Germans like to pay cash, although, like everywhere, with progressing of digitalisation electronic payment becomes more often. Nevertheless, we are still hesitant to pay with credit card and even debit card. So, its common to make small payments in cash and electronic payment options are mostly used to pay for bigger purchases.
If you come from outside the Eu that brings several caveats with it, firstly not all credit card types are except, the most wildly spread are Visa, Mastercard and sometime American express. However, this can vary. In most cases you will find signs at the entrances of shops or restaurant on what is excepted and what not, if you are not sure, you can always ask. People are mostly very helpful with this. Second if you use a credit card you will very often be required to use your 4-digit pin that you got with the card, rather than just sign the bill.
Debit Cards are a lot more common in Germany than credit cards and will be excepted almost every and its usually stated whenever this is not the case. But keep in mind that this only counts for European debit cards and debit cards for outside the EU, from the US for example will probably not work since they work on a different system.
Even if Frankfurt is the financial capital of Germany, cash will still be the best way to go, other than that you can often rely on your credit card but keep in mind that I might not work in some places but you can most certainly use it to withdraw cash at one of the many ATM’s.
When it comes to tipping in Germany, its neither required nor expected and more seen as a friendly gesture. Of course, nobody will complain if you hand him or her extra money, but it is usually done at around somewhere in the range of one to ten euros per person and depending on the size of your bill of course. Some restaurants will give you the option to tip by card but in general is mostly done in cash.
