Buy Swiss Francs (CHF)

Practical advice for preparing your budget

The average tourist's budget in Switzerland is 338 swiss francs per day. Your accommodation will cost you about 86 CHF for a youth hostel and about 146 CHF for a 3* hotel.

In Switzerland when you want to tip, you can round up to the nearest franc or two. If the service was very good, you can even count 10% of the bill.

If you want to treat yourself to a restaurant or two during your trip, it will cost you between 14 and 39 swiss francs. National and regional dishes include Älplermagronen, Rösti, Birchermüesli, Appenzell gingerbread and other Swiss specialities.

When do you need cash in Switzerland?

Although card payments are widely accepted in Switzerland, it is still very handy to have some cash on you during your stay.

Having some CHF with you will, for example, be useful for small everyday expenses, such as buying things at a bakery or at the many markets around the country. Some car parks outside urban areas also need to be paid for in cash. Likewise, certain public toilets cost 1 to 2 CHF and require coins.

If you plan to explore the Swiss mountains, you will also need Swiss francs in cash to pay in some mountain huts and refuges. Alpine refreshment chalets generally do not accept card payments either.

Some establishments impose a minimum amount for card payments, so having CHF in cash allows you to get around this rule.

Finally, village festivals and fairs are plentiful in Switzerland, and it is highly recommended to attend them to soak up the country’s atmosphere. However, you will most often be expected to pay for your purchases in cash.