So do they take credit cards in Vienna?
Yes…and no.
- Credit cards are not ubiquitous (or even popular with the Viennese)
- Debit cards are, however, widespread and popular
- Carry some cash, particularly for seasonal open-air markets, museum lockers and the occasional café
- See also:
Vienna and credit cards
(Not every store will take credit cards, not even on top shopping streets like the Graben)
Vienna (and Austria in general) does not have a strong tradition of credit card use.
To give you an idea of what I mean, I’ve lived here over 30 years and have never seen a local pay with a credit card in a bar or restaurant. I’ve owned a credit card all that time and have never used it locally even once (only for online transactions).
The relatively low uptake/use of credit cards in the population compared to places like the USA has its roots in traditional values.
Austria is not a credit-driven economy; mortgage-financed home ownership is not that usual in Vienna, for example, partially thanks to the widespread low rent (and high quality) public housing.
The credit card companies typically charge an annual fee which also puts off some people.
And, of course, many people simply prefer debit cards (German: Bankomatkarte), where each payment or ATM withdrawal you make comes straight off a bank account. These are extremely common and widely accepted.
I’m no expert on international banking systems, but I assume your cards with debit functionality have a strong chance of working here: check with your bank.
My Austrian debit card, for example, works fine in the UK. Albeit with a transaction charge now the UK is outside the EU. (Thanks Brexit.) And I’ve paid with it in New Zealand.
(Booths at Christmas markets increasingly take debit cards but some still take cash only)
This reluctance to use traditional credit cards is reflected in the retail world.
You should definitely not assume you can pay for everything and anything with a credit card. Always check for the appropriate symbol on the door or till, first.
Some places in Vienna (including many hotels and other larger businesses that regularly serve tourists) do take credit cards. But refusing them is by no means unusual, especially among small businesses. So check first.
As mentioned, debit cards are almost universally accepted. Almost. In particular, be prepared to use cash:
- At some seasonal market stands. All the main Christmas markets, for example, now have an ATM on site
- For museum lockers. Most take either a 50 cent or €1 coin or a €1 or €2 coin, and most also give the coin back when you open the locker
- At some cafés, bars, restaurants etc. outside of the tourist hotspots. Or, rarely, inside a hotspot: not long ago, I went into one of Vienna’s most central, popular, and established coffee houses, and a sign explained it only accepted cash as payment
Talking of paying in cafés, you might also like to know local customs when it comes to tipping.