Using a credit card in Switzerland

Switzerland is known for its vast mountainous landscapes, Alpine ski resorts, well-crafted watches and luxurious chocolate. The country itself is as diverse as its landscape, with four different official languages spoken by the Swiss population. However, travelling around Switzerland doesn’t come cheap; it’s one of the most expensive countries in the world to visit due to its stable and valuable currency.

Switzerland is not a member of the EU, so the official currency is Swiss francs, not euros.

If you plan on bringing your credit card along with you to Switzerland, there are some important facts you should know first.

Cash machines in Switzerland

Visa and Mastercard are among the most widely accepted networks in Switzerland.

Cash machines are abundant in Switzerland, so you won’t have to worry about not finding a suitable one. They’re typically located around banks, post offices, and shops. However, if you are heading to a smaller village, ATMs may be more scarce, so it is wise to always carry a small amount of cash with you just as a precaution.

As some ATMs impose a withdrawal limit of CHF5,000, make sure that your UK bank’s limit doesn’t exceed this if you plan on withdrawing the maximum amount.

Cash in Switzerland

Switzerland is a modern economy, with banking as their primary industry. This means that carrying a large amount of cash is unnecessary. However, you may want to carry some cash for precautionary measures, or in case you decide to make any smaller purchases from vendors and outlets. In these instances, cash may be a quicker and more convenient form of payment.

Find a great deal on your travel money for Switzerland

Chip and PIN

Chip and pin is the most common card payment method in Switzerland. All you need to do upon inserting your card into an ATM or card machine is to simply enter your 4 digit PIN-code.

Contactless and Apple Pay are also increasingly common forms of payment: just look out for the contactless payment symbol nearby the tills or purchasing area.

Is it safe to use my card in Switzerland?

By exercising some caution when using your credit card in Switzerland, you’ll have a relatively trouble-free experience.

• Keep your PIN safe. Use one hand to enter the PIN and the other to shield it from prying eyes and hidden cameras.
• Select ATMs with care. Try and stick to ATMs in banks and avoid using ones in the street.
• Watch out for “skimmers”. When installed in an ATM, a card skimmer works by stealing information from credit and debit cards. If you feel the card slot is not as smooth as it should be or if there’s a problem with the keypad, cancel your transaction and look for another ATM.

Keeping your credit card (physically) safe

While Switzerland is known among travellers for being a very safe country, you should always remain vigilant when in busy train stations and tourist areas. Be aware of where your belongings are at all times, and only use your card when you feel safe in your surroundings.

Potential credit card fees

Credit card fees can leave a noticeable dent in your pocket when you’re travelling overseas, so know what you’re up against well in advance and choose a card with no or low fees.

Foreign transaction fees

British credit card issuers typically charge a fee equivalent to 1% to 3% of your transaction, so carefully review your card’s fine print to avoid statement surprises. Some cards designed for travel come with no foreign transaction fees, so this could be a good time to switch.

Learn more about cards designed for overseas spending

Currency conversion fees

If a retailer offers to bill your credit card in sterling, dynamic currency conversion comes into play. While this might sound like a good deal, you’ll actually end up getting a worse exchange rate, and you might also end up paying currency conversion fees. Whenever you’re presented with an option, choose to pay in the local currency.

Cash advance fees

Using your credit card to withdraw money from an ATM may not make sense unless it’s a bona fide emergency. Each time you withdraw funds from an ATM, you’re likely to pay a cash advance fee. Your APR for cash advances is typically higher than your purchase APR, and you’ll typically get no grace period on interest — instead, you start paying interest immediately. Again, some cards designed for overseas spending will waive this fee.

The table below serves as an example of how much extra you may pay to use your credit card in Switzerland.

Additionally you can get an idea of costs by using these online currency conversion tools from Mastercard and Visa.

How to prepare before travelling to Switzerland

1. Go with Visa or Mastercard. Carry at least two cards on your trip to Switzerland, preferably connected with Visa or Mastercard. If you just take an American Express card, you won’t get to use it in many places.
2. Think no foreign transaction fees. When there are cards that come with no foreign transaction fees, using ones that charge 2% or 3% of each overseas transaction does not make sense. Some of these cards don’t charge an annual fee, either.
3. Keep your bank posted. Banks, in their efforts to thwart fraudulent transactions, block credit cards if they detect suspicious activity such as unexpected overseas transactions. To make sure this does not happen to your card, let your bank know about your travel plans before you leave the UK.
4. Keep the emergency number handy. Know which numbers you’ll need to call if you end up losing your card or if you need an emergency replacement.
5. Know where you’ll get cash from. Consider using your debit card to withdraw cash from ATMs. If you need to exchange money, stick to banks or official money-exchange offices because possessing counterfeit money in Switzerland is a serious crime. Try to avoid exchanging money at airports and popular tourist destinations because of typically poor exchange rates.

Next steps

Ask yourself these simple questions before you leave so your spending in Switzerland does not hit any roadblocks.

• Which cards will I take? Visa and Mastercard are the favourites. If you’re planning a trip, check out cards which give you complimentary airport lounge access. If you’re planning well in advance, consider earning air miles for your trip with a frequent flyer credit card.
• Have I let my bank know? If you don’t inform your bank about your travel plans, you may end up with a temporarily suspended card.
• What fees do I need to pay? If your existing cards come with foreign transaction fees, look for one that does not. Paying in Sterling outside of the UK might come with currency conversion fees.
• How will I get cash? Using your debit card at an ATM is the simplest way to access your own money. You can carry cash and traveler’s cheques with you. Exchanging Sterling to Swiss Franc is easy and you’ll get several options.

When you’re in Switzerland, you don’t have to worry about where and when you can use your credit card. Just keep some cash handy to pay for small purchases.

Compare cards with fee-free currency conversion in Switzerland

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Product UKCCF	Finder Score	Purchases	Annual/monthly fees	Initial credit limits	Representative APR	Incentive	Link
Santander All in One Credit Card	Finder score 9.3Excellent	0% for 15 months reverting to 23.9%	£3 per month	Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.	29.8% APR (variable)	0.5% after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 cashback paid per month. Cashback paid Monthly into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit. Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Yonder Credit Card Finder Award	Finder score 9.7Excellent	29.94%	1 month for £0, £15 per month thereafter	Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.	66.7% APR (variable)	First month free for new members, £15 p/m thereafter. Plus, 10,000 bonus points. Earn 5 points per £1 spent and up to 25 points per £1 at selected partners. Membership includes worldwide travel insurance, no FX fees and use your points towards any flight. Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.94% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £15 per month, your representative rate is 66.7% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
118 118 Money Guaranteed Rate Card	Finder score 7.8Great	49%	£0	Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.	49% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 49% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 49% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Yonder 'No Fee' Credit Card Finder Award	Finder score 8.9Great	32.9%	£0	Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.	32.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 32.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 32.9% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Santander Edge Credit Card Mastercard	Finder score 9.5Excellent	23.9%	£3 per month	Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.	29.8% APR (variable)	2% after £1 of monthly spend in first year, then 1%. Maximum of £15 cashback paid per month. Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).	Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Frequently asked questions

• What is the sterling to Swiss franc exchange rate?

• How do I send money to Switzerland?

  We use banks to take care of all our other financial needs, so surely we should use them when sending an international money transfer, right? Not necessarily. While major UK banks offer money transfer services, they typically present less competitive exchange rates coupled with high transfer fees.

• What is the most commonly used credit card network in Switzerland?

  Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted and commonly used.

• Are there any currency restrictions for entry into Switzerland?

  There are no currency restrictions on imported and exported cash. For all other private goods, there is a total value limit of CHF 300 per person.

Written by

Chris Lilly

Head of publishing

Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio

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