If you’re arriving in Germany from outside Europe, you’re probably used to being able to whip out your credit card at a moment’s notice.
However, over 80% of all transactions in Germany are made in cash. Foreign debit or credit cards (and even locally-issued credit cards!) are usually not accepted at supermarkets, drugstores, train ticket machines, restaurants and bars, government payment machines… hey, even some large furniture stores baulk at the sight of a Visa.