Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for Switzerland
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Switzerland is not in the eurozone. Around CHF 0.52 to the dollar, and it is the most expensive country in Europe - roughly double Australian prices for eating out.
Yes - cards work almost everywhere in Switzerland, and you can get by on tap alone.
5 travel card options for Switzerland, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday
Orange Everyday
22k0% with monthly criteria
ubank Spend
Spend account
9k0% international fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Transaction account
6k0% international fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | Rebated if you meet the monthly criteria | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | $0 from ubank, ATM operator fees may apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | $0 from Macquarie | $0 |
Paying for things in Switzerland
Can you pay by card in Switzerland?
Near-universal, including contactless everywhere. This is a card country.
Cash and ATMs in Switzerland
Bank ATMs are widespread and reliable. Withdraw francs, not euros.
Carry CHF 50 at most. There is very little you cannot pay for by card.
Do you tip in Switzerland?
Service is included by law. Rounding up to the nearest franc or two is normal; anything beyond that is unusual.
Worth knowing about paying in Switzerland
Decline dynamic currency conversion - being billed in Australian dollars costs 3-6% here as anywhere.
Before you pay for anything in Switzerland
Pay in Swiss franc or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
Travel card, debit card or credit card?
Why the card sold hardest at the airport is usually the one that loses.
What is a foreign transaction fee?
Around 3%, charged by your own Australian bank. Removable before you fly.
What one Australian dollar buys in Switzerland
CHF0.57 CHF per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More Switzerland essentials
Switzerland visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Switzerland
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Switzerland eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Switzerland travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Switzerland airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in Switzerland
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Switzerland travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Switzerland
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Switzerland money & payments FAQs
Does Switzerland use the euro?
No. The currency is the Swiss franc. Some shops near the borders take euros but at an exchange rate set in their favour, so pay in francs by card.
Planning Switzerland?
We will send you the Switzerland guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.