Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Liechtenstein: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
In Liechtenstein, the smartest plan is to use ATMs for your Swiss franc withdrawals. Budget CHF 90-120 daily depending on your activities. Exchange a token amount at the airport only if you need to, then use machines from Swiss banks or LLB once in Vaduz. Always withdraw in francs, not euros, to avoid double conversion losses. Airport counters should only be for small amounts in emergencies, as their hidden margins are expensive.
The airport exchange in Zurich was awful compared to what ATMs offered later. I lost about CHF 15 on a €200 conversion, which could have covered a day pass for Liechtenstein buses. For such an expensive destination, wasting money upfront was frustrating. I was budgeting CHF 120 a day, and the bad rate cut into my plans. Don’t depend on airport desks; ATMs in Switzerland or Liechtenstein will always be the better deal.
I traveled into Liechtenstein via Zurich and exchanged €50 at the airport. Later, I withdrew francs from an LLB ATM in Vaduz and got a noticeably better conversion. Meals were around CHF 20-30, museum entries CHF 10-15, and I budgeted about CHF 100 daily. Using ATMs gave me more value for my euros. The airport exchange was fine for quick cash, but for a longer stay, ATMs definitely worked better.
Liechtenstein doesn’t have its own currency - it uses Swiss francs. ATMs in Vaduz and nearby towns generally offer better rates than any airport exchange counter you’d find traveling via Zurich or Innsbruck. Machines from LLB or Swiss banks like UBS usually track close to the interbank rate. If you’re budgeting CHF 80-120 daily for meals, buses, and museum entries, withdrawing francs from an ATM is the better deal. Airport counters add high markups.