Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in San Marino easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
I tried using Amex in San Marino and had a tough time. Hotels sometimes accepted it, but restaurants and small cafés usually declined. ATMs didn’t support Amex either, so I had to use my Visa debit card for cash withdrawals. Meals were €10-15 for pasta or pizza, while sightseeing tickets cost around €5-10. I averaged about €80 per day. Mastercard was just as reliable as Visa. Amex is not common here, so don’t depend on it.
San Marino is small but very touristy, and most ATMs and shops preferred Visa or Mastercard. My American Express didn’t work at ATMs from local banks, and even some souvenir shops refused it. Restaurants in the historic center often said “Visa only.” I budgeted about €70-100 daily including meals, entry fees to towers, and transport up the mountain. Visa worked everywhere without issue, while Amex was frustrating. Bring a Mastercard or Visa if you want smooth payments in San Marino.
Used my Amex twice and got declined both times. The waiter at a café even said, “Only tourists carry that.” Fair enough. My Mastercard worked everywhere, no drama. Some bigger places might accept Amex, but for regular travel stuff - meals, shops, entrance tickets - you’re better off with a Visa or Mastercard. I wouldn’t count on Amex for anything more than emergencies.
Ran a bunch of test payments with Amex, Visa, and Mastercard - only the latter two worked across the board. Amex failed at two souvenir shops and an ATM in the center wouldn’t even accept it. Not a tech issue, just low local support. San Marino uses euro but feels more traditional when it comes to payment systems. If you want reliability, bring a Visa or Mastercard with chip and PIN.
I had mixed results with Amex. It worked at the hotel I stayed in, but most cafés and small restaurants either didn’t take it or had issues with the terminal. Some places said the machine “didn’t support Amex,” even if the sticker was on the window. Visa and Mastercard had zero issues, even with contactless. For a smooth trip, I’d say leave Amex for online bookings and use Visa for everything else.