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.
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.
| Store | Mon–Fri hours | Sat–Sun hours | Opening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Migros ShopVilleMärt | 06:30–22:00 | 08:00–22:00 | 365 days |
| Coop ShopVille HB | 08:00–22:30 | 08:00–22:30 | 365 days |
| Aldi ShopVille | 08:00–21:00 | 09:00–20:00 | 365 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.
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.
| Market | Days | Hours | Character | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bürkliplatz (now Fraumünsterstrasse/Münsterhof) | Tue, Fri | 06:00–11:00 | The biggest and most touristy. Organic, flowers, specialties. High prices. | Good for specialties and flowers, not for budget shopping. |
| Helvetiaplatz (District 4) | Tue, Fri | 06:00–11:00 | Multicultural, authentic, the locals' favourite. Excellent fruit and vegetables. | The best for fruit and vegetables at a good price. |
| Oerlikon | Wed, Sat | 06:00–11:00 (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, Sat | 07:00–11:00 (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. |
| Milchbuck | Tue, Fri | 06:00–11:00 | Residential area, few tourists. Loyal regulars. | The quietest one, ideal if you want to avoid crowds. |
| Rathausbrücke | Sat | 10:00–16:00 | Small, 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
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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).
| Supermarket | Address | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Edeka Neukauf (Jestetten) | Waldshuter Str. 17 | The 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. Unbeatable prices. |
| Aldi Süd (Jestetten) | Waldshuter Str. | Similar to Swiss Lidl but with German prices (30–50% lower). German meat is much cheaper. |
| Netto (under construction in 2026) | New retail area | Even more aggressive discount chain than Aldi. Coming to the new shopping centre. |
| DM Drogeriemarkt (3 branches!) | Jestetten + Lottstetten | THE main reason many Zurich residents make the trip. Cosmetics, baby products, detergents, vitamins: 40–60% cheaper than in Switzerland. There is nothing similar in Switzerland. |
| Rossmann (coming soon) | New retail area | The second major German drugstore chain. Direct competitor to DM. |
| Fristo Getränkemarkt | Lottstetten | Drinks (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. On a CHF 200 shop, you save around CHF 60 (30%). 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.
| Supermarket | Comment |
|---|---|
| Lago Shopping Center | The shopping centre where Zurich residents go. Edeka, MediaMarkt, H&M. Large car park but crowded on Saturdays. |
| Edeka / Rewe / Aldi / Lidl | All present. Edeka in Konstanz has a larger international section than the one in Jestetten. |
| DM / Rossmann | Both are there. Same range as in Jestetten, but with even more choice. |
| Müller Drogerie | German 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.
| Supermarket | Comment |
|---|---|
| Kaufland | Hypermarket with a huge range. Less crowded with Swiss shoppers than Jestetten. Excellent prices on meat. |
| Aldi / Lidl / DM | All present. Less Saturday chaos than in Jestetten. |
What to buy in Germany and what to buy in Switzerland
| Buy in GERMANY (save 30–60%) | Buy in SWITZERLAND (little difference or better) |
|---|---|
| Meat (non-Swiss): save 50–70% | Milk and fresh dairy products (little difference vs M-Budget, transport issue) |
| DM/Rossmann products: 40–60% cheaper | Fresh bread (better Swiss quality, similar price) |
| Detergents and household products: 40–50% | Swiss seasonal fruit and vegetables (quality, freshness) |
| Beer and drinks: 50–70% | Migros/Coop own-brand products (not available in Germany) |
| Cosmetics and personal care: 40–60% | Swiss chocolate (same price or more expensive in Germany!) |
| Non-Swiss wine: 30–50% | Swiss cheese (quality, freshness, similar price) |
| Nappies and baby products: 40–50% | Swiss organic products (different standard) |
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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 savings are 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).