Shopping · Geneva · Switzerland
Shopping in Geneva
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Geneva is a watch and jewellery capital, with luxury boutiques along Rue du Rhône, antiques and galleries in the Old Town and artisans in Carouge. Most shops close on Sundays except at the station and airport. Best souvenirs: Swiss watches, Chocolate and Swiss army knives.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Swiss watches
Where to shop
Rue du Rhône
Flagship boutiques of Swiss watchmakers and luxury jewellers.
Rues Basses and Rue de la Confédération
Department stores and mid-range fashion between the Old Town and the lake.
Old Town
Antique dealers, art galleries and bookshops along Grand-Rue and Rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville.
Carouge
Artisans' workshops, designers and independent boutiques.
Markets
Plainpalais flea market
Wednesday and Saturday flea market with vintage clothes, antiques and records.
Carouge market
Wednesday and Saturday morning food market on Place du Marché.
Halle de Rive
Covered food market with cheese, fish, charcuterie and bakery counters.
What to buy
Swiss watches
From accessible Swiss brands to the haute horlogerie of Rue du Rhône.
Chocolate
Pralines and truffles from Geneva chocolatiers, and the chocolate cauldrons sold before the Escalade.
Swiss army knives
Classic multi-tools sold in department stores and specialist shops.
Geneva wine
Chasselas and Gamay from the canton's vineyards, rarely found abroad.
Antique prints and maps
Old views of Geneva and the lake from the Old Town's galleries.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Neighbourhood · Carouge
Carouge
Built by the Kings of Sardinia from the 1770s to rival Geneva, Carouge has an Italianate grid of low, pastel houses with inner gardens, plane-tree squares, artisans' workshops, independent boutiques and a lively café and bar scene.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Market · Plainpalais
Plainpalais flea market
On Wednesdays and Saturdays, hundreds of stalls fill the Plaine de Plainpalais with secondhand clothes, vinyl, antiques, old watches and bric-a-brac.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Malakoff, Escalade chocolate cauldron, Swiss chocolate and Geneva wine. Village restaurants along the lake between Geneva and Nyon. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Pâquis | $$ | Multicultural streets between the station and the lake, with the city's best-value eating |
| Plainpalais | $$ | University district of the flea market, museums and student bars |
| Carouge | $$$ | Italianate 18th-century town of artisans, cafés and markets just south of the Arve |
| Rive and Rues Basses | $$$$ | Central shopping streets below the Old Town, from Rue du Rhône to the Rive market hall |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in CHF. Service is included. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good table service is appreciated but not expected.
- Greet shop and restaurant staff with 'Bonjour' and say 'Merci, au revoir' when leaving.
- Stay in a hotel, hostel or campsite to get the free Geneva Transport Card for your whole stay.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–March and November; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- November: Geneva International Film Festival (usually early November)
- December: Christmas markets in the Old Town and by the lake (December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, shopping and quiet stays
Carouge
Italianate 18th-century town of artisans, cafés and markets just south of the Arve
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Geneva?
Swiss watches, Chocolate, Swiss army knives and Geneva wine.
+Where is the best shopping in Geneva?
Rue du Rhône: Flagship boutiques of Swiss watchmakers and luxury jewellers.
+What are the best markets in Geneva?
Plainpalais flea market, Carouge market and Halle de Rive.