Cities & Regions10 min readUpdated:

Grocery Shopping in Zurich: the practical guide

Zurich has more than 100 supermarkets, 6 weekly markets, and the only place in Switzerland where you can shop at 22:00 on a Sunday. Here is the neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide, with the hubs where you find everything, the markets with their opening hours, and the tricks locals know. Updated: September 2026.

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Zurich street beside the Limmat at dawn, with a tram, open shop and yellow bag.

Grocery shopping in Zurich is unlike grocery shopping in any other Swiss city. On one side, you have ShopVille at the Hauptbahnhof, the only place in Switzerland where Migros, Coop and Aldi are open 365 days a year until 22:00, including Sundays and Christmas. On the other, you have neighbourhood markets with farm products, multicultural areas where fruit and vegetables are very well priced, and shopping centres with free parking where you can do everything in one go.

The problem is that nobody tells you where the hubs are: the areas where 3 or 4 supermarkets are concentrated together. And nobody tells you which market is actually best for value for money (spoiler: it is not Bürkliplatz). This guide gives you the full map.

Sunday and late-evening grocery shopping (ShopVille)

ShopVille at Zurich Hauptbahnhof is a unique case in Switzerland. Thanks to railway law (Art. 39 EBG), shops located inside major railway hubs can stay open 365 days a year without the usual restrictions.
StoreMon–Fri hoursSat–Sun hoursOpening
Migros ShopVilleMärt06:30–22:0008:00–22:00365 days
Coop ShopVille HB08:00–22:3008:00–22:30365 days
Aldi ShopVille08:00–21:0009:00–20:00365 days

The Coop Pronto branches at Stadelhofen, Enge and Oerlikon stations are also open in the evening and partly on Sundays. Migrolino in stations and at petrol stations is an alternative for emergencies.

Important: Prices at ShopVille are the same as in any other Migros, Coop or Aldi branch. You do not pay extra for the convenience of Sunday opening. This applies only to the supermarkets, not to the mini-markets and takeaway spots inside HB, which are more expensive.

From ShopVille at HB to the Lidl in Schlieren, the live offers of the seven chains in a Zurich shopper's week, in one feed. Tap a tab to plan the rest of the run.

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Zurich's 5 shopping hubs (where you find everything)

These are the areas where several supermarkets are concentrated close together. Perfect for comparing prices and doing everything in one trip.

1. Hauptbahnhof / ShopVille / Löwenstrasse

Supermarkets: Migros (ShopVille), Coop (ShopVille), Aldi (ShopVille), Coop (Löwenstrasse/Bahnhofstrasse)
Plus: Open 365 days a year, the most convenient option for commuters. Coop City on Bahnhofstrasse.
Minus: Always crowded from 17:00 to 19:00. No convenient parking.
How to get there: All S-Bahn lines, trams 3/4/6/7/10/11/13/14/15

2. Sihlcity (Wiedikon)

Supermarkets: Coop (large), Manor Food
Plus: 75 shops, cinema, restaurants. Tram 5/17/13 to Sihlcity Nord. Good organic range at Coop.
Minus: Expensive parking (CHF 3.50/h). No Migros or discounters.
Market: Sihlcity-Märt at Tessinerplatz every Thursday 7:00–13:30 (March–December), regional organic produce.

3. Letzipark (Altstetten)

Supermarkets: Coop (large), Migros, Denner. All under one roof.
Plus: 3 supermarkets in one centre. 3 hours of free parking. 5 minutes on foot from Bahnhof Altstetten.
Minus: Smaller than Glatt.
Market: Lindenplatz (Altstetten), Wednesday 7–11, Saturday 7–12. A local hidden gem: small, friendly, excellent meat and cheese.

4. Glattzentrum (Wallisellen)

Supermarkets: Migros (large), Coop, Denner, Globus. 90 shops.
Plus: The biggest shopping centre in the region. 4 hours of free parking. IKEA and MediaMarkt nearby.
Minus: Outside the city, reachable by S-Bahn (S9/S14 from HB, 10 min) + 7-minute walk.
Note: The Aldi branch at Glattzentrum closed in February 2026.

5. Europaallee (behind HB)

Supermarkets: Migros "Bridge" (concept store with integrated food hall)
Plus: Very modern, 2 minutes from HB. Good lunch option.
Minus: Only Migros, no other supermarket. More of a concept store than a classic supermarket.

Zurich's 6 weekly markets

Zurich's markets are an institution. 11 market days per week across 6 different squares.
MarketDaysHoursCharacterTip
Bürkliplatz (now Fraumünsterstrasse/Münsterhof)Tue, Fri06:00–11:00The biggest and most touristy. Organic, flowers, specialties. High prices.Good for specialties and flowers, not for budget shopping.
Helvetiaplatz (District 4)Tue, Fri06:00–11:00Multicultural, authentic, the locals' favourite. Excellent fruit and vegetables.The best for fruit and vegetables at a good price.
OerlikonWed, Sat06:00–11:00 (Wed), 06:00–12:00 (Sat)Large, behind Oerlikon station. Same vendors as Bürkliplatz but fewer tourists.Saturday morning is the perfect time.
Altstetten (Lindenplatz)Wed, Sat07:00–11:00 (Wed), 07:00–12:00 (Sat)Small, friendly. A hidden gem for cheese and meat. Caffè Cioccolato on site.Best for anyone living in the west: the most relaxed one.
MilchbuckTue, Fri06:00–11:00Residential area, few tourists. Loyal regulars.The quietest one, ideal if you want to avoid crowds.
RathausbrückeSat10:00–16:00Small, on the bridge over the Limmat. Beautiful view.For a special purchase, not for your weekly grocery run.

Market trick: Around 10:30–11:00 (the last half hour), some vendors lower prices on fruit and vegetables they do not want to take home again. It does not happen every time, but dropping by late can be worth it.

Neighbourhood by neighbourhood: where it makes sense

District 1 (Centre/Old Town): Coop Bahnhofstrasse, Migros Löwenstrasse, ShopVille. Everything is expensive and convenient. For a full weekly shop, it is better to go elsewhere.

District 3 (Wiedikon) and District 4 (Langstrasse/Aussersihl): The most multicultural part of Zurich. The Helvetiaplatz market is excellent. Around Langstrasse you find Turkish, Indian, Chinese and African grocery shops with fruit, vegetables, pulses and spices at clearly lower prices than supermarkets. Coop and Denner nearby. Sihlcity is 10 minutes away by tram.

District 5 (Industriequartier/Zurich West): Trendy area, few large supermarkets. Neighbourhood Migros and Coop stores. Coop Pronto for emergencies.

District 9 (Altstetten/Albisrieden): Letzipark with Coop + Migros + Denner. The Altstetten market is a hidden gem. Lidl in Schlieren (5 minutes by car or bus).

District 11 (Oerlikon/Affoltern/Seebach): The Oerlikon market (Saturday) is the second largest. Migros and Coop at Marktplatz. Lidl in the Oerlikon industrial area.

District 12 (Schwamendingen): Residential area with Migros and Denner. Fewer options, but normal prices.

Specific tips for Zurich

1. Zurich tap water is excellent. It comes from Lake Zurich and from springs. Do not buy bottled mineral water.

2. Coop Pronto stores in stations cost 10–20% more than a normal Coop. Use them only for emergencies.

3. Zurich Airport is open 365 days a year. If you live in the north of Zurich (Oerlikon, Opfikon, Glattbrugg), the airport Migros and Coop are a Sunday option. "The Circle" at the airport has 80+ shops that are also open on Sundays.

4. The 4 official Sunday shopping days in 2026 are: 31 May (Pentecost), 29 November, 6 December, and 20 December. On those days, all shopping centres (Sihlcity, Glatt, Letzipark) and Bahnhofstrasse open.

5. The ethnic grocery stores on Langstrasse (District 4) sell spices, pulses, rice and Asian products at much lower prices than supermarkets. If you cook Indian, Thai or Middle Eastern food, go and have a look.

Compare supermarket deals in Zurich

Rappn collects the deals of Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner and Otto's in Zurich. Search for a product and see which chains have it on promotion in your canton. Free. No commercial agreements.

Cross-border shopping from Zurich: the honest guide

Zurich is only about 30 minutes by car from the German border. For years, thousands of people from Zurich have done their grocery shopping in Jestetten and Lottstetten, two German villages with more supermarkets than inhabitants. But the rules changed in 2025. Here is when it is worth it, and when it is not.

The 2026 rules

  • Customs allowance: CHF 150 per person per day (cut in half from CHF 300 on 1 January 2025)
  • German VAT refundable: for purchases above EUR 50 per receipt, you can get an export form and reclaim the 19% German VAT at the border
  • Quantity limits: butter/cream max 1 kg per person, meat max 1 kg, oil max 5 L, eggs no limit, yoghurt no limit
  • Important: if you go above CHF 150 in total value, you pay 2.6% Swiss VAT on the ENTIRE basket, not only on the excess

1. Jestetten / Lottstetten (30 min from Zurich, the most popular)

The Jestetten phenomenon is unique in Europe: two villages with 8,000 inhabitants and 12 supermarkets, 3 DM drugstores and a McDonald's. Everything was built for Swiss customers.

How to get there: By car via Bülach/Rafz (30 min from central Zurich). Or S-Bahn S9 to Rafz + bus to Jestetten (45 min total).
SupermarketAddressComment
Edeka Neukauf (Jestetten)Waldshuter Str. 17The biggest and most complete. Excellent butcher, cheese section and wines. The favourite for many Zurich families. Large parking area.
Lidl (Lottstetten)Hauptstr.Good for basics, fruit and vegetables, fresh bread. Prices below the Swiss shelf.
Aldi Süd (Jestetten)Waldshuter Str.Similar to Swiss Lidl but with German prices. German meat is much cheaper.
Netto (under construction in 2026)New retail areaGerman discount chain, like Aldi. Coming to the new shopping centre.
DM Drogeriemarkt (3 branches!)Jestetten + LottstettenTHE main reason many Zurich residents make the trip. Cosmetics, baby products, detergents, vitamins: usually much cheaper than in Switzerland. There is nothing similar in Switzerland.
Rossmann (coming soon)New retail areaThe second major German drugstore chain. Direct competitor to DM.
Fristo GetränkemarktLottstettenDrinks (beer, mineral water, juices) at German prices. A crate of beer costs about one third of the Swiss price.

The honest calculation: Distance from central Zurich: 39 km one way. Car cost (TCS: CHF 0.75/km): CHF 58.50 return. Assume the shop is 30% cheaper in Germany: on CHF 200 that is around CHF 60. But subtract the travel cost and you are left with CHF 1.50. It is not worth it for small shops. It only makes sense if: you buy CHF 300+ worth of goods (2+ people = 2× allowance), combine groceries + DM, or you are going there anyway for other reasons.

2. Konstanz (1h from Zurich, the biggest option)

A city of 85,000 inhabitants with a huge shopping centre (Lago) and the whole Hussenstrasse full of shops. Better if you want to combine groceries + clothes + electronics.
SupermarketComment
Lago Shopping CenterThe shopping centre where Zurich residents go. Edeka, MediaMarkt, H&M. Large car park but crowded on Saturdays.
Edeka / Rewe / Aldi / LidlAll present. Edeka in Konstanz has a larger international section than the one in Jestetten.
DM / RossmannBoth are there. Same range as in Jestetten, but with even more choice.
Müller DrogerieGerman chain with cosmetics, toys and stationery. It does not exist in Switzerland.

How to get there: By car 1h (A1 towards Winterthur, then A7). By train: IC from Zurich HB to Konstanz in 1h10.

3. Waldshut-Tiengen (45 min from Zurich)

A smaller, less hectic town. A good alternative when Jestetten is too crowded.
SupermarketComment
KauflandHypermarket with a huge range. Less crowded with Swiss shoppers than Jestetten. Excellent prices on meat.
Aldi / Lidl / DMAll present. Less Saturday chaos than in Jestetten.

What to buy in Germany and what to buy in Switzerland

Buy in GERMANYBuy in SWITZERLAND (little difference or better)
Meat (non-Swiss)Milk and fresh dairy products (little difference vs M-Budget, transport issue)
DM/Rossmann productsFresh bread (better Swiss quality, similar price)
Detergents and household productsSwiss seasonal fruit and vegetables (quality, freshness)
Beer and drinksMigros/Coop own-brand products (not available in Germany)
Cosmetics and personal careSwiss chocolate (same price or more expensive in Germany!)
Non-Swiss wineSwiss cheese (quality, freshness, similar price)
Nappies and baby productsSwiss organic products (different standard)

Updated: .

Current deals for the canton of Zurich: a selection

A selection from the chains’ currently published offers, sorted by discount depth. The region and the start of the promotion week are given in the line below.

Prices for the canton of Zurich, promotion week since 8 Oct 2026.

  • Persil Universal Gel Laundry Detergent 4.5lDenner−58%CHF 25.95instead of CHF 62.00· until 14 Oct
  • LIVARNO LED Halloween string lightLidl Switzerland−50%CHF 2.49instead of CHF 4.99· until 14 Oct
  • GranatapfelLidl Switzerland−47%CHF 0.79instead of CHF 1.49· until 14 Oct
  • Nivea Q10 Energy Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream 50mlDenner−41%CHF 9.95instead of CHF 16.95· until 14 Oct
  • Linguine no. 10Migros−40%CHF 2.04instead of CHF 3.40· until 14 Oct
  • Green lasagne sheetsMigros−40%CHF 2.37instead of CHF 3.95· until 14 Oct
  • Barilla Basil sauce 6x400gDenner−39%CHF 10.95instead of CHF 18.00· until 14 Oct
  • MangoDenner−34%CHF 0.99instead of CHF 1.50· until 14 Oct

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I shop on Sunday in Zurich?

At ShopVille in the Hauptbahnhof (Migros, Coop, Aldi, open 365 days until 22:00). Also at the airport and at Coop Pronto in the main stations.

Which is the best market in Zurich?

For value for money: Helvetiaplatz (District 4, Tuesday and Friday 6–11). For selection: Bürkliplatz/Fraumünsterstrasse. For a stress-free Saturday: Oerlikon.

Where can I find several supermarkets in the same area in Zurich?

ShopVille HB (Migros+Coop+Aldi), Letzipark Altstetten (Coop+Migros+Denner), Glattzentrum Wallisellen (Migros+Coop+Denner).

Where can I find a Lidl in Zurich?

Lidl does not have branches in central Zurich. The closest ones are in Schlieren, Dietikon, Dübendorf and the Oerlikon industrial area.

Is shopping in Germany from Zurich worth it?

It depends. For large shops (CHF 300+, 2 people), combining groceries + DM, the gap is real (CHF 50–100 net). For smaller shops (CHF 150), the travel cost (CHF 58) wipes out almost everything. Since 2025, the customs allowance is only CHF 150. The closest destination is Jestetten/Lottstetten (30 min).

Grocery delivery Zurich: what are the options?

For grocery delivery Zurich, compare the delivery services in Rappn’s separate Swiss delivery guide. Check whether they cover your address, then compare the basket, delivery fee, minimum order and available slot. If you choose to shop in person, this guide lists station stores and neighbourhood hubs; check their current hours. Rappn compares offers and does not deliver groceries.

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