Switzerland’s reputation for shopping is legendary, especially for branded watches and refined design, chocolate, cheeses, multi-purpose pocket knives (the unmistakable Victorinox, pocket-sized with red handles and the Swiss cross embossed), lace and St. Gallen fabrics, home decorations and Christmas trees, carved wood figurines and gadgets, leather belts, and Appenzell cowbells.
In the larger cities, streets and neighborhoods dedicated entirely to quality shopping stand out. In Bern, there are the historic Lauben, the arcades of the old town, revealing sparkling shops and ateliers full of the best brands. In Zurich, the shop windows of Bahnhofstrasse offer an exciting overview of the trendiest goods: you can also take the opportunity to visit the famous Bucherer store for watches and jewelry.
Must-see in Geneva are the shop windows around Rue Basses, Rue de la Confédération, Rue du Marché, and Rue de Mont Blanc. In Lugano, the shops and workshops of Via Nassa are very popular, symbolizing traditional watchmaking and jewelry, as well as high-class clothing and footwear.
