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INR → VND · VietnamSwiss Franc (CHF)
The Swiss Franc is the official currency of Switzerland and
Liechtenstein. For Indian travellers, the franc carries an iconic status
because Switzerland is one of the most romanticised holiday destinations
for Indian families, couples, and honeymooners. The Alps, Jungfraujoch,
Mount Titlis, Lake Geneva, Zurich, and Lucerne are familiar names in
Indian travel itineraries, often built up by decades of Bollywood films
set in Switzerland.
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About Swiss Franc (CHF)
The story, the role, and the reach of the swiss franc — explained for Indian travellers, students and businesses.
The Swiss Franc is the official currency of Switzerland and
Liechtenstein. For Indian travellers, the franc carries an iconic status
because Switzerland is one of the most romanticised holiday destinations
for Indian families, couples, and honeymooners. The Alps, Jungfraujoch,
Mount Titlis, Lake Geneva, Zurich, and Lucerne are familiar names in
Indian travel itineraries, often built up by decades of Bollywood films
set in Switzerland.
The Swiss Franc is also one of the world's safe-haven currencies,
alongside the US Dollar and the Japanese Yen. The franc tends to
strengthen during periods of global financial stress as investors move
money to perceived safety. This makes Swiss Franc demand different in
character from most other currencies.
This page covers what the franc is, how it moves against the rupee, and
where to buy it in India. For today's live rate, jump to the rate page
below.
A short history
From its origins to the modern swiss franc you know today.
The Swiss Franc was introduced in 1850 to unify the currencies of the
Swiss cantons. Before then, each canton issued its own currency, which
made trade and banking complex. The franc was modelled on the French
franc, hence the shared name.
Switzerland was one of the last countries in the world to abandon a gold
backing for its currency. The Swiss Franc was officially backed by gold
until 2000, well after every other major currency had moved off the gold
standard. This historical backing built the franc's reputation as a
safe, stable currency.
Between 2011 and 2015, the Swiss National Bank imposed a floor of 1.20
CHF per EUR, intervening in the FX market to prevent the franc from
strengthening too much. On 15 January 2015, the SNB abruptly abandoned
the floor, causing the franc to surge against the euro and other
currencies in one of the most dramatic FX events of recent decades. Many
forex traders and brokers were caught out, and several went bankrupt
that day.
Today, the Swiss National Bank maintains a managed-float regime and has
used negative interest rates (the franc was the first major currency to
go below 0 percent) to prevent excessive franc strength. Switzerland's
combination of political neutrality, banking stability, and economic
discipline has kept the franc among the world's safest currencies.
Denominations you'll use
The notes and coins in actual circulation — and which ones you'll see most.
Swiss notes feature cultural themes rather than specific historical
figures, which makes them unusual among major currencies. The current
ninth series, introduced between 2016 and 2019, has won design awards
for its security features and use of typography and graphics. Each note
represents a Swiss cultural theme such as time, light, water, and wind.
Banknotes
- CHF 10 (yellow, smallest commonly used note)
- CHF 20 (red)
- CHF 50 (green, most commonly used note for daily spending)
- CHF 100 (blue)
- CHF 200 (brown)
- CHF 1000 (purple, one of the highest-value notes in the world. Equivalent to roughly ₹1,20,000 at current rates. Difficult to spend at most retailers.)
Coins
- 5 rappen, 10 rappen, 20 rappen, 50 rappen (silver-coloured)
- CHF 1, CHF 2 (silver-coloured)
- CHF 5 (the famous heavy 5-franc coin, often kept as a souvenir)
When buying CHF from Matrix Forex, ask for a mix of CHF 50 and CHF 100
notes for daily spending. Avoid CHF 200 and CHF 1000 notes for travel
since they are hard to spend in normal retail.
How the CHF moves
The forces and policy decisions that shape its value against the rupee.
The Swiss Franc is the fifth most-traded currency globally, on around 5
percent of all FX transactions. It is one of the three main safe-haven
currencies, alongside the US Dollar and the Japanese Yen.
Against the Indian Rupee, the franc moves based on:
- Swiss National Bank policy. SNB interest rate decisions and signals move the franc. The SNB has historically been willing to intervene aggressively to prevent franc over-strengthening.
- Global risk sentiment. During market stress (geopolitical, banking crises, equity sell-offs), the franc strengthens against most currencies including the rupee.
- Eurozone dynamics. Because Switzerland's economy is closely tied to the Eurozone, what happens to the euro affects the franc.
- Indian rupee fundamentals. RBI policy, India's external position, and capital flows in and out of India also matter.
CHF/INR has been one of the higher-value pairs against the rupee,
recently trading in the ₹119 to ₹124 range. Through 2025, the franc
strengthened against the rupee as the rupee weakened broadly.
Why Indians buy CHF
The everyday use-cases — travel, education, business — that bring Indians to this currency.
CHF demand from India is dominated by leisure travel, which is unusual
for a high-value currency.
Leisure travellers (the dominant category)
Switzerland is one of the most aspirational holiday destinations for
Indians. Families, honeymooners, and groups visit for the Alpine
experience, the train journeys (Glacier Express, Bernina Express), the
lakes, and the chocolate. Peak season is May to September (summer) and
December to February (winter for skiing). A typical 7 to 10 day
Switzerland trip needs CHF 1,500 to CHF 3,500 in spending money, which
is one of the higher per-person costs of any European destination.
Honeymoon travellers
Switzerland is one of the top honeymoon destinations for Indian couples,
particularly those who grew up on Bollywood films featuring Swiss
locations. Per-day spending tends to be higher than for general leisure.
Business travellers
Geneva and Zurich are major business hubs. International organisations
(WHO, WTO, UN) draw Indian diplomats and officials. Pharmaceutical
companies, banking, and luxury watches drive recurring business travel.
Education and conferences
Swiss universities (ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of St. Gallen) and
hospitality schools (Glion, Les Roches) draw Indian students, though
numbers are much smaller than to the US, UK, Canada, or Australia.
Using CHF in Switzerland
Cards vs cash, ATM tips, common pitfalls — what to know before you travel.
Switzerland has a mix of cash and card usage. Major hotels, chain
restaurants, and shopping in Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Lucerne, and
Interlaken accept cards universally. But cash still has significant use,
particularly in smaller towns, Alpine villages, and at smaller
establishments. Switzerland is also one of the few European countries
where you can sometimes pay in euros at tourist locations (though you
will get change in francs at a poor rate).
Places that prefer cash
- Alpine huts and mountain restaurants
- Smaller cafes and bakeries in villages
- Public toilets (often CHF 1 to CHF 2, in coins)
- Some farmers' markets and small shops
- Tips at restaurants (10 percent is common, often left in cash)
Places where cards work well
- Major hotels and chain restaurants
- Department stores and chain retail
- Train tickets (SBB ticket machines accept cards)
- Swiss Travel Pass (electronic, no cash needed)
- Major tourist attractions
ATMs
ATMs are widely available across Switzerland. Bank-owned ATMs (UBS,
Credit Suisse, Raiffeisen) typically have lower foreign-card fees.
Expect CHF 3 to CHF 5 per withdrawal plus your Indian bank's
international transaction fee. Some Swiss ATMs offer dual-currency
dispensing (CHF and EUR).
Tipping culture
Tipping in Switzerland is appreciated but modest. Restaurant bills
already include a service charge by law, so additional tipping is for
excellent service. 5 to 10 percent or rounding up the bill is standard.
Taxis: round up the fare. Hotel porters: CHF 2 to CHF 5 per bag.
How to get CHF in India
Your options — branches, banks, online forex providers, and the airport route.
Cash (CHF notes)
Up to USD 3,000 equivalent per trip in foreign currency notes, roughly
CHF 2,400 at current rates. Matrix Forex sells CHF at the live interbank
rate with same-day delivery across 21 Indian cities. Ask for a mix of
CHF 50 and CHF 100 notes.
Forex card
Load CHF onto a forex card before travel. The Matrix Forex Card supports
28 currencies including CHF, with no markup on the live interbank rate.
Wire transfer
For hotel pre-payments, business invoices, or larger amounts, send CHF
directly to a Swiss bank account via SWIFT.
What most travellers actually do
For a 7 to 10 day Switzerland trip: CHF 800 to CHF 1,500 in cash, a
forex card loaded with another CHF 1,000 to CHF 2,000, plus an Indian
credit card for hotels and emergencies. Switzerland's higher costs and
the cash-friendly nature of smaller establishments mean you should carry
more cash than for most European destinations.
CTA: Go to Live Rate Page · Links to: /swiss-franc/rate/
Rules and limits
LRS, TCS, KYC and the FEMA rules every Indian needs to know.
USD 3,000 equivalent per trip from India in foreign currency notes.
USD 2,50,000 per financial year across all purposes.
Most Switzerland holidays fall below the ₹10 lakh TCS threshold. For overseas tour packages, TCS is 5 percent up to ₹10 lakh and 20 percent above ₹10 lakh. For self-funded travel and remittance above ₹10 lakh: 20 percent on the excess.
Switzerland is a Schengen Area member, so an Indian Schengen visa allows entry. Switzerland is not in the EU but is in Schengen. Plan your visa application well before booking your forex order.
Switzerland does not impose a strict cash declaration requirement on entry, but EU/Schengen rules require declaration of EUR 10,000 or equivalent for cross-border movements within the area.
PAN, passport, Schengen visa, and confirmed flight ticket.
Keep up to USD 2,000 equivalent in foreign currency notes after return. Matrix Forex buys back unused CHF at the live interbank rate.
Frequently asked questions
issued by the Swiss National Bank and used in Switzerland and
Liechtenstein.
is the Latin name for the Swiss Confederation, used because Switzerland
has four official languages (German, French, Italian, Romansh) and Latin
provides a neutral choice.
has recently traded in the ₹119 to ₹124 range, with the franc
strengthening through 2025 and 2026 as the rupee weakened.
1,500 in cash plus another CHF 1,000 to CHF 2,000 on a forex card.
Switzerland is one of the more expensive European destinations. Budget
on CHF 150 to CHF 250 per day mid-range.
euros, but they will give you change in francs at an unfavourable rate.
For value, always pay in francs.
Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area, so an Indian Schengen visa
allows entry. Switzerland keeps the franc rather than the euro.
currency markup of 2 to 3.5 percent on Indian credit cards. A forex card
avoids this markup.
interbank rate with same-day door delivery across 21 cities, or in
person at our nine branches.
