Cash or card in Frankfurt — what do locals actually use?
Frankfurt leans more cash-dependent than most Western European capitals, though the gap has narrowed since 2020. Carry at least €50 in notes at all times. Independent restaurants, market stalls at the Kleinmarkthalle, many bars in Sachsenhausen, and virtually every Döner or Imbiss stand still expect cash, and some post minimum-card-spend thresholds of €10 or €15 even when they do accept it. Supermarkets like Rewe and Edeka take Girocard (the German debit standard) reliably, as do most chain pharmacies and the larger department stores. Contactless Visa and Mastercard work at a growing number of places but remain unreliable enough that you shouldn't count on them. ATMs are easy to find downtown, particularly around Hauptwache and Konstablerwache, and using your bank's network rather than standalone machines keeps fees reasonable. The short version: card is fine for hotels and chains, but the moment you step into anything local or street-level, assume cash.
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