Originally Posted by
KayVeeBee
Note that if your card isn’t “chip and pin” you will encounter issues not just when buying tickets. So would suggest you get one.
For US cardholders this isn't really an option as far as I can tell.
However I can say that my "chip and sign" cards work fine all over, including in some kiosks. NFC payment (Garmin watch or iphone - and probably apple watch but I haven't tried this personally) worked for me throughout Slovakia, Austria, and Switzerland this Summer - drink/food vending machines, ticket machines, in-store, restaurant, hotels, even at an appliance store. The only places it did not work were places that took cash only.
That said for SBB the app does everything.