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Transit cards & tap-to-pay

The card to get, where to buy it, what the deposit is, and whether your own contactless card or phone opens the gates — city by city.

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43 cities. Every row is marked check: tap-to-pay is spreading fast and fares change. Desk table checked 2026-09.

  • Tokyo

    Japan

    Suica or PASMO (IC card); Welcome Suica or Tourist PASMO for visitors

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    Welcome Suica at Haneda and Narita airports; regular Suica/PASMO cards again on sale since March 2025; or add Suica/PASMO to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet (Welcome Suica Mobile app on iPhone)
    Deposit or card fee
    ¥500 refundable deposit on regular Suica/PASMO; Welcome Suica and Tourist PASMO have none but expire after 28 days (PASMO Passport was withdrawn in 2024)
    Visitor passes
    Tokyo Subway Ticket (24/48/72 h, Metro + Toei), JR Tokyo Wide Pass

    Tap-to-pay with Visa/Mastercard is spreading on private railways and some subway gates (check); IC cards still work everywhere, including convenience stores.

    Tokyo guide →

  • Osaka

    Japan

    ICOCA (any Japanese IC card works)

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    JR West ticket machines, Kansai Airport; Suica or ICOCA in Apple Wallet
    Deposit or card fee
    ¥500 refundable deposit
    Visitor passes
    Osaka Amazing Pass (1–2 days, includes sights), Enjoy Eco Card (weekend metro day pass)

    Osaka Metro accepts contactless bank cards at every station (check the JR and private lines).

    Osaka guide →

  • Kyoto

    Japan

    ICOCA (any Japanese IC card works)

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    JR Kyoto Station machines; Apple Wallet or Google Wallet
    Deposit or card fee
    ¥500 refundable deposit
    Visitor passes
    Subway & Bus One-Day Pass (the bus-only day pass ended in 2023)

    City buses are crowded; the subway plus walking is often quicker.

    Kyoto guide →

  • Seoul

    South Korea

    T-money (or Climate Card for unlimited rides)

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven) and station machines; top up with cash
    Deposit or card fee
    Card costs about ₩3,000–4,000, not refundable
    Visitor passes
    Climate Card tourist pass (1, 2, 3 or 5 days from ₩5,000, plus ₩3,000 for the card; unlimited metro and city buses), WOWPASS (prepaid card + T-money)

    Top-ups are cash only at most machines. Foreign contactless cards work on some buses and lines (check).

    Seoul guide →

  • Busan

    South Korea

    T-money or Cashbee

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Convenience stores and metro stations
    Deposit or card fee
    Card fee about ₩3,000–4,000
    Visitor passes
    Visit Busan Pass (sights + transport)
    Busan guide →

  • Hong Kong

    Hong Kong

    Octopus

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    Airport Express and MTR customer service; the Octopus app on iPhone adds a card to Apple Wallet
    Deposit or card fee
    Standard card HK$150 including a HK$50 refundable deposit; Tourist Octopus HK$39 with no deposit (check current terms)
    Visitor passes
    Airport Express Travel Pass, MTR 24-hour pass

    MTR gates, buses and the Star Ferry take Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay contactless; minibuses and small shops may still need Octopus.

    Hong Kong guide →

  • Taipei

    Taiwan

    EasyCard (iPASS also works)

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    MRT stations and convenience stores
    Deposit or card fee
    Card costs about NT$100, not refundable
    Visitor passes
    Taipei Fun Pass, 24/48/72-hour MRT passes

    Contactless bank cards are being added to MRT gates and buses (check which).

    Taipei guide →

  • Beijing

    China

    Yikatong card, or the Alipay / WeChat transit QR code

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Metro service counters; Alipay or WeChat with a linked foreign card
    Deposit or card fee
    Card deposit about ¥20 (check)

    Most visitors use the Alipay transit QR. Foreign bank-card tapping is being trialled at some gates (check).

    Beijing guide →

  • Shanghai

    China

    Shanghai Public Transportation Card, or the Alipay / WeChat metro QR

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Metro service counters; Alipay or WeChat with a linked foreign card
    Deposit or card fee
    Card deposit about ¥20 (check)
    Visitor passes
    Metro 1-day and 3-day tickets

    Some metro gates accept foreign contactless cards (check); the QR code works everywhere.

    Shanghai guide →

  • Singapore

    Singapore

    None needed — tap your own contactless card or phone (SimplyGo); EZ-Link card as a backup

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    EZ-Link at convenience stores and MRT ticket offices
    Deposit or card fee
    EZ-Link card fee, not refundable
    Visitor passes
    Singapore Tourist Pass (1–3 days)

    Foreign cards work on MRT and buses; your bank may charge a small foreign-transaction fee per day.

    Singapore guide →

  • Bangkok

    Thailand

    Rabbit card (BTS Skytrain); MRT takes contactless bank cards

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    BTS station ticket offices (bring your passport)
    Deposit or card fee
    Card fee about ฿100–200 (check)
    Visitor passes
    BTS 1-day pass

    MRT Blue and Purple lines and the Airport Rail Link take Visa/Mastercard contactless at the gates; BTS still needs Rabbit or a single ticket, with bank cards promised for 2027 (check). Separate lines, separate fares.

    Bangkok guide →

  • Kuala Lumpur

    Malaysia

    Touch 'n Go card

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Convenience stores, LRT/MRT counters, KLIA
    Deposit or card fee
    Card costs about RM10 (check)
    Visitor passes
    MyCity pass (1–3 days)

    Rapid KL gates are adding Visa/Mastercard tap (check). The same Touch 'n Go card pays motorway tolls in rental cars.

    Kuala Lumpur guide →

  • Manila

    Philippines

    beep card

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: No
    Where to buy
    LRT/MRT station machines and counters
    Deposit or card fee
    Card fee, not refundable

    LRT-1 has tested bank-card tapping (check). Grab is often simpler across the city.

    Manila guide →

  • Hanoi

    Vietnam

    No city card visitors need

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Metro single tickets at station machines; bus fare in cash on board
    Deposit or card fee
    —

    Metro lines 2A and 3 cover little of what visitors see; most trips are Grab or Xanh SM. Bank-card and QR payment on the metro is being rolled out (check).

    Hanoi guide →

  • Ho Chi Minh City

    Vietnam

    No city card visitors need

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Metro Line 1 tickets at stations; buses in cash
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    Metro day passes (check)

    Metro Line 1 (Bến Thành – Suối Tiên) takes contactless bank cards at the gates (check). For everything else, Grab or Xanh SM.

    Ho Chi Minh City guide →

  • Delhi

    India

    Delhi Metro smart card, or QR tickets in the DMRC app

    Bank card Contactless bank card: NoPhone wallet Phone wallet: No
    Where to buy
    Metro customer care counters; QR tickets in the app or on WhatsApp
    Deposit or card fee
    ₹50 refundable deposit on the smart card
    Visitor passes
    Tourist card (1 or 3 days)

    Indian RuPay 'One Nation One Card' works; foreign bank cards do not tap. QR tickets are the easy route.

    Delhi guide →

  • Mumbai

    India

    Metro QR tickets; UTS app or paper tickets for suburban trains

    Bank card Contactless bank card: NoPhone wallet Phone wallet: No
    Where to buy
    Station counters and machines
    Deposit or card fee
    —

    Avoid suburban trains at rush hour with luggage; buy first class for more space.

    Mumbai guide →

  • Dubai

    United Arab Emirates

    Nol card (Red paper ticket, Silver or Gold card)

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Metro ticket machines and counters, airport stations
    Deposit or card fee
    Silver card about AED 25 including credit (check)
    Visitor passes
    Nol day pass

    RTA is adding bank-card tapping (check). Gold card is the metro's first-class cabin.

    Dubai guide →

  • Istanbul

    Turkey

    İstanbulkart

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Machines at metro, tram and ferry stops (cash only at many)
    Deposit or card fee
    Card fee, not refundable

    One card can pay for several people in turn. Some gates now take contactless bank cards (check).

    Istanbul guide →

  • London

    United Kingdom

    None needed — contactless card or phone; Oyster as an alternative

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    Visitor Oyster online before you go; Oyster at station machines
    Deposit or card fee
    Oyster card fee £7, not refundable
    Visitor passes
    Daily and weekly (Mon–Sun) caps apply automatically to contactless and Oyster: zones 1–2 about £8.90 a day and £44.70 a week in 2026 (check)

    Use the same card or phone all day so the cap works; one card per person.

    London guide →

  • Paris

    France

    Navigo Easy (carnet-style), Navigo Découverte for a week; or tickets in the Île-de-France Mobilités app

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Metro and RER station machines and counters
    Deposit or card fee
    Navigo Easy €2; Navigo Découverte €5 plus a photo
    Visitor passes
    Navigo weekly (Mon–Sun, best value for 4+ days), Paris Visite; single metro/RER-in-Paris ticket about €2.55 in 2026

    Bank-card tapping works on some buses only; metro gates are planned from 2027, starting with line 1 (check). Paper carnets are gone.

    Paris guide →

  • Amsterdam

    Netherlands

    None needed — OVpay: tap your contactless card or phone in and out

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    GVB and NS machines for day tickets
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    GVB 1–7 day ticket, Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket

    Tap in and out on trams, metros and trains; forgetting to tap out charges a high fare.

    Amsterdam guide →

  • Berlin

    Germany

    No card; paper or app tickets (BVG app, DB Navigator)

    Bank card Contactless bank card: NoPhone wallet Phone wallet: No
    Where to buy
    Machines on platforms and in trams (cards accepted)
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    24-hour and 7-day tickets, Berlin WelcomeCard, Deutschlandticket (monthly subscription)

    No gates: validate paper tickets before boarding; inspectors fine on the spot.

    Berlin guide →

  • Rome

    Italy

    None needed — tap your contactless card at metro gates and on buses

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    Tabacchi and machines for paper tickets
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    24/48/72-hour tickets, Roma Pass

    Each tap is a €1.50 100-minute ticket; from the fourth metro ride in a day the €7 day rate caps it. Tap the same card each ride (check).

    Rome guide →

  • Madrid

    Spain

    Tarjeta Transporte Público (multi card)

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    Metro machines
    Deposit or card fee
    Card fee €2.50, not refundable
    Visitor passes
    Tourist Travel Pass (1–7 days)

    Bank cards work at metro gates for single journeys (check buses).

    Madrid guide →

  • Lisbon

    Portugal

    Viva Viagem / Navegante occasional card

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Metro station machines
    Deposit or card fee
    Card fee €0.50
    Visitor passes
    24-hour Carris/Metro ticket, Lisboa Card

    Load 'zapping' credit to ride metro, trams, buses and ferries. Bank-card tapping is limited (check).

    Lisbon guide →

  • Prague

    Czech Republic

    No card; PID Lítačka app or paper tickets

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Machines at stops (cards accepted), tobacconists; tap a bank card at the machines on trams
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    24-hour and 72-hour tickets

    No gates: validate paper tickets; app tickets are valid once bought.

    Prague guide →

  • Vienna

    Austria

    No card; WienMobil app or paper tickets

    Bank card Contactless bank card: NoPhone wallet Phone wallet: No
    Where to buy
    Machines at stations (cards accepted), tobacconists
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    24/48/72-hour and weekly tickets, Vienna City Card

    No gates: validate paper tickets at the blue stamping machines.

    Vienna guide →

  • Budapest

    Hungary

    No card; BudapestGO app or paper tickets

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Purple BKK machines (cards accepted)
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    24-hour, 72-hour and 7-day travelcards, Budapest Card

    Validate paper tickets; bus 100E to the airport needs its own ticket.

    Budapest guide →

  • Athens

    Greece

    ATH.ENA ticket or card

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    Metro station machines
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    24-hour, 5-day and 3-day tourist ticket (with airport)

    Contactless bank cards open the metro gates (check buses).

    Athens guide →

  • Dublin

    Ireland

    Leap card; TFI Leap Visitor Card

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Airport shops (Visitor Card), newsagents
    Deposit or card fee
    Standard Leap has a small refundable deposit (check)
    Visitor passes
    Leap Visitor Card (1, 3 or 7 days)

    Buses do not give change; Leap fares are cheaper than cash.

    Dublin guide →

  • Copenhagen

    Denmark

    No card needed; DOT Mobilbilletter app or Rejsekort

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    App, or machines in metro stations
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    City Pass (24–120 hours, includes the airport)
    Copenhagen guide →

  • Stockholm

    Sweden

    None needed — tap a contactless card or phone at SL gates; SL access card as an alternative

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    SL centres, Pressbyrån
    Deposit or card fee
    SL access card fee
    Visitor passes
    24-hour, 72-hour and 7-day SL tickets

    Each tap is a 75-minute single ticket; buy a period ticket in the SL app for more rides.

    Stockholm guide →

  • Oslo

    Norway

    No card; Ruter app

    Bank card Contactless bank card: NoPhone wallet Phone wallet: No
    Where to buy
    Ruter app, machines at stations
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    24-hour and 7-day tickets, Oslo Pass

    No gates; buy before boarding.

    Oslo guide →

  • Helsinki

    Finland

    HSL app or HSL card

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    HSL app, R-kioski
    Deposit or card fee
    HSL card fee
    Visitor passes
    Day tickets (1–13 days), Helsinki Card

    Bank-card tapping on trams and buses in the city zone (check).

    Helsinki guide →

  • New York

    United States

    None needed — OMNY: tap a contactless card or phone

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    OMNY card at stores and vending machines if you have no contactless card
    Deposit or card fee
    OMNY card fee $1
    Visitor passes
    Automatic 7-day fare cap: $35 at the $3.00 fare (2026); after 12 paid rides in 7 days the rest are free

    Tap the same card each time so the cap works. MetroCard sales ended in December 2025 and it is being phased out.

    New York guide →

  • Toronto

    Canada

    None needed — tap a credit card or phone on TTC; PRESTO card as an alternative

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    PRESTO at Shoppers Drug Mart and station machines
    Deposit or card fee
    PRESTO card fee
    Visitor passes
    Day pass

    Two-hour transfer window on the same card.

    Toronto guide →

  • Mexico City

    Mexico

    Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada (MI card)

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: No
    Where to buy
    Metro and Metrobús station machines
    Deposit or card fee
    Card fee (check)

    Metrobús needs the card; the metro takes the card and single tickets. Rush hour is very crowded.

    Mexico City guide →

  • Buenos Aires

    Argentina

    SUBE

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    Kiosks, subte stations, tourist centres
    Deposit or card fee
    Card fee (check)

    Subte, buses and trains take contactless bank cards and phones (check); fares change often with inflation.

    Buenos Aires guide →

  • Santiago

    Chile

    bip! card

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Some lines
    Where to buy
    Metro station counters
    Deposit or card fee
    Card fee (check)

    Buses do not take cash. Bank-card tapping is being added (check).

    Santiago guide →

  • Bogotá

    Colombia

    TuLlave (TransMilenio and SITP buses)

    Bank card Contactless bank card: Some linesPhone wallet Phone wallet: No
    Where to buy
    TransMilenio station counters
    Deposit or card fee
    Card fee (check)

    TransMilenio is crowded; watch phones and bags.

    Bogotá guide →

  • Sydney

    Australia

    None needed — tap on and off with a contactless card or phone; Opal card as an alternative

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    Opal at newsagents, convenience stores and airport stations
    Deposit or card fee
    —
    Visitor passes
    Daily cap about A$19.30 Monday–Thursday and A$9.65 Friday–Sunday and holidays; weekly cap A$50 (Opal and contactless, 2026)

    Tap off every time or you pay the maximum fare. The airport stations add an access fee.

    Sydney guide →

  • Auckland

    New Zealand

    AT HOP card, or tap a contactless card or phone

    Bank card Contactless bank card: YesPhone wallet Phone wallet: Yes
    Where to buy
    AT HOP at the airport, stations and shops
    Deposit or card fee
    AT HOP card fee

    Tap on and off; daily and weekly fare caps apply (check).

    Auckland guide →