Avoid a tacky souvenir and pick yourself up a unique memory of Zurich at one of these 10 places. From Swiss army knives and cow bells, these special handicrafts and antiques are sure to not be on offer anywhere else.
Teddy’s Souvenir Shop
Shop, Store
Next to the Grossmünster church you’ll find Teddy’s Souvenir Shop, one of the go-to locations for souvenirs in Zurich. A lot of what you’ll find may seem a bit kitsch but among the assorted cow branded items there are plenty of traditional Swiss handicrafts. Swiss army knives, cuckoo clocks, music boxes, and for those who want to rock the cow-herder look, there is even handmade clothing that was traditionally worn by Alpine farmers back in the day.
Edelweiss Shop
Shop, Store
The Edelweiss Shop is rather expensive but it is packed with quality, Swiss-made goods. Some of its brands are exclusive to the shop, so you won’t find them on sale anywhere else. They have a wide range of swiss army knives, hats, gloves and jumpers emblazoned with the Swiss flag, and the almost obligatory cow bells. You’ll find top Swiss brands like Alpine Club, Swiss Military and Victorinox here.
Limited Stock
As its name suggests, everything at Limited Stock is already quite rare. The owners specialise in finding only unique items to sell to their clientele. It’s an odd-job sort of shop with everything from antique clocks to garden trowels on sale. You’re not guaranteed to find the souvenir of your dreams here, as it really depends on what they have in the store when you visit. What is guaranteed however, is that you won’t find your chosen item in many other places.
Zurichfoto
Shop, Store
At photographer Rolf Müllestein’s shop you’re sure to find a special present to take home. He sells beautiful prints of the city and its landmarks in both colour and black and white. It’s more modern than traditionalist, but you may find a little piece of the city to take home with you.
Heimatwerk
Specialising in handmade craftworks that are typical of Switzerland, Heimatwerk has a whole lot to offer from glass vases to ceramics, chopping boards and fondue sets, to watches. They also have a bunch of handmade wooden toys for children. You’re sure to find some not so typical items here as well, so it is well worth a browse. All of the products at Heimatwerk are crafted by local artisans.
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What started off as a hippy market ended up staying that way for nearly a quarter of a century. Today, the Rosenhof market, tucked into the city’s old town, is a great place to browse handicrafts from Switzerland and the world over. Handmade clothes, unique jewellery, ceramics and more can be found here.
Confiserie Sprüngli
Cafe, Swiss, Coffee, Tea , Fast Food, Vegetarian
For chocolate lovers, a souvenir (or ten) is a must from the historic Confiserie Sprüngli. This store is the home of chocolate in Zurich, and the aroma of its truffles, cakes and tarts are sure to make your mouth water. The main store, doubling as a café, can be found on the Paradplatz at the heart of the Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s most famous shopping street. Other stores are dotted around the city.
Flea Market Bürkliplatz
Market
At the end of the glitzy Bahnhofstrasse, one of Zurich’s biggest and best flea markets takes place on Saturdays. Among the many stalls offering the usual flea market oddities, you’ll find antiques, jewellery and the odd piece of artwork. Uniqueness is almost guaranteed here, and you’ll often be able to pick up things for a bargain price. Just make sure to head down early before all the best items find themselves a new home.
Landolt-Arbenz
The home of fine stationery and accessories in Zurich, Landolt-Arbenz is a dream store for the literary minded. Ink pens, leather-bound notebooks and personalised letter paper are just a few of the many high-end items you’ll find here. Among the illustrious brands stocked are Mont Blanc, Graf Von Faber-Castell and S.T Dupont.
The Swiss National Museum in Zurich is probably the best place to learn about the life and times of the Swiss through the ages. At the Swiss National Museum Shop they have a whole range of souvenirs memorialising the different eras that shaped the country.