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How do you pay for things in Switzerland?

All though credit cards are used widely - even in supermarkets - the Swiss way of paying for things is much more cash or debit card oriented. The more common cards used are VISA and MASTERCARD, American Express and Diner's Club rarely appear. Discover is not used at all.



In Switzerland, the official currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF), not the Euro. While many shops, hotels, and train stations in major tourist areas like Zurich, Lucerne, or Interlaken will accept Euros, they will often give you a very poor exchange rate and return your change in Swiss Francs. Therefore, it is always better to pay in CHF. Switzerland is a highly advanced digital economy, and contactless credit/debit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere, including at mountain cable cars, small bakeries, and ticket kiosks. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are also ubiquitous. However, it is still wise to carry a small amount of cash for very remote mountain huts or coin-operated lockers. Another popular local method is TWINT, a Swiss mobile payment app, though this typically requires a Swiss phone number and bank account, making it less useful for short-term tourists. If you are using a card, always choose to be charged in the local currency (CHF) rather than your home currency to avoid the expensive "Dynamic Currency Conversion" fees added by the merchant's bank.

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The most commonly accepted payment options are cash, credit cards and debit cards. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere. The most common are Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Maestro. It is advisable to check in advance...

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In Switzerland, the guest is not obliged to tip. In many restaurants, however, it is customary to pay a tip. This amounts to approximately 10 percent or it is rounded up to a round amount.

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Cash is widely used in Switzerland, much more so than in many other countries. In Sweden, only 9% of people still pay with notes and coins; in the United States the figure is around 60%. Meanwhile, 97% of people in Switzerland still keep some cash at home or in their wallets.

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Use local cash. For example, in Switzerland, which officially uses Swiss francs, some ATMs give euros, prices in touristy areas are listed in both currencies, and travelers can get by with euro cash.

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Reserve a ride with Uber in advance in Zurich Complete your plans today by reserving a ride with Uber in Zurich. Request a ride up to 30 days in advance, at any time and on any day of the year.

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Top 10 things to do in Switzerland – for free
  • Take a tour of the Bundeshaus.
  • Wander around Lucerne old town.
  • Indulge your artistic side at the MCBA.
  • Lounge by Lake Geneva.
  • Educate yourself at the University of Zurich.
  • Hike through the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
  • Float through central Bern.
  • Walk on the wild side with Peter and Paul.


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The residents of Switzerland are paid very high wages compared to other countries, even bordering countries like France or Germany. This is somewhat as a result of the high quality of living. But due to the high wages, Swiss people have more money to spend, which naturally leads to higher prices.

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Taxis usually accept fare payment by credit card, but it's better to ask the driver before you get in. If you don't speak German, have your address written down ready to show the driver. It's not common to tip taxi drivers in Switzerland, but you can round up the bill if you're happy with the service.

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