Trying to find out if Liechtenstein widely accepts Amex cards in restaurants and shops and ATMs - any suggestions
Amex is accepted only in select places in Liechtenstein, usually upscale hotels or tourist-oriented shops. For daily travel - buses, small cafés, casual dining - Visa/Mastercard works best. ATMs also don’t support Amex. Budget CHF 80-120 a day depending on your activities, and most of it won’t be covered by Amex. Carry Swiss francs in cash for smaller purchases. Treat Amex as an emergency or luxury card here, not your main way to pay.
Liechtenstein was frustrating with Amex. For such a wealthy country, I assumed acceptance would be good, but most businesses rejected it. ATMs wouldn’t let me withdraw either. Even mid-range restaurants and souvenir shops said no. I had to rely on Visa for everything, from buses to groceries. Amex just became dead weight in my wallet. For a trip where I spent CHF 100+ per day, not being able to use Amex at all was disappointing.
I visited Vaduz and my Amex worked at a luxury hotel and an art museum shop. But when I tried paying at bakeries, casual restaurants, and bus tickets, it didn’t work. ATMs also wouldn’t recognize it. My Visa debit card worked everywhere, especially at Liechtensteinische Landesbank machines. Since the country uses Swiss francs, it felt like Switzerland-lite, but with even fewer Amex options. Bring Amex if you want, but don’t expect it to work daily.
Liechtenstein is small and modern, but Amex isn’t the top choice. Hotels, luxury restaurants, and some shops in Vaduz may accept it, but most local cafés, small stores, and ATMs prefer Visa/Mastercard. If you’re budgeting CHF 20-30 for a meal or CHF 5-10 for coffee, expect to use another card or cash. Amex can work for upscale purchases, but not for daily needs. Always carry Visa/Mastercard as your primary option.