16 Best Shopping in Zürich, Switzerland

The main train station, Zürich Hauptbahnhof, and Niederdorfstrasse each host a Christmas market starting in early December. The newer Bellevue Christmas Market on Sechseläutenplatz features original Swiss designs, ice skating, fondue houses, and food trucks.

This cozy indie bookstore with a bar and coffee counter stocks a great selection of international magazines and features a stage for regular readings and literary discussions.

AHA sells hypnotic optical-illusion gifts in styles and sizes to suit all ages.

The antiquarian bookstores in the upper streets of the Niederdorf area are rich with discoveries—and most have selections of books in English. Biblion specializes in antique books and bindings.

There's a flea market from 7 to 5 every Saturday from May to October on the lake end of Bahnofstrasse.

Popular with locals, this flagship COOP is cheap and cheerful. It offers the best value for cheese (often shrink-wrapped and luggage-ready) and chocolate.

This boutique stocks sometimes gleaming, sometimes raw-textured silks. Although the fabrics are sophisticated, there's still an element of whimsy.

This is a superb general bookstore spread over two storefronts. Both sell secondhand books as well as antiquarian tomes.

Globus sells designer clothes and housewares. There is also a pricey but irresistible delicatessen in the basement.

Zürich's most elegant department store, Grieder carries designs by Armani and Zegna, among others.

Switzerland's biggest department store, Jelmoli has top-notch brand-name merchandise and swarms of staffers. Don't miss the extensive food and wine section on the lower level.

This eclectic store sells books, music, and replicas of medieval artifacts, including reproduction medieval shoes, jewelry, and water bottles.

For high-quality vintage clothing, go to the place where Zürich's well-heeled ladies sell their "old" things.

There's a curio market on the Rosenhof every Thursday from 10 to 8 and Saturday from 10 to 5 between March and October.

Teuscher is as famous for its extravagantly wrapped packages as it is for its amazing chocolates and candies. There are two other locations in town.

Trois Pommes is the central boutique of a series of designer shops scattered through the Storchengasse area. The racks are heavily stacked with such high-profile international designers as Jil Sander, Versace, Donna Karan, and Dolce & Gabbana. There are locations throughout Switzerland, including several others within Zürich.