Austria in cash.
Imperial Vienna and its listed cafés, Mozart's Salzburg, Hallstatt between lake and cliff, Innsbruck beneath the peaks. Austria, too, cherishes its cash — in the café as in the mountain hut.
Helvetica Exchange prepares your EUR travel envelope at Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, 1204 Geneva (Rive district) — the posted rate, no separate commission, Monday–Friday 08:30–18:30 and Saturday 09:00–17:00. Reserve and your rate is held for 3 hours during opening hours; ID from the LBA thresholds.
The cities, chosen.
Vienna
The capital of emperors and cafés — waltz, Klimt and Sachertorte.
Schönbrunn — The Habsburgs' Versailles, 1'441 rooms — gardens free up to the Gloriette.
Upper Belvedere — Klimt's Kiss in its baroque palace.
Salzburg
Mozart, the white fortress and baroque domes pressed beneath the rock.
Hohensalzburg Fortress — A thousand years of ramparts, funicular and Alpine view.
Old town & Getreidegasse — Wrought-iron signs and Mozart's birthplace.
Hallstatt & the Salzkammergut
The postcard village between mirror lake and millennial salt mine.
The classic viewpoint & a boat — The Alps' most famous photograph — electric boat €25/h to see it from the water.
Salt mine & skywalk — The world's oldest mine, miners' slides included.
Getting around.
Comfortable Railjets (Vienna–Salzburg 2 h 20). Elegant trams in town; cable cars and post buses in the mountains. Alpine huts and small inns prefer cash.
Cash & banknotes.
The grand cafés take cards (often above a minimum) — but the tip slides across in coins, and many neighbourhood Konditoreien stay cash-only. Reach Hallstatt before 10 am, ahead of the coaches.
| Rate reservation | held 3 hours, during opening hours |
| Counter hours | Mon–Fri 08:30–18:30 · Sat 09:00–17:00 |
| Commission | none — the margin lives in the posted rate |
Before you go.
Do Viennese cafés take cards?
The grand ones yes, often above a minimum — but tips go in coins, and many neighbourhood pastry shops remain cash-only.
Hallstatt from Salzburg?
Train + ferry in 2 h 30, or a day excursion. Arrive before 10 am — after that, the coaches pour in the whole world.
Indicative amounts — rate reservable for 3 hours · Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, Geneva · Guide complet en français