Getting Swiss Francs for Your Trip
Switzerland offers incredible Alpine scenery, charming cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Lucerne, world-class skiing, and pristine lakes. But this beauty comes at a price - Switzerland is famously one of the most expensive countries in the world. Getting the best exchange rate on your Swiss Francs can save you significant money.
The Swiss Franc (CHF, often written as Fr. or SFr.) is a stable, strong currency. Notes come in CHF 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 1000 denominations. Coins include 5, 10, and 20 centimes (rappen in German), plus CHF 0.50, 1, 2, and 5.
Key insight for 2026: Although Switzerland is surrounded by EU countries using the Euro, it is NOT part of the Eurozone. The Swiss Franc is an entirely separate currency. While some tourist businesses accept Euros, you'll get poor exchange rates and change in Francs - always use CHF for the best value.
Best Ways to Get CHF Before You Travel
Swiss Francs aren't as readily available as Euros, but here are your options ranked from best to worst:
- Multi-currency travel card (Wise, Revolut) - Best option by far. Get the real exchange rate, use your card everywhere (contactless works perfectly), and withdraw CHF from ATMs fee-free.
- Order CHF online before you go - Services like TravelFX or Moneycorp offer better rates than high street bureaux for cash.
- Specialist currency bureaux - Better rates than banks but less convenient than online ordering.
- Withdraw from Swiss ATMs on arrival - With a fee-free card, this is excellent. With a regular bank card, fees add up.
- High street bureaux (Post Office, Travelex) - Convenient but typically 4-6% worse than the market rate.
- UK bank exchange - Generally poor rates plus fees.
- Airport exchange - Worst rates. Can be 10%+ above mid-market. Avoid.
Can I Use Euros in Switzerland?
Technically yes, in some places. Practically, it's not a good idea. Here's the reality:
Where Euros might be accepted: Major tourist areas, large department stores, some hotels, train stations, and border towns (Geneva, Basel). However, you'll receive change in Swiss Francs at an unfavourable exchange rate - often 5-10% worse than mid-market.
Where Euros won't work: Smaller shops, restaurants, cafes, local businesses, mountain huts, public transport ticket machines, and most everyday establishments.
The bottom line: Always pay in Swiss Francs. If you have leftover Euros from elsewhere in Europe, exchange them properly rather than trying to spend them in Switzerland.
Using Cards in Switzerland
Switzerland is highly card-friendly with excellent payment infrastructure throughout the country.
Where Cards Work Well
Hotels and restaurants everywhere, supermarkets (Migros, Coop, Denner), ski lift passes and mountain railways, public transport and trains (SBB), shops and boutiques, petrol stations, pharmacies, and most tourist attractions.
Where You Might Need Cash
Small mountain huts (some remote ones are cash-only), some farmers' markets and local markets, very small village shops, occasional parking machines, and some public toilets.
Contactless Payments
Switzerland was an early adopter of contactless. Tap-to-pay works virtually everywhere, including for higher amounts than in some other European countries. TWINT is Switzerland's local mobile payment app - as a tourist, your international contactless card is the easier option.
Withdrawing Cash from Swiss ATMs
Swiss ATMs (Bancomat/Bankomat) are reliable, widely available, and typically don't charge fees to foreign cardholders.
Best ATMs to Use
Major Swiss banks including UBS, Credit Suisse, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, and Cantonal banks don't charge withdrawal fees. You'll find ATMs at train stations, airports, town centres, and shopping areas.
ATM Tips
When offered the choice, always decline Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) and choose to be charged in CHF, not your home currency. DCC typically adds 3-5% to your costs. Using a fee-free travel card means you pay zero fees on either end.
Withdrawal Limits
Swiss ATMs often allow larger withdrawals than UK machines - typically up to CHF 1,000-2,000 per transaction. Given Switzerland's high prices, this can be useful.
Exchanging Money in Switzerland
If you need to exchange cash after arrival:
At Airports
Zurich, Geneva, and Basel airports have exchange bureaux, but rates are typically poor (5-10% markup). Use an ATM with a fee-free card instead.
Train Stations
Major stations like Zurich HB, Geneva Cornavin, and Bern have SBB Change offices. Rates are slightly better than airports but still not competitive.
In Cities
Banks can exchange currency but often require you to be a customer or charge fees. Dedicated exchange offices exist in tourist areas. Honestly, a good travel card eliminates the need for these entirely.
Best Exchange Options for CHF
Top providers by category:
PostFinance
Swiss Post bank with good rates and coverage.
UBS
Major Swiss bank, ATMs in all cities.
Credit Suisse
Good ATM network, accepts all cards.
SBB Train Stations
Change counters at major stations. Convenient.
Airport Exchanges
Very expensive. Use ATM or city exchange.
Compare CHF Exchange Rates
See what you'd receive from providers local to you
Frequently Asked Questions
Switzerland sits outside the Eurozone and Swiss Francs are harder to come by than Euros, but the guide's ranking still puts a multi-currency travel card first, for the real exchange rate, contactless almost everywhere and fee-free withdrawals at Swiss ATMs. Ordering CHF online is its second choice for notes, and a good card makes city exchange counters unnecessary.
Only in a limited way, and it is poor value. Some big tourist spots, department stores, hotels, train stations and border towns such as Geneva and Basel will take them, but your change comes back in Swiss Francs at a rate that is often 5-10% below mid-market. Smaller shops, cafes, mountain huts and ticket machines want CHF, so pay in Francs.
Not much. Switzerland is very card-friendly, with cards accepted in hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, on SBB trains and for ski passes and mountain railways, and tap-to-pay working nearly everywhere. Carry some Francs for the exceptions: certain remote mountain huts are cash-only, and farmers' markets, tiny village shops, the occasional parking machine and some public toilets may only take cash.
Usually, yes. Machines run by the main Swiss banks, including PostFinance, UBS, Credit Suisse, Raiffeisen and the Cantonal banks, do not charge foreign cardholders a withdrawal fee, though your own bank might. Decline Dynamic Currency Conversion and take Francs, as DCC can add 3-5%; with a fee-free travel card you pay nothing at either end, and a single withdrawal can often be as much as CHF 1,000 to 2,000.
You do not have to. Swiss Francs are not as easy to come by as Euros, and the ranking is clear: a travel card first, then ordering CHF online from a service such as TravelFX or Moneycorp, then a specialist bureau. High street counters are typically 4-6% off the market rate, UK banks are poor, and airport desks are worst at 10% or more.
Airport bureaux at Zurich, Geneva and Basel typically mark rates up by 5-10%, so a fee-free card at a cash machine is the better choice there. The SBB Change offices at the big stations (Bern, Zurich HB, Geneva Cornavin) are a little better but still not competitive, and city banks may insist you are a customer or add fees.
Nearby Destinations
Planning to visit multiple countries? Check out exchange guides for nearby destinations:
France
Germany
Italy
Austria