Berlin Cash or Credit

I never try to use a credit card for small purchases, but I've seen signs in Europe saying something to the effect that there's a minimum charge for credit card payment. I can't imagine wandering around with no euros in my possession.

I spent several weeks in Germany last summer and had a problem with one of my credit cards. It was chip-and-signature, and it only worked about half the time. I suspect there was some sort of technical disconnect between that card and one of the networks being used in Germany. My back-up card worked fine, but I was disappointed when I had to put hotel charges on a non-mileage card.

I bought multiple train tickets from vending machines in Germany using a credit card. I don't remember any problems.

I also had an ATM issue in Germany. Some bank (don't remember which, unfortunately) has ATMs that just don't like US ATM cards. Bank staffers told me that, and suggested an alternative bank (where I had no problem). They also mentioned that the ATMs in post offices were thought to be good about accepting foreign ATM cards. So if an ATM rejects your card, just go to a different bank.

Bottom line: You probably won't have a problem, but it's impossible to give a guarantee. But you are highly likely to need cash at some point.

We used our US credit cards , chip no pin, extensively in Berlin. We may have paid for smaller purchases with Euros, don't recall as we had no problems at all in Berlin. We obtained Euros from ATMs there as well. It is a very modern world class city. We did not buy train tickets except for the
commuter train to Potsdam. No problems tnere either.

For some reason, my chip-and-signature Chase card did NOT work in the Berlin local transit system this May. Maybe it was just me. But cash worked fine.

I don't think any of the local transportation ticket machines in the cities of Germany take credit cards. If you are using the DB machines and getting a long distance ticket, then they will. Just not locally. Not in Frankfurt, Munich, Mainz, Wiesbaden and it looks like Berlin either. They take debit cards for German accounts, but not credit cards.

Cash is needed for small purchases, local restaurants, farmers markets, bakeries, cafes, etc.

In general, small shops will not accept credit cards. Same with snack bars. They often don't even accept German debit cards. So if you ever plan to eat whenever you are hungry or pick a souvenir somewhere you find it, you are going to need cash.

Definitely carry cash in Berlin. Even quite high-end shops and restaurants sometimes will not accept credit cards.

I know that every Chinese restaurant in Berlin will take a US credit card. That's been my experience since the 1980s. I use both cash and credit cards in Berlin...just depends where and what.

I was just in Berlin and used credit and debit cards exclusively, except when stopping to purchase a coffee or stopping at a small cafe. I downloaded the transit system app BVG, set up an account with my credit card and purchased all of my train tickets this way. I visited a few tourist sites and museums and used my credit cards. I always carry some cash when I travel to have as a back up, but usually less than 50 euros. If I need more, I stop at an ATM.

If you tour mostly touristy sites, you'll be probably just fine with credit cards. However, as soon as you venture off the beaten path in Germany, be prepared to pay in cash. For me, Berlin has to include things like buying a Curry Wurst on the street corner or a Döner Kebab in a small hole in the wall. Those usually operate by cash only.

Germany is changing but overall it is still a cash society.

I have not been to Berlin in a few decades. I have noticed in other parts of Germany that using only credit cards might push you into higher cost restaurants and cafes.

Pension Peters in Berlin charges an additional 2.5% for credit card payments, but the Sparkasse ATM is across the street.

That's correct, the Sparkasse is at corner of Kantstrasse and Savignyplatz I have not run in that 2.5% surcharge when wanting to pay with a credit card in Berlin or Germany. Where I've encountered that is London, when paying at a pub or B&B. You pay with a credit card, the surcharge could be 2-4%. I liken that to paying with a credit card here when buying gas, where there is cash price per gallon and a credit card price, mostly a nickel or more higher per gallon.

I know that every Chinese restaurant in Berlin will take a US credit
card.

I don't know how to tell you this, Fred, but we have lots of Chinese restaurants here in the US. I'm not going to go to Berlin for Chinese food. But, do you know one that delivers?

How about going to Paris for Chinese food? I've been to both. It makes no difference if the restaurant delivers, doesn't apply to me, but I think I have seen that in this particular restaurant on Kantstrasse. I've seen Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants packed in Berlin, all locals. Lots of Germans in those Asian restaurants, check at dinner time at Savignyplatz or Prenzlauer Berg.

After being in Germany or Europe for that matter for 3 or 4 weeks at a time we definitely start looking for an alternative cuisine. We had burritos in Berlin - they were delicious and a nice change! Incidentally - we paid for them with credit card.

@ Christie...On having burritos or Latin American cuisine in Berlin: there is a big restaurant with a large area for outdoor seating at Savignylatz corner of Knesebeck Straße serving Latin American cuisine. On a Friday and in particular Saturday night in the summer, the place is absolutely packed at dinner, lots of millennials, Germans, foreign tourists, and Americans, hearing American English from that crowd is a given.

I'm with you on wanting what I call "ethnic food" after not all that many weeks in Europe. I miss the spices. And so far Berlin has been by far the best city for finding a variety of foreign cuisines that seem to bear some resemblance to what I expect. The Savignyplatz area was my go-to location when I was in Berlin last year. So glad I stumbled on it.

On foreign cuisines, ie say outside of western and central Europe, I would agree that Berlin offers the greatest choice but then I don't know Frankfurt and Munich or Hamburg as well. In Berlin I've seen Thai, Japanese (likewise in Düsseldorf), Greek, Mandarin Chinese, Shanghai cuisine, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Turkish, Cantonese cuisine, plus I know there is Jewish, Latin American, etc.
Savignyplatz has a good number of these restaurants on Kantstrasse, Grolmann Str. Knesebeck Str.

In Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin-Karlshorst, the area around Jannowitzbrücke are also several Asian restaurants. In eastern Berlin I've only been to two Chinese restaurants, one in Prenzlauer Berg, the other across the street from the Jannowitz Brücke S-Bahn station a few years back. Of course, both accepted my credit card. I went at prime time for dinner, both were packed with Germans and some tourists.

I was told by more than one person that eat any cuisine but German in Berlin! I have since learned there is good German food to be had there as well but the other choices are nice too.

I am looking for the spice too after a while acraven. It was after my first trip to Europe I started carrying Tabasco with me - It is far more available now than it was then!

I would say if you were told no real good German can be had in Berlin, that is inaccurate and a myth. I know of places at Berlin Alexanderplatz, Savignyplatz in Charlottenburg, Danzigerstrasse where good German food is available, ie, gute bürgerliche Küche. At Alexanderplatz I don't remember the name, only know where it's located, not far from "die Große Uhr" am Alexanderplatz.

Typical (and good) German cooking is simple. No bells and whistles. Just a good amount of meat (mostly pork, sometimes beef or venison) arranged to or wrapped in loads of cabbage (Blumenkohl, Weißkohl, Rotkohl, Rosenkohl, Wirsing, Kohlrabi) or coming with peas, green beans and carrots. Plus potatoes (slices or mashed or, local variety, dumplings or Spätzle). Typical condiment is Bratensoße and bittersweet spices. Sometimes horseradish. And that's it.

Can't think of a place who can't prepare something like that.