We will be on the RSE Germany, Austria, Switzerland tour including 3 days in Mürren, which has no ATM. We will, of course, have credit cards. However, we would like to take along a reasonable amount of Swiss Francs to cover "cash only" expenses. We would appreciate any experience travelers have had in this area. Thanks!
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3385 posts
There is an ATM in Lauterbrunnen available.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
6461 posts
It's possible to spend your time there without needing cash. However, you can no doubt find a handy ATM in Lauterbrunnen if you ask your tour guide. Or at the Schilthornbahn station in Mürren.
Posted by
Los Angeles
5242 posts
You are wise to want to have some cash in pocket since it can always find a use, like public bathrooms, small purchases, tipping, etc.
It's a bit tough to get CHF beforehand, so you should consider a no-fee debit/credit card such as Schwab offers to hit up an ATM upon arrival at the airport or in a major train station.
Posted by
Nashville, TN
1088 posts
Your info is outdated. There is an ATM in Mürren at the Schilthornbahn station. The only things around Mürren that you might want cash for is buying cheese from farms. It’s very easy to do Mürren with zero cash otherwise.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks, everyone, for the replies.
ATM at Schilthorn bahn should suffice to supplement plastic.
Vielen dank!
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35527 posts
be careful when getting Swiss cash at an ATM - the default is big notes. If you ask the machine for CHF 100 for example, you will get one CHF 100 note - inconvenient.
I have leftover notes and coins, both Euro and CHF, from previous trips. Except in Germany I don't use either - my phone does it all. I have not needed coins in Swiss toilets - again the phone or free.
What I'm saying is don't get more than you'll actually need.
Because the smallest note is CHF 10 and the coins are 5, 2, and 1 (and smaller) a small amount of Swiss change in your pocket soon gets heavy. A CHF 5 coin is not small.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
9382 posts
The coach may stop at a rest stop on the way that may have an ATM.
Posted by
4 posts
We were able to go to our bank a few weeks ahead of our last trip to Europe to get all the currency we expected to need: Euros, CHF, and British pound. We had no problem getting these currencies from our bank. As recommended, don’t get more than you think you’ll need.
Posted by
California
370 posts
My recollection from when I took the GAS (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) tour in 2018 is that the guide directed us to an ATM at a rest stop along the way, and also advised on how much we might need.