Places for Shopping in Switzerland that are Off the Beaten Track

Locked in the heart of Europe, Switzerland is nothing short of a beautiful wonder. With the snow-covered mountains and glistening lakes amidst beautiful trees, Switzerland looks like it has been taken out of a dream. Particularly talking about this nation, it can be called one among the best in Europe to enjoy the stunning views of the icy Alps and also to go on many adventure rides amidst the mountains. However, shopping in Switzerland does not have too much scope when compared to other destinations.

It can get a bit dull due to the lack of choices and deals to shop from, because of which the products get expensive. However, shopping is one of the essential parts of your travel marvels, and hence shopping in Switzerland can be made fun and exciting if you know where to buy. There is a whole range of exciting things that are the best in Switzerland, like the Swiss Army Knives, Swiss Chocolates, watches, and other food-related items which you want to consider as souvenirs to take back home. Other than these, the stores in Switzerland are built in the quirkiest way possible with the beautiful European architecture that you can look at, even if you don’t want to purchase anything. In the end, Switzerland is a pretty interesting place to shop at, if you know when and where to buy!

The Best Shops for a Memorable Shopping in Switzerland Experience:

1. The Best of Interlaken at the Funky Chocolate Club:

With a quirky tagline that reads,

‘Chocolate today, broccoli tomorrow!’

This fun store is located down the streets of the beautiful city of Interlaken. Vladimir and Tatiana are two extremely passionate chocoholics who run this crazy place, and they promise to deliver you the best chocolate in Switzerland. They also give their chocolate some major twists that will make you ‘chocolate wasted’ and will leave you craving for more of it. You can also go for the special chocolate making classes organised by the Funky Chocolate Club to learn how to make their amazing chocolate. You know what’s the best? You can take home, all the chocolate you make in this class. This store is majorly about organic chocolate and fair-trade; and it also contains other chocolate related products like the hot chocolate, chocolate fondue, and many other tools that are required for the chocolatiers to make their chocolate just perfect!

• Location: Jungfraustrassee 35, Interlaken, Switzerland.
• Operating Hours: This store is open from 10 am to 6:30 pm from Tuesday to Sunday. It is closed on Mondays.
• Known for: The Funky Chocolate Club is best known for its chocolate.
• Bargaining: You cannot bargain in this store.
• Trip Advisor rating:5/5

2. Unique Flavoured Chocolates at the Chocolaterie Walder:

Image Source

This tiny store down the streets of Neuchatel in Switzerland is one among the top choices of places to go for shopping in Switzerland. As it is not an unknown fact that Swiss chocolates are to die for, this store considers this fact a tad bit seriously and makes some quirky flavoured chocolates. Acing in this business since 1919, Chocolaterie Walder is now run by its third-generation that makes dozens of unique chocolates, including the les eclats that you will want to stuff into your mouth. Les eclats are square tablets of dark or milk chocolate that are paired with caramelised pumpkin seeds, or sometimes roasted hazelnuts. They can also be made of some unusual flavours like lemongrass, coriander, cinnamon, saffron, or absinthe. Whatever it might be, the flavour of the chocolates in this store will give you a different taste in your mouth and change your perception about chocolates.

• Location: Grand Rue 1, Neuchatel, Switzerland
• Operating Hours: This store is open from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm from Tuesday to Friday and 7 am to 5 pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
• Known for: The Chocolaterie Walder is best known for its unusual flavoured chocolates.
• Bargaining: You cannot bargain in this place.
• Trip Advisor rating: 5/5

3. The best Clothes & Accessories in Freitag:

Image Source

If you think that you cannot shop for anything else in Switzerland except chocolates, then you are so wrong! The Freitag brothers are known for successfully recycling the colourful truck tarps into some amazing water-resistant messenger bags right in their factory. Every product that they sell in this store, ranging from laptop bags to purses, all of them are authentic and original. This outlet is made of all amazing things that you want to buy in Switzerland at affordable rates. The fashion accessories at Freitag are the most unique ones you can find in Switzerland, and they also serve as souvenirs for you to carry home. Apart from all these, this tall building in Switzerland has a rooftop terrace that offers some spectacular views of the gorgeous city of Zurich.

• Location: Geroldstrasse 17, Zurich 8005, Switzerland
• Operating Hours: This store operates from 11:30 am to 7 pm from Monday to Friday and 11 pm to 5 pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.
• Known for: The Freitag is best known for its fashion products and accessories.
• Bargaining: You can do a bit of haggling in this store. Excessive haggling is not recommended.
• Trip Advisor rating:5/5

Also Read: Memorable Things To Do In Switzerland For A Lifetime Experience

4. One of the Best Markets in Lausanne; The Marche du Centre Ville:

Image Source

Rummaged in the pedestrian streets of the Old Town that is located around the Place de la Riponne, this market is Marche du Centre Ville makes the foreground of the beautiful Palais de Rumine come to life every Saturday and Wednesday. This market is a home to more than hundred varieties and stores selling fresh produce that includes vegetables, fruits, meats, and cheeses. If you are planning on going for a picnic, then land in this area to find all the perfect provisions that you need for your trip. You can also try some delicious local snacks like taille aux greubons which is a flaky pastry that is cooked with pork fat. This place also gets lit up during the Christmas periods from November to the Christmas Eve.

• Location: Place de la Riponne, Lausanne, Switzerland
• Operating Hours: This market is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm
• Known for: The Marche du Centre Ville is best known for its fresh farm produce including cheese, meat, fruits, and vegetables.
• Bargaining: You can bargain in this market, as much as you want to and negotiate the least price you can get it for.

Read more: 20 Magnificent Places To Visit In Switzerland

5. More Chocolate at the Villars Chocolate! :

Image Source

Located in the beautiful town of Fribourg, this place is the top choice for chocolate shopping in Switzerland, especially in the gorgeous Fribourg. Acing in this business since 1901, the Villars Chocolate has a burnt-red and caramel brick factory. Villars Chocolate is most famous for its Gruyere milk chocolate that is Alpine-rich and is loved by kids all over. They also make the tetes au choco which is an entirely marshmallow-based chocolate, and a favourite among the kids. The best thing you can buy here is their hot chocolate that is topped with some chocolate shavings and whipped cream in their cafe-outlet that stocks you up on chocolate at factory prices. This is one of those places where you can get the best of Swiss chocolates.

• Location: Rte de la Fonderie 2, Fribourg, Switzerland
• Operating Hours: This store operates from 8:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m from Monday to Saturday.
• Known for: The Villars Chocolate is best known for it Gruyere milk chocolate, tetes au choco, and its heavenly hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
• Bargaining: You cannot bargain in this store. Since all of them are sold at factory prices, haggling of prices is not really recommended in this store.
• Trip Advisor rating: 5/5

6. Shop for homewares in Zurich at Bogen 33:

Image Source

With some gorgeous interiors within the store, this store in the streets of Zurich is the ultimate destination for purchasing world-class homeware in Switzerland. This place sells some sprawling interiors, beautiful antique furniture pieces, tiny homewares and knick-knacks, and other funky items that you want to get for decorating your house. This fun place is located amidst vintage laws in the gorgeous town of Zurich. Even if you don’t wish to purchase anything, make it a point to visit this wonderful place to have a look at the products and browse them. Bogen 33 sells some authentic products at friendly prices, which attract tourists from all over Zurich. In addition to this, the store is located amidst some fresh lawn and meadows down the Hardbrucke train station that offers an amazing view.

• Location: Geroldstrasse 33, Zurich, Switzerland
• Operating Hours: This store operates from noon to 7 pm from Monday to Friday, and 10 am to 6 pm on Saturdays, It is closed on Sundays.
• Known for: This store is best known for its unique interiors, antique pieces, and homewares that will make your house more beautiful than it already is.
• Bargaining: You cannot bargain in this store.

7. Take home Souvenirs from the Heidi Shop:

Image Source

Located in the lap of Bad Ragaz, the Heidi Shop and Information Centre is the ultimate place to get some unique gifts and souvenirs for your people back home. This place in Maienfield is where you want to head to if you like Heidi and would want to purchase Heidi souvenirs like lunch boxes. T-Shirts, and various colouring books that will make the day of your little one. This store is mainly attractive for the kids, as they get hold of their favourite character’s merchandise.

This place is also the starting point of a 1-and-a-half-hour loop walking track that will take you to Heididorf, which is believed to be the home village of Heidi. This walking track that heads toward Heididorf is gorgeous and offers some amazing views as you walk along. This is one of those walks in Switzerland that you won’t regret. So, if you drop by and have some time, make sure you try this track.

• Location: Bahnhofstrasse 1, Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
• Operating Hours: This store is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day only in the months of March to November. It is often closed in peak winters due to adverse weather conditions.
• Known for: This gorgeous store down the lane is known best for its gifts and souvenirs that you can take back home for your little one.
• Bargaining: You can bargain to an extent in this store. Excessive haggling is not at all recommended.
• Trip Advisor rating: 4/5

Switzerland is an absolutely fun and exciting place to go for shopping, not only to purchase stuff, but also get a look of the surroundings of the shops. All the stores in Switzerland are located amidst beautiful meadowns and snow-capped mountains that give you some amazing views. Shopping in Switzerland is one among the fun things that you can do in this gorgeous European country.

Shopping in Switzerland FAQs:

1. What to shop for when in Switzerland?

The shopping in Switzerland is not the best in the world. Be it the outlet stores also, they are not as good as the stores in other countries. Switzerland, however, is a paradise for people who want to buy watches and chocolates. There are several duty-free stores from where you can purchase some amazing chocolates that you can take on your flights. If you want to try clothing, then go to Zurich where you can find some amazing fashion clothes and accessories.

2. What should you remember when you go Shopping in Switzerland?

When you are shopping in Switzerland, make sure you remember that most of the stores will be closed on Sundays. Especially in the town of Lucerne, the store will be closed right from 4 pm on Saturday afternoons until Monday. There will be a wide choice of products to buy in Switzerland, but there won’t be many deals, so check prices before you purchase things in Switzerland.

3. What are the Best Cities to go for Shopping in Switzerland?

Switzerland is not much of a shopping destination, hence the cities of Zurich, and some parts of Interlaken and Fribourg have some outlets from where you can shop. However, these cities do not have many deals in their local stores. It is mostly advisable to purchase products from the duty-free stores across the cities.