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

Card is the default in Zurich, and has been for several years. Contactless payment via Mastercard, Visa, or the Swiss-specific Twint app works at virtually every restaurant, shop, and tram ticket machine. Most locals tap their phone or card without a second thought. That said, cash is not dead: smaller bakeries, market stalls at places like the Bürkliplatz farmers' market, and the occasional neighborhood kiosk still prefer it, and some parking meters are coin-operated. The ATM network is dense and reliable — Raiffeisen, UBS, and ZKB machines are everywhere in the city center — so withdrawing 50 to 100 CHF as a buffer costs you nothing beyond any foreign-transaction fee your bank charges. One practical note: Swiss merchants rarely accept euro notes, and those who do give you a poor exchange rate. Arrive with francs or pull them locally. Overall, you can navigate a full week in Zurich on card alone, but a small cash reserve saves friction at the margins.

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