12

I'm going to Zurich for a weekend and planning to go to one or two restaurants, buy basic groceries in a supermarket and possible do a little bit of downtown shopping, but not extravagant stuff. I will also need to pay for local public transport tickets, including travel from the airport to downtown and back.

Can I get by with my German Maestro Card, a credit card and Euros, or should I carry cash CHF with me?

When paying with EUR, which I'm sure will work in some places, do I get change in CHF?

pnuts
  • 28,474
  • 3
  • 81
  • 175
simbabque
  • 4,835
  • 5
  • 35
  • 45

2 Answers2

10

You will be able to get by with credit card + Euros. However, you may run into situations where Swiss cash may be needed, so when in doubt, ask. Note that you'll be able to pull CHF out of ATMs with the Maestro card/credit card if needed. Most of my recent experiences are from living in a different Swiss city, but I have been in exactly your situation myself when visiting Switzerland while living abroad. I cannot speak for Maestro, as I've never used that.

  • Public transport: No problem, you can pay with credit card at the ticket machines. Note that return public transport tickets within the canton of Zurich are valid for 24h, so you may only ever have to buy two tickets for a week-end.
  • Taxis: Ask before you get on. Nowadays most taxis will take credit card, but not all of them.
  • Restaurants: Most restaurants, especially fancier ones, take credit card, but there are some smaller/alternative places that don't. Check for the credit card sticker when you go in. Don't expect to be able to pay by card at a food stall.
  • Shops: Supermarkets and fancier shops will all take credit cards, and they will usually take Euros at 1:1 at least (returning change in CHF). Again, some smaller/alternative stores may not be equipped for credit cards, and there may be a minimum charge before they accept credit cards.
Jonas
  • 7,012
  • 40
  • 54
3

You should be able to get by with a credit card. That being said, it is always a good idea to have some local currency on hand for emergency use.

See here for more details directly from the Swiss tourism website. It does mention taxis, specifically, as requiring cash.

Alex Willison
  • 477
  • 5
  • 13