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Zurich Shopping Introduction

Whilst to some, the stereotypical images conjured up of Swiss products are mainly watches, cuckoo-clocks and chocolate, an afternoon stroll along Bahnhofstrasse (long considered to be one of the world's premier shopping streets) is enough to convince even the most die-hard of skeptics that Zurich is one of Europe's finest, albeit expensive shopping cities (pictured left: Böhny Shop).

Compared to some European capitals, Zurich is thankfully devoid of large-scale (and what are, after all, invariably soulless) shopping malls. Instead, upmarket stores and boutiques predominate, along with quaint (and elsewhere long forgotten) purveyors of niche goods, including an entire shop devoted to buttons!

For those on a weekend break to Zurich, we recommend that you first explore Bahnhofstrasse and, in particular the department stores Globus and Jelmoli. Not only do they offer a first-rate fashion shopping experience, but both have food halls chock-full of local and Swiss specialities. The rest of the street, which stretches all the way to Bürkliplatz on the lake, houses upscale jewellery stores including Bucherer, Beyer and Gübelin, along with fashion boutiques/shoe shops such as H & M, Ermenegildo Zegna and Bally. At Zurich Hauptbahnhof, you'll also find Shopville, a subway shopping extravaganza (underneath/adjacent to the platform areas) which offers everything from classy souvenirs to fine wines.

Next up, we suggest you take a walk along Augustinergasse - a picturesque lane with beautiful guildhouses that date from the 14th-18th centuries. Not only is the street hugely attractive, but the shops found here are some of the city's most charming. In addition, along the narrow streets between the Bahnhofstrasse and the Limmatquai (embankment) you'll find a wide-variety of antiques, collectibles and book shops, with areas such as the Rennweg and Paradeplatz also being of interest. Further afield, to the west of the Hauptbahnhof, the Flea Market at Helvetiaplatz (Saturday from around 9am to 1pm) is the place to head for bargains.

On the other side of the Limmat, the Niederdorf district (one of the city's oldest) comprises of pedestrian streets, narrow alleyways and courtyards, each housing a mix of hip boutiques, "modern" antique stores, bookshops (including antiquarian offerings) and inexpensive restaurants. In particular, Marktgasse and Storchengasse/Strehlgasse are great places to wile away a few hours window shopping.

Finally, the Schipfe, an idyllic spot to explore, runs though the quaint houses on the banks of the Limmat. Today, it serves as a street where artisans and craftspeople ply their trade, offering quality and custom-made products from small workshops and inviting boutiques.

Many city-centre stores are open weekdays from 9am-6.30pm (though a fair few stay open until 8pm), with Saturday shopping from 8am-4pm. Stores are mostly closed on Sunday, though Shopville outlets and those at Stadelhofen train station are open for business. It's also worth noting that smaller shops, especially those in the Niederdorf district, may have unusual hours, perhaps opening later in the morning or early afternoon, whilst also being closed on Monday.

The shopping experience in Zurich can broken into the following categories:

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