Practical information : Treat yourself (& others) Switzerland
Timetable
Stores are generally open from 9am to 6:30pm, sometimes 6pm on Saturdays. Supermarkets close at 7pm on weekdays. On Sundays, very few shops are open. On Sundays, you can go shopping in railway station shopping arcades. Government offices are usually open from 9am to 4pm.
Beware of public holidays, which are both federal and cantonal.
Budget & Tips
Let's go for a day's shopping in a Swiss city.. First of all, you'll need to count CHF 3 for a bus ticket for 60 minutes of transport (unless you're staying in a hotel where the Transport Card is often offered), a coffee to "boost" our shopping marathon for CHF 4 or a full breakfast for CHF 18, a beautiful dress in a boutique for CHF 50-100, a box of twenty chocolates from a well-known boutique for CHF 40, a special Swiss souvenir gift - a Caran d'Ache pen for CHF 30, a Victorinox Swiss knife for CHF 60, an hour's outing on a lake for CHF 18, a cocktail on a rooftop to celebrate the end of the day for CHF 16, an excellent three-course evening meal in a brasserie or gastro restaurant for CHF 80, and to top it all off, a concert in a great theater for CHF 40.
As your final destination is outside the European Union, you can take advantage of duty-free shopping. However, if you have a stopover within the European Union, you will benefit from duty free at all airports on the outbound flight, but not on the return. For example, on an outbound flight with a stopover, you'll be able to do duty-free shopping in all three airports, but only in your place of stay on the return.
Brand-name stores can be very interesting, especially during sales periods. You'll find plenty of them, including in French-speaking Switzerland Outlet Aubonne (www.outlet-aubonne.ch) and in the canton of Ticino Foxtown Outlet (www.foxtown.ch).
Buying tax-free: the 7.7% VAT is included in the sale price. If you live abroad, you can obtain tax-free status for a minimum purchase of CHF 300 at a single store. The refund cheque should be requested from the store. Goods must be exported within thirty days of purchase. When leaving Switzerland, the goods, the receipt, proof of identity and the refund cheque must be presented to customs. VAT refunds can be obtained from a Global Refund office: www.premiertaxfree.com - www.global-blue.com
Sales
When it comes to sales, we can't wait because prices in Switzerland are often so high! Well, you're going to have to be lucky or find out in advance, because sales can take place at any time. Regulations do not impose any specific dates. Shops organize themselves as they see fit. But the months of August and January should be ticked off your calendar, as they are often dedicated to sales. And don't forget to check out the stores, especially the big Swiss chains, which often have a section devoted to clearance sales.
What's very local
Chocolates, cheeses, charcuterie, wines, watches, knives... Switzerland excels in gourmet products and high-precision craftsmanship. Among our favorite gift ideas or souvenirs to bring back from the various cantons of the Helvetic confederation: handmade chocolate, dried meat from Graubünden, bags of grated fondue cheese mix, Gruyère PDO, Gruyère double cream, Appenzeller cheese, but also the new-generation Swiss cuckoo clocks from the small Swiss Koo workshop near Lausanne, as well as the famous Victorinox Swiss pocket knife that can be found absolutely everywhere in Switzerland.
Second-hand stores are very popular, and even large institutions such as the Salvation Army or the Red Cross offer sales of products (clothing, furniture) at attractive prices.
Tourist traps
Even if the country inspires security, and the police and customs are vigilant, it is possible to find counterfeit luxury goods, for example. In the land of watches, always go to certified watch stores and ask for your certificate of authenticity after purchase.