, Odakyu, Keio, Tokyu, Keikyu and Yurikamome also take contactless Visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB cards at the gates, but JR lines (including the Yamanote Line) do not, and tap-to-pay only works if both stations support it.
• In Osaka, Osaka Metro, Hankyu, Hanshin, Nankai and Kintetsu take contactless cards; JR and Kyoto's subway and buses do not, so use a Suica, PASMO or ICOCA transit card there.
• From the airports: at Haneda, the Keikyu Line takes contactless cards but the Tokyo Monorail does not; at Narita, neither the JR Narita Express nor the Keisei Skyliner does, so use a transit card or buy a ticket; at Kansai, the Nankai line takes contactless cards but the JR Haruka does not.
• The GO taxi app, Japan's most used, takes foreign cards and Apple Pay.

Checked October 2026

Macao

• Macao buses cost MOP 6 and do not take Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or Hong Kong's standard Octopus card. Pay with exact change in patacas, Hong Kong dollars or yuan (no change given), a Macau Pass card from a convenience store, or the bus QR code in Alipay, AlipayHK, WeChat Pay or UnionPay.
• Taxis charge by the meter and are mostly paid in cash.

Checked October 2026

Malaysia

• Kuala Lumpur LRT, MRT and Monorail: bank cards do not open the gates yet. Use a Touch 'n Go card (sold at 7-Eleven and petrol stations, topped up with cash) or buy a token; Rapid KL counters take cards for tokens and top-ups.
• KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit airport trains: tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB or UnionPay card at the gates.
• Grab: pay for rides in the app with a foreign card.

Checked October 2026

Philippines

• Manila LRT-2: since 13 July 2026 all 13 stations take contactless Visa and Mastercard cards and phones at the gates.
• Manila MRT-3: contactless Mastercard cards have worked at the gates since July 2025. LRT-1 is due to follow.
• Jeepneys and tricycles are paid in cash.

Checked October 2026

Singapore

• Singapore MRT and buses: tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Amex card, or Apple Pay or Google Pay, at the gates and card readers (SimplyGo). Foreign cards pay a S$0.60 admin fee per day of use.
• A stored-value EZ-Link card avoids the foreign card fee, which is worth it for a longer stay.

Checked October 2026

South Korea

• In Seoul, tap a T-money card, WOWPASS or Climate Card (Seoul's unlimited-ride pass) at the gates and on buses; foreign bank cards do not work at the gates or on bus readers.
• Since March 2026, about 440 ticket machines at 273 stations on Lines 1-8 accept foreign Visa and Mastercard for single tickets and short-term Climate Card passes (1 to 7 days), with a fee of about 3.7%. Regular T-money top-ups are cash.
• From Incheon Airport, the AREX all-stop train takes T-money; the AREX Express needs its own ticket from the station machines or counters, or booked online.
• For taxis, Kakao T (used for most taxi bookings) lets you add a foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB or Amex under Non-Korean Credit Card, or choose to pay the driver; Uber also works in Seoul.

Checked October 2026

Sri Lanka

• Trains: reserved 1st and 2nd class seats can be booked on the official Sri Lanka Railways site (seatreservation.railway.gov.lk) with a foreign Visa or Mastercard; you swap the booking for a ticket at certain stations. Unreserved 2nd and 3rd class tickets are sold at the station on the day.
• Buses: pay the conductor in cash, ideally with small notes.
• Ride apps: PickMe and Uber take foreign cards in the app in the main cities; street tuk-tuks want cash.

Checked October 2026

Taiwan

• Taipei MRT: since 1 July 2026, tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB or UnionPay card, or Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay, at the gates. Apple Pay Express Mode works without unlocking the phone.
• Taoyuan Airport MRT: contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB and UnionPay cards work at the marked bank card gates. Use the same card to enter and exit.
• Elsewhere, an EasyCard or iPASS covers buses, local trains and other metros; buy one at the airport MRT counter, an MRT station or a convenience store.

Checked October 2026

Thailand

In Bangkok, the MRT Blue, Purple, Yellow and Pink lines take contactless Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards at the gates (MRT travel cards stopped working on 1 June 2026). The BTS Skytrain does not take bank cards yet: buy a single ticket with cash or get a Rabbit card. A unified fare system is planned for 2027. Grab rides can be paid by card in the app.

Checked October 2026

Vietnam

In Ho Chi Minh City, Metro Line 1 takes contactless foreign cards at the gates (since March 2025). In Hanoi, metro Lines 2A (Cat Linh to Ha Dong) and 3 (Nhon to Hanoi Station) take contactless Visa cards at the gates (since March 2026). Motorbike taxis and many metered taxis want cash; Grab takes your card in the app.

Checked October 2026

Israel

• Buses across Israel take no cash. Pay with a Rav-Kav card, which also works on the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem light rail, the Haifa Carmelit and Israel Railways.
• Egged buses in Eilat, Jerusalem and Haifa have taken contactless bank cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay at the validators since January 2026 (a pilot).

Checked October 2026

Qatar

• Doha Metro and Lusail Tram: buy a Standard Travel Card (QR10) from the machines at any metro station or a licensed retailer, then top it up. A trip costs QR2 and you pay at most QR6 a day.
• Doha buses (Karwa): you need a Karwa Smartcard, sold at retailers but not on board. Tap in and tap off, or you pay a QR30 penalty.

Checked October 2026

Saudi Arabia

• Riyadh Metro and buses: tap a contactless bank card or your phone at the gates, or buy a Darb card (SAR 10, then top up) or a ticket in the Darb app. A regular ticket costs SAR 4 for two hours. Apple Pay works in Express Mode, with no need to unlock your phone.

Checked October 2026

Turkey

• In Istanbul, buy an Istanbulkart (the city transit card) at the yellow Biletmatik machines in metro, tram and ferry stations and at both airports, and top it up with cash there. One card works on the metro, trams, buses, Metrobus, Marmaray and ferries; a full fare is 46.20 lira since 17 July 2026.
• Most metro and tram gates also take contactless Visa and Mastercard, but you are reported to pay a higher fare with no transfer discount, so a card is only worth it for a ride or two.
• Taxis can be booked and paid by card through BiTaksi or Uber.

Checked October 2026

United Arab Emirates

• Dubai Metro, tram and buses: you need a nol card or ticket. The Silver card (stored value) is the best choice for most visitors, and the Red ticket suits five trips or fewer. Paying with bank cards at the gates is the last phase of a nol upgrade the RTA said would finish by the end of Q3 2026, so do not count on it.
• Dubai taxis can be booked in Careem, Uber and Bolt as well as hailed in the street.

Checked October 2026

Algeria

• Uber does not operate in Algeria. Heetch is reported to be the easiest ride app for foreigners; Yassir is the Algerian alternative.

Checked October 2026

Egypt

In Cairo, Uber and Careem take foreign cards and serve the airport (about 25 km to downtown); with Uber, set the app to card. Metro tickets are cheap and sold at station windows, so carry small notes. Black-and-white street taxis are cash only and fares should be agreed or metered before you set off.

Checked October 2026

Kenya

• Nairobi matatus (minibuses): pay the conductor in cash or by M-Pesa to the till number shown in the vehicle. Keep small notes, and check the fare before you board.
• Ride apps: Uber takes Mastercard in the app throughout, and Visa again since September 2026; you can also pay by M-Pesa or cash.

Checked October 2026

Morocco

Uber returned to Morocco in November 2025 with licensed drivers and cashless payment, now in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier and Agadir. Petit taxis are cash only. From Marrakech airport, the line 19 bus costs about 30 dirhams in cash. Trains, including the Al Boraq high-speed line between Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca, can be paid by card or cash at station windows.

Checked October 2026

South Africa

• Johannesburg and Pretoria: the Gautrain, including the OR Tambo airport link and Gautrain buses, has taken contactless bank cards at the gates since October 2019. Tap in and out with the same card, taken out of your wallet, or you pay a penalty fare. A Gautrain card is the alternative.
• Cape Town: MyCiTi buses need a myconnect card (R40 at station kiosks since February 2026; single-trip cards were scrapped). The city planned to pilot paying with a bank card from July 2026, so check before relying on it.

Checked October 2026

Tunisia

• Tunis airport bus into the city: cash only. Taxis do not take cards.
• Sousse: the Metro du Sahel train takes cards at the ticket machine, but it is slow; paying cash at the booth is quicker.

Checked October 2026

Argentina

• Buenos Aires Subte: some gates have a reader for contactless credit and debit cards and NFC phones; the rest take only the SUBE card. City buses are adding contactless Visa and Mastercard readers line by line, at the registered SUBE fare. Otherwise buy a SUBE card and top it up.

Checked October 2026

Bolivia

• In La Paz and El Alto, the Mi Teleférico cable car lines sell tickets and rechargeable cards at station booths. Since 1 April 2026 the booths also take QR payments from Bolivian banking apps; visitors without one pay cash.

Checked October 2026

Brazil

• Sao Paulo: since 14 September 2026 every gate on Metro Lines 1 (Blue), 2 (Green), 3 (Red) and 15 (Silver) takes contactless Visa, Mastercard and Elo cards and phones. Paying by card gives no bus or train transfer discount; use a Bilhete Unico or TOP card for that. Lines 4 (Yellow) and 5 (Lilac), run by private operators, are still testing.
• Rio de Janeiro: MetroRio gates take contactless bank cards and phones.

Checked October 2026

Canada

• Toronto: tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express or phone on the PRESTO reader at every subway gate and on all TTC buses and streetcars. The fare is the same as with a PRESTO card and includes a two-hour transfer if you tap the same card. It also works on GO Transit and the UP Express airport train.
• Vancouver: tap a contactless card or phone at SkyTrain gates (tap in and out) and on buses. The Canada Line runs to YVR airport.
• Montreal: metro gates and STM buses do not take bank cards yet. Buy an OPUS card or tickets at the station machines, or on Android use the Chrono app's phone tickets (since September 2026). Direct bank-card payment is planned for 2027.

Checked October 2026

Chile

• Santiago: since 13 February 2026 you can tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard (debit, credit or prepaid), or a phone, at Metro and Tren Nos gates, at the same fare as the bip! card. Use the same card all day to get transfer discounts. City buses (Red) still need a bip! card; bank cards on buses are planned for late 2026.

Checked October 2026

Dominican Republic

• In Santo Domingo, the Metro and cable car normally use a rechargeable Metro card. Since February 2026, a pilot lets you tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard (or a phone wallet) at marked gates in 11 stations, including Centro de los Héroes, Juan Bosch and Mamá Tingó on Line 1, María Montez and Concepción Bona on Line 2, and the Charles de Gaulle cable car station. The tap fare is RD$35 and covers a transfer to the bus corridors.
• Guaguas (local minibuses) and street taxis take cash only.
• Uber works in Santo Domingo, Punta Cana and other cities and takes foreign cards in the app.

Checked October 2026

Ecuador

• In Quito, the Metro costs $0.45. Since April 2026 the gates take the Tarjeta Ciudad (a free city transport card, issued with ID and a minimum top-up), the Metro card or a QR code from the Quito Nos Mueve app; tapping a bank card at the gates is not offered. Single tickets are sold at station windows.
• Local buses elsewhere take cash only.

Checked October 2026

Guatemala

• In Guatemala City, the Transmetro bus lines take contactless Visa and Mastercard cards, or the rechargeable Tarjeta Ciudadana (Q20, sold at station machines); coins are no longer accepted on board.
• Chicken buses and tuk-tuks across the country take cash only.
• Uber works in Guatemala City and Antigua, including pickups at the airport. Shared shuttles from the airport to Antigua or Lake Atitlán are booked in advance.

Checked October 2026

Jamaica

• In Kingston and Spanish Town, JUTC buses take cash in Jamaican dollars or a prepaid JUTC SmartFare card from JUTC ticket offices, such as the Half Way Tree Transport Centre.
• Route taxis and coaster buses elsewhere take cash only.
• Knutsford Express coaches between Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril and other towns sell tickets online or at their offices, by card or cash.

Checked October 2026

Mexico

• In Mexico City, the Metro (5 pesos a ride) takes contactless Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards at the turnstiles on lines 1 to 11, A and B since late 2024, and the Metrobús takes contactless cards or the rechargeable Mobility Card (MI card, 15 pesos).
• Metrobús line 4 runs from the airport terminals to the Historic Centre for 30 pesos.
• Uber is reported to work with foreign cards; airport pickup rules have changed several times, so follow the pickup point shown in the app.
• In Cancún, ADO buses run from the airport to the downtown bus station (about 145 pesos) and Playa del Carmen (about 270 pesos), with tickets sold at the terminal counter or online. Regular Uber pickups at Cancún airport are unreliable as of 2026; the Uber Taxi option works.

Checked October 2026

Panama

• In Panama City, the Metro (Line 1 and Line 2, including the airport branch) takes contactless Visa and Mastercard cards at the gates since January 2023; tap in and tap out. A rechargeable Metro card (about $2) also works, and it covers MiBus city buses. You cannot pay cash at the gates.
• From Tocumen airport, walk about 5 minutes to Aeropuerto station, ride Line 2 and change to Line 1 for downtown (about $0.85 in total, reported).
• Uber works in Panama City and from the airport (reported $15-25 to downtown); official airport taxis cost $30-40.

Checked October 2026

Peru

• Lima Metro Line 2 (the new underground line, still free while in trial service) needs the Tarjeta Interoperable de Transporte (TIT) to enter and exit since 8 July 2026. Buy it for 7.50 soles at station ticket offices or machines.
• Lima taxis: use an app or an official airport or hotel taxi rather than one hailed on the street.

Checked October 2026

United States

• New York City: tap a contactless credit or debit card or a phone at OMNY readers at every subway station and on buses, $3 a ride; after $35 in seven days on the same card or phone the rest of the week is free. MetroCard sales ended on 31 December 2025.
• The AirTrain from JFK airport to the subway and trains at Jamaica or Howard Beach costs $8.75 and takes the same contactless cards.
• Washington, DC: since May 2025 you can tap a contactless card or phone at all Metrorail faregates, tapping in and out with the same card ($2.25-6.75 a ride); Metrobus did not take bank cards at launch.
• San Francisco Bay Area: since December 2025 you can tap a contactless card or phone on BART, Muni and the other Clipper systems, with free or cheaper transfers within two hours.
• Everywhere, each rider needs their own card or phone, and your bank may add its foreign fee to each ride.

Checked October 2026

Uruguay

• In Montevideo, city buses take cash on board or the rechargeable STM card; bank cards are not taken yet. The city plans to accept contactless debit, credit and international cards and phones on buses from June 2027, phased in.

Checked October 2026

Australia

• Sydney: tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Amex card, or your phone, on Opal readers on trains, buses, ferries and light rail. No Opal card needed.
• Melbourne: tap-and-go with Visa or Mastercard cards and phones has worked on trains and trams since June 2026 and on all buses since 26 July 2026 (full fares only).
• Brisbane and South East Queensland: contactless Visa and Mastercard work on all trains, trams, ferries and buses. Amex stopped working on 15 December 2025.

Checked October 2026