Credit Card or cash in Germany

We did both without any hassle. Make sure you have a chip card and assign a FOUR DIGIT PIN. They have the little scanners that they bring to the table, or have at the checkout counter if you ask to use a card.

Most absolutely, Germans prefer to deal in cash. No doubt about that relative to other European countries. Always have cash on you even when you can pay with an US credit card. You might even be asked to pay in cash when the establishment posts the Visa/MC logo.

Just got back from five days in Hamburg. I prefer to use plastic whenever possible and no brick & mortar retailer refused my credit card even once. No PIN number ever needed just a signature like in the US of A.

On trip to Germany this past year in which we went to Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Cologne, and smaller cities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalila, credit cards were accepted by restaurants; drug/beauty stores (like DM and Douglas); bookstores, grocery stores, department stores like Karstadt and C&A, electronics stores like Saturn, and coffee houses.

Most absolutely, Germans prefer to deal in cash. No doubt about that relative to other European countries. Always have cash on you even when you can pay with an US credit card. You might even be asked to pay in cash when the establishment posts the Visa/MC logo.

I've never picked up on this despite visiting Germany on many occasions. I rarely use cash and not once when I've used a card have I ever been asked to pay in cash or made to feel that paying by card is an inconvenience. I have seen no distinction between Germany and any other European country regarding attitudes to card payment.

Well, I live here and yes, Germans prefer cash. By a landslide.
There are any number of restaurants and stores that either don't take a credit card or charge you extra. You want to take that KD ship down the Rhein? Use your credit card and it will cost you 2€ more. Want to go in a castle? Cash only. Want a bratwurst or a glass of wine from the local farmers market? Cash only. That cute little neighborhood restaurant, pub, cafe'? Cash only. Local transportation in Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, etc.? Cash only. Electronic needs and you stopped be the huge Saturn chain? Cash only unless you have American Express. That beautiful dress at the Peek & Cloppenburg clothing store chain? Cash only.

Ok, that picture might be a bit too pessimistic. All MVV vending machines accept GiroCards (debit cards) the newer ones (those with a touchscreen) acceppt credit cards too. Saturn takes CCs, and P&C (at least in Augsburg) does as well. The rule of thumb is: The smaller a shop is, the less likely it is to accept credit cards and vice versa. Anyway, it's advisable to have some euros in the pocket or to make sure beforehand if that nice small restaurant accepts credit cards.

I got a lecture on this subject from Euwe, owner of Pension Peters in Berlin. "Credit cards charge me 2% for payments, and I don't get paid for at least 2 weeks. So I tack on 3% for paying your bill with a credit card. If you don't have cash, the Sparkasse ATM is just across the street."

Thank you all for your value inputs. I went to Baltic States in May, Credit card was accepted everywhere even in local food market. Well, at least all the places I went. I was even regret I took out that much cash from ATM. But, I guess I should make the locals happy in Germany and I will have to withdraw EURO.

Ms. Jo, very value information. Yes, I will be taking the KD ship, and of course visit the castle in St. Goar, I will be using the tram in Munich. I am glad I asked the question.

transportation in Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, etc.? Cash only.

Not so, one can purchase passes and individual tickets with a credit card when using the respective transit operator's official mobile app. Android/Apple.

In Munich and Berlin if you want to buy a ticket from the S-Bahn machine, it is indeed only cash. The pictorial showing payment options has "KREDIT" (in caps) with a line through it.

Giving the customer the luxury of paying by credit card and adding 3-4% as a surcharge is also done in London at B&Bs.

I saw a payment "disagreement" on the trip this time at the Pension in Berlin when these two older Finnish ladies wanted to pay with a credit card and the proprietor really frowned on this. With one of the Finnish ladies there was also a communication problem since she could not understand German and the proprietor spoke only German, certainly not enough English to explain why (this Finnish woman's English wasn't much better since I never heard her say anything in English) the Berlin city tax was added to the bill, another issue.

In the end the other Finnish woman who did speak enough German got the message on the tax and paid the total bill in cash.

"By a landslide (in Germany)" How true.!

I tend to, as Rick described it, "stay in the small inns, eat in family-style restaurants". These are the less expensive places, and rarely do they take credit cards.

1. On my last trip, while my hostess was showing us to our room, she indicated that they don't take credit cards for payment.

2. I recently made a reservation for a hotel on the Rhein, and along with the confirmation was this statement, "Wenn nicht anders vereinbart erfolgt die Zahlung vor Ort beim Einchecken in bar." "Unless otherwise agreed, the payment is made on the spot at check-in in cash."

If you insist on using places that taket credit cards, you will pay more. Even if they don't add a surcharge for cards, their rate will be a lot higher.

Most definitely, cash is much preferred in Austria and Germany but adding a 2-4% surcharge for the luxury of paying with a credit card over the cash price in a hotel or Pension is something I have not encountered in there except in London. I liken that to paying a nickel more per gallon of gas here when using a a credit card over cash.

@ Calvin...Most likely, you can offer to pay by credit card as often as you want and see how many times the card is accepted. Restaurants even in heavily tourist frequented areas still may indicate in the menu that only cash is accepted. I'm going by two restaurants in Vienna I went to (great places to eat!) but in spite of the international tourists and locals patronizing the place, no credit card.

We spent 2 weeks in Germany a few years ago and found this an irritation. We definitely encountered places that were cash only. That's their right, but some were deceptive. Like the restaurant that notified us of the "minimum" of 40 euro to use a credit card when we went to pay, coincidentally our meal was 39 euro. We definitely felt that if our meal had been 41 euro, the "minimum" would have been 45 or 50.

So just make sure you have the cash on you. We still used our credit card whenever possible.

Germans are not known for being deceptive and it seems a bit bold to accuse a place of business of this kind of behavior.

Restaurants have their set minimum, usually 30-40€ for credit card use. When you ask if they take credit cards, this is when they tell you what the minimum is so you can choose your form of payment.

I totally agree that we should respect local rules, I will definitely have cash on me just in case. I really appreciate all your information.
Calvin

I think its perfectly reasonable to charge a credit card user more for their transaction (or give a discount for cash, which is effectively the same) since there is a cost to the retailer for the transaction. My understanding is that this practice was prevented for years in the US by either law and/or the agreements that cc companies forced on retailers. So that effectively, by paying the same price, cash users were subsidizing cc users. This may no longer be the case.

I recall reading an article in the Wall Street Journal a few years ago which said that Germans had low usage of credit cards because they did not like to leave records of their purchases behind for others to access.

Different cultures have different attitudes. Scandinavia is getting to be virtually cash-free. Germans want cash.

Cash is not a "costless" payment method. Cash has to be guarded and carefully accounted for. Ask any operator of a retail business in the US. Any amount of cash in the till invites armed robbery and subsequent danger to employees. Cash has to be transported to the bank, which is also a time of vulnerability. Don't forget employee theft or incompetence. Credit cards can be a godsend to these businesses. Money goes straight into the bank and less cash that can go missing.

Armed robbery does not seem to be a worry to Germans, and most of these smaller businesses are family run, and little sister is probably not very likely to be skimming the till.

Over the years since 2009 and seeing so often, sometimes every two or three days, at the Berlin Pension the guests after breakfast check out, all very visible since the " kitchen office" is next to the breakfast room. I have never seen a guest, regardless of nationality, insist on paying with a credit card even though the Visa/MC logo is on the window door. That means it is always done with cash.

My very first stay in 2009 admittedly, I presented my MC card at check-out but the proprietor (Inhaberin) asked if I could pay in cash. I had the amount ca 270 Euro on me, so I obliged. I had no intention of denying her request. All future stays after that, I made sure I had the cash to pay on me or more This cash requirement fits well in that the guests are overwhelmingly or exclusively German, the others are European, (the Finns, French, those I've seen,, basically no Americans (hardly ever, no AC at the Pension), no Asians, British,

Calvin - if you're staying in hotels in larger cities, they'll take a credit card. We spent 15 days in Germany in June and I can't recall being denied the use of a credit card more than a couple of times. We did tend to make smaller purchases with cash and sometimes paid in restaurants in cash just because it's usually quicker. So you might want to withdraw some cash just in case but expect that most of the time, your credit card will be accepted just fine.

Actually, all my hotels are charged online. I also purchased my train tickets online, which of course was charged right away. I just need to have some cash on me for my daily expenses in case I want to try out some nice local food, and, of course, getting KD cruise ticket and paying admission.
Calvin

Giving the customer the luxury of paying by credit card and adding 3-4% as a surcharge is also done in London at B&Bs.

All B&B's or just those you experienced? The B&B's I've stayed in haven't charged a surcharge for card payment.

I can give you a list of the B&Bs in London where I've stayed since 2009, where this 2-4 % was added if one decided to pay by credit card. Regardless, I used the credit card once or twice. There was one B&B which did not add a surcharge if you paid by credit card. That one I remember since I asked specifically about that surcharge.

The only time I've paid a German hotel in cash, was when there was some technical problem with the connection. It was luckily enough a cheap hotel and just for one night.

No problem utilizing CC in Germany.

I have also run across cash only restaurants in Frankfurt and Bamberg. I have also had chip sign card fail at an Aldi in Munich. So yes have cash. Also ATMs are less common in Germany, so you really need to plan ahead more than elsewhere. Germany is very much not like Italy, where ATMs are everywhere AND credit cards are accepted everywhere, and the financial aspect of travel is carefree.

I would say that between hotels (3-4 star) in Austria and Germany and restaurants , you'll find restaurants less inclined to take credit cards. The hostels I've stayed since 2009 in Austria and Germany, both private, independent and the HI hostels, take a credit card. The Dresden HI hostel however only accepted cash and the German EuroCard, nothing else, even though the guy saw my MC card.

Don't be surprised if a restaurant, even one located in a tourist frequented area, will not accept a credit card, if the one located off of am Graben in Vienna is any indication. That restaurant indicated its philosophical reason against electronic payment. Get out of the tourist areas in a big city in Germany and Austria, or go to the small towns, those off of the tourist radar, except for German tourists, you'll most likely find only cash is accepted. That's been my experience in Meissen, Kiel, Potsdam, Frankfurt an der Oder, Lüneburg, Berlin-Köpenick., etc

According to DEHOGA, the German Hotel and Restaurant Association, to have more than one star, a hotel MUST take credit cards. I think that is why I find so many hotels in Germany that don't bother getting a star rating from DEHOGA. Why bother for only one star. In my experience, most hotels in Germany could easily have two or more stars, if they wanted to take cards.

Ah yes, one or two time visitors arguing with people who live in Germany.

You might luck out and only have transactions where credit cards are accepted, but I guarantee you that if this is your experience, you're not eating where the locals eat or shopping where the locals shop. Sure, I can use my magnetic stripe/chip (without PIN) card at the nice weinstube down the street, but I couldn't use it at my local Rewe grocery store, I need my Girokarte (chip and PIN European bank card) for that. I also can't use my American card at the transit ticket machine (but I can use the Girokarte).

Some American chip and pin cards work places Girocards work, but some don't.

Regardless the idea of paying by card at a little winery's besenwirtschaft or a summer festival or something like that? Laughable.

You're welcome to try to use your card here, but if you're smart you'll have cash on hand in the event that the card isn't accepted. We tend to walk around with hundreds of Euros in our pocket. Sounds weird (and is weird in most places!) but we're used to it because it's simply more practical for day to day life.

Ref credit cards versus cash, Depends of the area. Large cities in Germany credit cards are ok. In the smaller areas cash is king.

I could not use my American chip and signature credit card at a S-Bahn ticket machine. . So, I paid cash, no problem inserting the bill or coins. With the DB machine it was easier. The DB ticket machine accepts the American chip and signature credit card. No problem whenever I used it on this last trip in June.

As a generalization the big cities in Austria and Germany will take credit cards but don't be surprised if you come across an establishment (restaurant, Pension, small hotel, etc) that refuses your credit card. I know of two such places in Vienna and Berlin.

It does not matter if a city is big or not, there are many small businesses in large cities that do not take credit cards. The local transportation for these large cities also do not take credit cards. Believe me, I have watched 100's of people try to use their credit cards at the Frankfurt airport to buy their ticket to travel by S-bahn to the city. Nope, nada, nix.

Jo is right. We both live in large German cities, that doesn't mean you can or cannot use credit cards at plenty of places. Size of the city has nothing to do with it. I can use my American credit card at a gas station in the boondocks, but I cannot at my local, large chain grocery store.

I really enjoying reading all of your inputs. I learn a lot. In a way, It is quite different from what I have encountered on my trip to Sweden and Baltic trip back in May. In Sweden, a food truck will take credit card . Anyways, I will plan to withdraw more cash this time.

I just came back from my Germany trip. When I was in Frankfurt airport, I had to purchase DB train ticket. When I asked if I could pay with credit card, he said yes, but 1 EURO more, which is about 1% of my ticket amount. I know it is not much, it is just another example to prove that credit card is not favored in Germany.

Ah yes, one or two time visitors arguing with people who live in Germany.

You might luck out and only have transactions where credit cards are accepted, but I guarantee you that if this is your experience

Well, I'm back here in Germany again, Schuttertal in the Black Forest, staying in a town complettely bereft of foreign visitors and every restaurant and shop has offered me the option to pay with a card. Even the multi-storey car park offers payment by card. I've paid cash at a local market stall but that's to be expected anywhere, I've been to farmer's markets in the US where you wouldn't expect to pay by card and as a market trader myself I only except cash (except online). The perception that it's difficult to pay with a card in Germany is not one that I recognise.

Ah yes, one or two time visitors arguing with people who live in Germany. You might luck out and only have transactions where credit cards are accepted, but I guarantee you that if this is your experience

Well, I'm back here in Germany again, Schuttertal in the Black Forest, staying in a town complettely bereft of foreign visitors and every restaurant and shop has offered me the option to pay with a card. Even the multi-storey car park offers payment by card. I've paid cash at a local market stall but that's to be expected anywhere, I've been to farmer's markets in the US where you wouldn't expect to pay by card and as a market trader myself I only except cash (except online). The perception that it's difficult to pay with a card in Germany is not one that I recognise.

Thanks for the update JC. The notion that Germans treat plastic like a piece of Plutonium is so 2005.

Are the governments watching you? They may if you use credit cards or debit cards.

http://truepublica.org.uk/united-kingdom/eu-desperate-to-raises-taxes-starts-cashless-society-project-november-2017/
Re cashless transactions in Germany:

...Germany and Austria who experienced periods of extreme
hyperinflation after the world wars. This, along with life under
dictatorships and in high-surveillance societies, has given both
populations a fierce desire to protect their privacy (please note) —
something that is afforded by the anonymity of using cash — and to
keep wealth in physical form to avoid relying on systemic
institutions.

I did notice while cycling around the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state (in the former East Germany) with a German friend, he paid cash while we paid by credit card. I suppose that wasn't too worried about the government figuring out where and what we ate.

If you think that it is easy to pay with a credit card in Germany and Austria, what will you do when the particular establishment tells you they want cash payment instead, even though you see the Visa logo is on the window or door, or when you read on the last page of the menu saying only cash is accepted?

Fred, I carry cash as well but I prefer tp pay by card and reserve the cash for occasions where card is not accepted.

The point I'm making is that cards are more widely accepted in Germany than some on here have made out. German's may prefer to pay by cash but that doesn't mean they're financial luddites when it comes to the use of plastic.

It's been almost 10 years since I lived in Mumich but I've been back 1-2 per year and while I've seen a shift to more and more places accepting credit cards (vs only cash or EC cards) I can say most of my regular hang outs prefer cash if possible and a few still don't accept credit cards.

A good rule is to always keep some cash on you just in case.

DJ

Edit: for the people saying they used a cc in Germany with no issues, well yes I agree, they are easy to use. That also tell me you didn't visit some of my favorite places either ;). Cash might not be "king" in all places but it is a key that will help you unlock more doors that a cc can.

@ jc....Likewise. In Germany it all depends where you are, be it in a book store, restaurant, tavern, train station eatery, the Resisezentrum, dept store, souvenir shop, Pension, hotel, grocery store ie, Penny Markt, Kaiser's, etc if you want to use a credit card or pay in cash. Of course, we all have been in establishments in Germany where the cc is accepted, and it is stated that it is not accepted.

This past summer's trip in Berlin at the Pension, I witnessed two guests (from Finland) at check-out telling the proprietor if she accepted a credit card. Theoretically, yes, but proprietor really wanted to be paid in cash and told the Finnish ladies that. Only one of the Finns could communicate with the proprietor, ie, in German, since her friend spoke neither English nor German, while the proprietor basically spoke just German, which one could plainly see. (An good example here of don't expect everyone to speak English or be willing to, for that matter. )

Since the Finns didn't have the cash amount on hand, one of them had to go out to the ATM When she got back, she paid in cash.