Geneva Shopping – Shops, Stores, Best Buys & Inside Tips

Geneva Shopping

Geneva is well-known as a political and commercial center. However, shopping in Geneva can make for a wonderful experience during your free time.

Markets and supermarkets

There are some great markets around the city of Geneva. Visiting these markets will allow you to shop for various items, ranging from designer products to meats and vegetables. You will find an expansive supermarket on Rue des Alpes. Some of the best supermarkets are Annemasse, St. Julien and Fenrey. The supermarkets stock great meats, cheeses and other delicacies. There are also indoor and outdoor markets that operate until late in the night. The Plainpalais Street market is one of the popular open-air markets in the city.

Souvenirs

Before buying souvenirs in Geneva, it is important to shop around so as to take advantage of the price differences. You will also have plenty to choose from, so take your time to choose the best souvenirs you can get. You can buy T-shirts, mugs, cowbell keyrings, watches and embroidered items.

Shops in Geneva

There are several notable shops in Geneva that offer tourists a wide selection of items. Whenever you are in the city, you can take time to visit Notting Heel for the latest shoes, MBT shop for footwear, Rue du Mont-Blanc for souvenirs and Brachard and Amp for stationary and cards.

Shopping on a budget

Shopping in Geneva can be very expensive. If you are a budget traveler, you should change your money at independent currency exchange shops. This will not only help you to avoid paying commissions but will also eliminate the padding brought about by paying in foreign currencies.

Tax-free shopping

Switzerland has a VAT rate of 8% that is included in the prices displayed in the shops. If you are a visitor in Geneva, you can seek refunds of the VAT if you spend more than a certain amount of money in one shop in a single day.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about shopping in Geneva.