Switzerland (CH)
Switzerland is a landlocked federal republic of 26 cantons at the heart of Europe, bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
Currency & Money
Practical money tips for living in Switzerland.
Denominations
Coins: 5 Rp., 10 Rp., 20 Rp., ½ Fr., 1 Fr., 2 Fr., 5 Fr. Notes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000 francs.
Payment Culture
Switzerland has rapidly shifted toward cards and mobile payments — TWINT (Swiss QR-based mobile pay) is near-universal. Cash is still common in rural shops, mountain huts, markets, and for small services. Merchants often accept EUR at a poor rate; always pay in CHF. Chip-and-PIN is standard; Maestro/Debit Mastercard more common than Visa.
ATM Tips
Use Bancomat machines at major banks (UBS, Raiffeisen, PostFinance, Cantonal banks — ZKB, BCV, BCGE). Withdrawals free with Swiss accounts; foreign cards may incur CHF 3–5 fees. ATMs typically dispense 100 and 200 franc notes — ask the machine for smaller denominations if needed.
Exchange Tips
Avoid airport and SBB station exchanges — rates are poor. Use Wise, Revolut, or Neon/Yuh apps for FX. Border supermarkets (Germany, France, Italy) sometimes accept CHF but give EUR change at weak rates.
Pro tip: Best apps for expats
- • Wise — Send money internationally at near-interbank rates
- • Revolut — Multi-currency account, free ATM withdrawals (limits apply)
- • N26 — German IBAN, free account, good for EU residents