Germany is a relatively safe country, so you should feel secure enough to carry cash on your travels. Using a traditional magnetic stripe credit or debit card may actually prove to be quite problematic in some areas because not a lot of places accept them, like smaller shops, cafes, and grocery stores. Local cash will be the easiest and most convenient way to pay for things in Germany unless you can find a credit or debit card designed specifically for travelers. When traveling abroad, you also want to avoid withdrawing money from a credit card because it can incur much higher fees and interest.