Travel money Switzerland 2022: How to pay & how much to bring (2024)

FAQs

How much cash should I bring to Switzerland? ›

Cash. You can enter Switzerland with as much cash (in the form of cash, foreign currencies or securities) as you like. However, customs officials may seize amounts higher than CHF 10,000 if they suspect a crime has been committed.

Switzerland accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash, with plenty of ATMs available throughout the country. Credit cards are the best payment option thanks to their wide acceptance and safety measures.

A commonly asked question is 'Do I need to carry cash in Switzerland? ' The simple answer is no however I believe it's always a good idea to have a small amount of cash with you for purchases such as a coffee or ice cream or for luggage storage lockers at train stations.

Paying with your debit card is almost always cheaper than withdrawing money from it. Within the euro countries, paying with a debit card or credit card is free. Withdrawing money with your debit card in another European Union country does not cost more than it does in your home country.

Credit cards are best for major purchases, but you'll need to plan for some small day-to-day items and incidentals. In other words—carry some cash.

It is legal to transport any amount of currency or other monetary instruments into or out of the United States.

You never have to worry about tipping in Switzerland, as tips are included in the price. You can, however, add a smile to the face of someone who has provided good service by rounding up to the nearest franc or round figure.

Unlike most Schengen countries, Switzerland has its own currency, the Swiss Franc (CHF). While the Swiss Franc is accepted everywhere, you can also use the Euro in most of the places. If you are on a Switzerland trip, it would be ideal for you to use francs only.

You have to pay to use the bathrooms (in major cities)!

In Switzerland, the term for bathrooms is “Toilets”. There are also signs that say “WC” which are also public toilets. In major cities like Zurich, Luzern, Bern, and others, you have to pay to use the bathroom or toilet.

Many goods may not be imported into Switzerland at all, or else in restricted quantities or only with special authorisation. These include cash, weapons, drugs, narcotics, cultural property, counterfeit brand-name products and medications.

Can I pay with card in Switzerland cashless? ›

Contact-free payments: Nearly all credit cards can be used for contactless payments. In Switzerland, you can spend up to 80 francs per contactless purchase without entering a PIN code. Online payments: The vast majority of online shops accept credit card payments.

The safest and easiest form of money are traveler's checks and credit cards. The cards most used are American Express, MasterCard and Visa. Many banks in Switzerland have equipped their ATM machines with the CIRRUS or MAESTRO system. Many other Swiss banks offer ATM machines for cash advances with your credit card.

Use the credit card instead of cash wherever possible. Credit card issuers typically charge fees for international transactions and you may get the best exchange rate and fees lower than those associated with exchanging cash.

Advantages of an overseas card

The main advantage of using a debit or credit card overseas is that you won't pay foreign transaction fees every time you spend. While many also won't charge fees for cash withdrawals, you will still usually be charged interest from the date of the transaction if you use a credit card.

The general consensus is that you should have $50 to $100 in cash per day for each traveler. However, this amount could vary considerably depending on where you are vacationing. Some destinations are more cash-friendly than others.

Ordering francs online and picking it up at the airport is much cheaper than buying it in person. If you've run out of time before your trip, it's might be better to buy your francs when you get to Switzerland, or use your cards instead.

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly time to book your visit to Switzerland, you might want to consider traveling to Switzerland during the low season of November through March.

Buy online at www.sbb.ch or at Swiss stations. You can buy a maximum of 60 days before the day you want it for, right up to the day before travel. It cannot be bought on the day.

A good X-ray scanner will always detect money. Airport scanners can detect even the smallest amount of metal and can detect paper. The scanners will always look after things that look different to the norm. In this case, if the currency is arranged in bundles, it will be more easily detected.

No, you can bring any amount of money to the airport. It is not illegal to fly with a large amount of cash on a flight. However, if you are traveling on an international flight and have more than $10,000 in your possession, then you must disclose the amount of U.S. Currency in your possession on a FinCEN 105 form.

Can you drink tap water in Switzerland? ›

In Switzerland, tap water can be safely consumed.

This is because the waitstaff don't want to intrude on your meal. Because of this, your waiter won't automatically bring you the check at the end of the meal, they will let you stay as long as you like. To ask for the bill, flag your waiter down and say “l'addition s'il vous plait” which means “the check please.”

All major department stores, many shops, businesses, hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops accept euros as payment. However, your change will be given in Swiss francs. We advise you to withdraw Swiss francs at a bank ATM or to pay with an EC card or credit card.

Major credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Switzerland, including Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus. American Express cards aren't as widely accepted, but can be used in many places.

Switzerland Clothing Style

Zurich is known to be a place that is both conservative and casual, which means that it is acceptable to wear jeans and even sneakers for almost any occasion. There are incredibly beautiful places to visit in Switzerland.

In Switzerland, breakfast typically includes bread, butter or margarine, marmalade or honey, maybe some cheese or cereals, plus milk, cold or hot chocolate, tea or coffee. Lunch may be as simple as a sandwich or a birchermüesli or it could be a complete meal.

Peeing standing up (after 10 in the evening)

After 10pm, peeing standing up is considered to be a noise-based nuisance to other apartment building residents - so much so that it's been outlawed.

Goods can be imported into Switzerland free of charge if their total value does not exceed CHF 300. If the total value of goods is more than CHF 300, you will be charged Swiss VAT on the total value. There is also a limit on the quantity of foodstuffs, alcohol and tobacco that can be imported.

Do I need Swiss Covid certificate? ›

If you feel unwell, it is advised to stay at home. If you have Covid-19 symptoms, it may be a good idea to get tested, especially if you are at high risk. The costs of the test are covered by the Swiss government. Within Switzerland, there is no certificate requirement at the national level.

Contactless payments are transactions made by tapping either a contactless chip card or payment-enabled mobile or wearable device over a contactless-enabled payment terminal. Cards, phones, watches and other devices use the same contactless technology. When you tap to pay checkout is secure, convenient and touch-free.

ATM withdrawal limits in Switzerland are very high compared to those in many other countries. Typically, you can withdraw up to 5000 Swiss francs or even more at an ATM in a single withdrawal. Make sure to check what limit your bank places on ATM withdrawals, as this will influence the amount of money you can withdraw.

Monthly or annual fee - Some cards may even charge a monthly or annual fee just to have the card. Refund fee – A charge to get unused money back from your card to your bank account. To avoid this, try to avoid overloading the card with more money than you'll spend.

Yes. However, it's a good idea to let your bank know first if you're traveling outside the country. If not, you risk the card being shut down due to the stringent security measures in place to keep your account safe. Be on alert for potential pickpockets while on a trip.

Using credit cards for purchases when possible and using ATMs to get local currency for when you need to pay cash are by far the best ways to pay for things when abroad because you will get the wholesale exchange rate rather than the less favorable retail rate posted in currency exchange facilities or at bank teller ...

Is it better to use debit card or cash in Europe? ›

key takeaways. European travelers should always have some cash on hand; getting it from an ATM abroad is usually the easiest, most advantageous way. Credit cards are generally accepted, especially in cities; but check with your card issuer about foreign transaction fees and currency exchange fees.

Having cash at hand is one of the more important travel safety tips. Although some emergency service providers accept credit cards, you never know when your card might let you down. What if your payment won't go through? Perhaps your credit card company suspects fraudulent charges and suspends your card.

You can indefinitely retain foreign exchange upto US$ 2,000, in the form of foreign currency notes or travellers' cheques (TCs) for future use. Any foreign exchange in cash in excess of this sum, is required to be surrendered to a bank within 90 days and TCs within 180 days of return.

Rice says that a reasonable baseline is between $50 to $100 per day per traveler. Again, this is just an average. The amount of money already accounted for your trip, plus where you are going are the two biggest factors that make or break how much money you'll really need.

Anywhere between 400 - 500 Euros would be a good amount to have in cash for your two weeks Switzerland vacation. It's not advisable to carry too much cash, as cards are pretty much accepted in all places unless except for coffee expenses or to buy railway tickets.

The average price of a 7-day trip to Switzerland is $1,642 for a solo traveler, $2,423 for a couple, and $3,125 for a family of 4. Switzerland hotels range from $80 to $374 per night with an average of $144, while most vacation rentals will cost $180 to $510 per night for the entire home.

Unlike most Schengen countries, Switzerland has its own currency, the Swiss Franc (CHF). While the Swiss Franc is accepted everywhere, you can also use the Euro in most of the places. If you are on a Switzerland trip, it would be ideal for you to use francs only.

Swiss bank minimum balance

Generally, Swiss banks may require you to deposit at least 10,000 CHF ( $9,000 or EUR 6,800) within a month of opening your account.

Cash is king: Banknotes and coins are the most popular payment method in Switzerland. The moneyland.ch Swiss payments survey shows that 67 percent of residents consider cash to be completely indispensable, while 96 percent use cash for payments.

How much should I budget for food in Switzerland? If you eat out every meal during your Switzerland trip, I would budget about CHF 25-35 for lunch and CHF 40-50 for dinner per person including drinks. If you picnic, I would budget about CHF 10-15 per person per meal.

How much money do I need for 5 days in Switzerland? ›

If you want to keep your expenses under control, be prepared to spend something between Sfr 200 to Sfr 250 per person per day. For budget travelers, the average daily cost to travel in Switzerland is 80-100 Swiss Francs.

All major department stores, many shops, businesses, hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops accept euros as payment. However, your change will be given in Swiss francs. We advise you to withdraw Swiss francs at a bank ATM or to pay with an EC card or credit card.

As a rule, if you want to buy currencies other than British pounds, US dollars and euros, you will often get a better rate outside of Switzerland. Swiss banks typically use a less-favorable "banknote rate" for cash exchanges and a more-favorable "forex rate" for ATM withdrawals outside of Switzerland.

UBS and Credit Suisse have a sizeable local and international presence and offer most of the services expats would need. They're fantastic options for English speakers, even if other local banks may be cheaper. Expats who speak a local language may want to consider cantonal banks.

The average supplemental fee for non-residents across Swiss banks is around 300 francs per year and customer. But there are major differences between the non-resident fees charged by different banks, with fees ranging between 88 and 720 francs per year. So comparing is worth it.

You can sign up for a secret bank account online, but it is usually not recommended, since many of them require you to link an active checking account to it, which can be counter-productive. Ideally, you should visit a financial institution in person when setting up your account.