96 Best Places to Shop in 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. But the highlight is the market around The Singing Christmas Tree on Werdmühleplatz, where choirs sing carols from a tree-shaped podium.

The self-styled prince of Bernese chocolatiers, Tschirren has been making its divine assortment of artfully rough-hewn truffles since 1919.

About 100 arts-and-crafts stands fill the Münsterplatz on the first Saturday of the month between March and December. In December, the market also happens on the first Sunday and the third Saturday and Sunday.

Find something a little different at this concept store that carries only Swiss-made objects including clothes, jewelry, skin care products, housewares, and more. In a personalized touch, each item is displayed with a card that includes the picture and story of the designer behind it.

Dating back to 1974, Switzerland's largest open-air antiques festival is held the last weekend of September in the medieval town of Landeron. From Friday through Sunday, hundreds of dealers take over the village center to sell antiques to collectors from all over the world.

This fine selection of more than 250 types of cheeses comes from the Swiss Alps, the neighboring Jura and Vosges mountains, and beyond. They can also fulfill all your fondue and raclette supply needs.

Münstergasse, between Zytglogge and Münster, offers meats, dairy products, bread, fish, fruit, veggies, and more every Tuesday and Saturday.

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. No laptops are allowed on Sunday or bank holidays.

St. Gallen's Friday Farmers' Market—full of farmers hawking tubes of local rapeseed mayonnaise, regional cheeses, fruit preserves, cured meats, and wine—opens at 7 am and ends promptly at 1 pm, so be sure to get there early. A Wednesday and Saturday general market in the same square is equally busy, but the food isn't necessarily from local sources.

This local couture house has gained international acclaim by selling its own line of luxury clothing, all of it manufactured in Switzerland. Creative director Albert Kriemler has dressed many luminaries, including Michelle Obama, Nicole Kidman, and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

Don't be deceived by its name: Alex Sports stocks such labels as Bogner, Escada, Ralph Lauren, and Zegna. Yes, you can buy a down jacket or rent a pair of skis. There's also a seasonally open rental location at the Crans Cry d'Er cable car station.

Since it opened in 1833, the interior of Luzern’s oldest pharmacy has barely changed. The remedies on its intricate wooden shelves include homemade creams for dry hands and lips, as well as cough syrup and herbal teas.

Silky, handmade white-chocolate truffles top the selection at Arn.

At this workshop in the city’s hip Bruch quarter, Anna de Weerdt and Markus Elmiger design and produce vintage-inspired menswear. Their specialty is handmade suspenders.

Local cobblestones inspired Henri Auer's pavés glacés, creamy bite-size delicacies that have become Genevois classics.

High-end china, crystal, porcelain, and silver from respected European manufacturers are on offer at Aux Arts du Feu.

Bayard has sporting-goods shops scattered throughout the village, including this one on the Bahnhofstrasse. It's an ideal place to rent ski gear or shop for a new pair of downhill racing goggles.

For the young (or young at heart), Bercher & Sternlicht is one of the top stores in all of Europe for model trains and accessories.

This boutique has floor after floor filled with designer clothing and high-end cosmetics.

This department store has clusters of designer areas on several levels.

An upscale stationer, Bookbinders Design stocks high-quality pens, pencils, rubber stamps, and brightly colored recycled-paper products.

When you're in the market for a high-end watch, keep in mind that this shop sells brands like Blancpain and Omega.

Ideal for gifts and school or office supplies, this shop sells wonderful papers, cards, pens, and exquisite notebooks.

Rolex, Tag Heuer, and Baume & Mercier are on offer at Bucherer.

Bucherer sells luminous pearls and diamonds of all sizes. It's also the place for prestigious, indestructible Rolex models.

One of the city's poshest jewelry and watch stores, Bucherer sells Audemars Piguet, Piaget, and Rolex.

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

This shop sells wild, one-of-a-kind hats for all seasons. Even if you're not in the market for one, it's fun to peek in the window and watch Caroline Felber and her apprentices at work.

A modern, multilevel complex diagonally across from the train station, the Centre Manor Vevey (still called Saint-Antoine by locals after the previous structure) clusters large and small retailers within its glass panels. The underground parking is a smart alternative to the cramped, restricted parking in Old Town.