Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Switzerland easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
Switzerland technically supports Amex in some areas, but real-world use is patchy. I found most ATMs from UBS and Credit Suisse declined Amex withdrawals. And stores that did accept it often charged a fee or minimum spend. It’s better to treat Amex as backup and carry a no-foreign-fee Visa or Mastercard for everyday use.
Used Amex at the airport duty-free and a fancy fondue place in Lucerne - but nowhere else. Migros, Coop, cafes, hostels… all said they don’t support it. Luckily, my N26 card with Mastercard logo worked every time. So yeah, don’t rely on Amex, especially outside big cities.
I brought an Amex and a Visa. In Zurich and Geneva, some hotels and higher-end restaurants accepted Amex, but most grocery stores and transit machines did not. Even some Credit Suisse ATMs wouldn’t take it. It's fine as a secondary card for larger transactions, but if you want seamless use, Visa or Mastercard is the way to go.
Amex barely worked for me in Switzerland. Tried it at Coop, a hostel, and even a McDonald's - all said no. My Mastercard, on the other hand, was accepted everywhere. Even ATMs from PostFinance and UBS didn’t support Amex. If you're planning on using it daily, bring a backup Visa or Mastercard for sure.