Hello, I’m about to go on my first solo trip to Europe, and I was wondering what this sub’s advice for exchanging currency would be. I’ve been abroad before but never alone- I’ve always had people to help guide me in this regard.

I have a big wad of USD on me right now that I’d like to turn into Euros somehow- I know the conventional wisdom is to deposit it all with my bank and then use ATMs when I’m abroad (I’ll be in France and Germany mostly) but I do want to have some cash reserves on me. I use Truist Bank here in the U.S., would I be better off exchanging cash with them, finding a place in Europe to do it, or is there something else I could do?