Cash in Switzerland

I found Switzerland to be almost a cashless country. I got out about $200 (US) in local currency and had a really hard time spending the cash. I ended up giving the waiter at the airport hotel a big tip because I didn't have any reason to keep the extra. I did spend some of it at the airport gift shops, and that was really about it.

Did you use any CHF (Swiss currency)?

I think SK means they converted about $200 to CHF.

We like to have a few small bills and coins for tipping. Very rarely make a purchase or pay a restaurant check with it, but all restaurant tipping is cash. There is no "tip line" on the check.

I'm heading to Switzerland soon for 16 nights. I have maybe 30 CHF left from a previous trip that I'm taking. I'm going to try not to take out more, but we'll see. My plan is to only use it if absolutely needed up to the last 2 days, then if I have any leftover, I'll spend it on something.

This year and last I have used exactly zero CHF cash - absolutely everything has been Apple Pay. I keep the cards in my wallet and have a few Francs from previous visits - I never took out my wallet or coin wallet.

Even pay toilets have readers.

Make sure that your card has the tap to pay wave symbol.

Thanks so much for the responses. I certainly won't worry about it anymore.

Yes, I exchanged $200 in US for CHF; sorry that wasn't clear. I had a hard time spending cash in Switzerland; the same was true for the Scandinavian countries I visited this year; most are cashless.

I have a small credit card holder in lieu of wallet. Small, and handy. It has space for a folded bill, and I keep a 50CHF note in there in case I really encounter a place that does not accept cards. That emergency banknote has been sitting there for a long time now. I have to make sure to spend it before it expires :-)

I'm glad to see the responses on this. Thanks for asking the question OP

This is great information! If I'm in Mürren and decide I need some cash, is there an ATM I can use for my debit card?

Thanks

There are ATMs in Lauterbrunner near the Coop grocery and one near the gondola station in Murren. =)

Great! Thanks, Kevin.

We spent 11 nights in Switzerland recently and used credit cards for everything from hotels and restaurants to gelato stands. No cash needed.

You don’t need cash in Switzerland