Tourists at Swiss weekly markets and farm shops do not usually have TWINT, often lack Swiss cash – but almost always have a contactless credit card or Apple Pay. Market traders who only accept TWINT and cash lose this clientele. In tourist regions like Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt or Montreux, this can make up 20–40 % of potential turnover.

This guide shows which payment methods international guests expect, how you can accept them at your stand and how much transactions with foreign cards cost.

1. Why tourists at weekly markets and farm shops do not carry cash

Swiss francs are a foreign currency for most tourists. Many no longer exchange cash – they rely on card and smartphone. Younger travellers in particular from Scandinavia, the Netherlands, the Asian region and increasingly also from Germany pay almost exclusively cashless. At the weekly market in Lucerne or the farm shop in Grindelwald, these customers stand in front of the stall, wanting to buy cheese, honey or mountain flowers – and cannot pay if only cash or TWINT is accepted.

In addition: Even tourists with Swiss cash often only have large notes (EUR 50 or EUR 100), which are impractical at a market stand for a EUR-8 purchase. Contactless payment solves both problems – no cash exchange, no change.

2. What payment methods international guests expect

Payment habits vary depending on the country of origin. European guests (Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Scandinavia) predominantly use Visa Debit, Mastercard and increasingly Apple Pay or Google Pay. American and Canadian guests almost always have a Visa or Mastercard credit card, often with contactless functionality, and make heavy use of Apple Pay. Asian guests (China, Japan, South Korea) rely on Alipay, WeChat Pay or contactless cards. British guests use Visa Debit (formerly Maestro) and Apple Pay/Google Pay.

The common ground: Visa and Mastercard (contactless) and Apple Pay cover the majority of international clientele. Those who also accept Alipay and WeChat Pay also reach Chinese travel groups – this is, however, mainly relevant in hotspots like Lucerne, Interlaken and Zurich.

3. TWINT does not work for tourists: What alternatives exist

TWINT is a purely Swiss app that requires a Swiss bank account. No tourist has TWINT. Anyone who exclusively hangs up a TWINT QR sticker at their market stall excludes all international guests.

The alternatives:

Firstly: A card terminal (physical or Tap to Pay) that accepts Visa, Mastercard and mobile wallets. Secondly: QR-Pay – a QR code that leads to a payment page where customers pay with their own card or wallet. Thirdly: Cash in EUR – remains as a fallback, but fewer and fewer tourists have it with them.

The first and second options can be combined: A terminal for quick processing, alongside a QR-Pay code for customers who prefer to pay themselves on their smartphone. Both accept international cards.

4. Card payment in foreign currency: Euro, USD and dynamic currency conversion (DCC)

When a tourist pays with a foreign card (e.g. a EUR card from Germany) at your terminal, the EUR amount is automatically converted by the card scheme into their home currency. The tourist sees the amount on their bank statement in Euros. You receive the amount in EUR. The currency conversion is handled by the card network (Visa, Mastercard) – you do not have to do anything.

What is DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion)?

DCC is an optional service where the terminal offers the customer to pay directly in their home currency instead of EUR. Advantage for the customer: They immediately see the price in their familiar currency. Disadvantage: The DCC exchange rate usually contains a markup of 2–4% compared to the normal interbank rate. Consumer protection organisations therefore often advise paying in the local currency (i.e. EUR).

DCC must be offered as an option – it must not be forced. The customer chooses between "Pay in EUR" and "Pay in EUR" at the terminal. For you as a Comerciante, DCC can generate a small commission, but is not available with all providers. For most market stalls and farm shops, DCC is not a decisive criterion – the standard conversion via the card network works automatically.

5. Apple Pay, Google Pay and contactless payment: How it works at the weekly market

Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay work at the terminal or via Tap to Pay just like a contactless card: The customer holds their smartphone or smartwatch to the device, confirms with Face ID, fingerprint or PIN, and the payment is completed. The underlying card (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX) is charged.

For the market trader, it makes no technical difference whether the customer holds out a physical card or a smartphone – the terminal or Tap to Pay treats both the same. The fees are identical. Tourists with Apple Pay from the US, Europe or Asia can pay just as easily as regular Swiss customers with a debit card.

6. QR-Pay as a universal solution: A QR code for Swiss and tourists

QR-Pay is the most universal solution for a mixed clientele: A single QR code works for regular Swiss customers (TWINT) and for tourists from all over the world (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay). Without hardware, without language barrier, without separate systems. The payment page is multilingual and automatically adapts to the customer's smartphone.

7. Costs for international cards: What interregional transactions cost

When a tourist pays with a foreign card, the transaction is more expensive for you as a Comerciante than a domestic Swiss transaction. The reason: The so-called interchange fee – the fee that the card-issuing bank receives – is higher for cross-border transactions.

In practice, this means: Instead of 0.95% + EUR 0.15 for a Swiss debit card, you might pay 1.5–2.5% for an international credit card, depending on the provider and contract. The exact fees for interregional transactions depend on the payment provider and are often not shown separately – ask your provider.

Despite higher fees, it is worth it: A cheese sale for EUR 25 to a tourist that otherwise would not have taken trade generates EUR 24 revenue after fees – instead of EUR 0.

8. Checklist: Making your farm shop or weekly market fit for international customers

• Accept Visa and Mastercard (contactless) – this covers the majority of international cards.

• Offer Apple Pay and Google Pay – both work automatically via any terminal or Tap to Pay.

• Hang up a QR-Pay code so that tourists can also pay without a terminal.

• Display card symbols visibly at the stand: Visa, Mastercard, contactless symbol, Apple Pay. Tourists will immediately recognise that card payment is possible.

• Label in English: "Cards accepted" or "We accept Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay".

• Check if your provider supports Alipay and WeChat Pay – relevant in hotspots with Chinese clientele.

• Factor the higher fees for interregional cards into your prices.

• Keep cash as a fallback – some tourists have EUR cash from the hotel or ATM.

• Ask your provider about DCC – optional, but a service for some customers.