Cash or card in Berlin — what do locals actually use?

Berlin runs on cash more than almost any other Western European capital, and you will get caught out if you rely on card alone. Many restaurants, bars, and independent shops still refuse card outright, particularly in Kreuzberg, Neukölln, and Prenzlauer Berg. A significant number of U-Bahn ticket machines accept card, but smaller kiosks, döner spots, and market stalls at places like Mauerpark or Boxhagener Platz typically do not. Keep at least €50 in notes on you at all times. Deutsche Bank and Sparkasse ATMs are reliable and widespread; avoid the third-party machines in tourist corridors near Alexanderplatz, which charge extraction fees of €5 or more. The shift toward card payment has accelerated since 2020, and larger chains, supermarkets like Rewe and Lidl, and most hotel restaurants now accept Visa and Mastercard without issue. Contactless is increasingly common in those venues, but in Berlin the default assumption is still cash until you see a terminal on the counter.

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