Sunday Shopping and Holiday Opening Hours in Zurich
Normal opening hours
In general, stores are open Monday through Friday from 9am – 6pm; on Saturdays and the day before holidays, many close at 4pm. Businesses are usually closed on Sundays and public holidays. Only a few stores are open on these days; an overview can be found here.
What is Sunday shopping?
In Switzerland, most stores remain closed on Sundays. Special Sunday shopping days are an exception: Stores are allowed to open on up to four authorized Sundays per year. In Zurich, these usually take place during the Advent season so that visitors and locals can conveniently buy their Christmas gifts over the weekend.
Sunday shopping
Many stores in Zurich are open on three Sundays in Advent in addition to their normal opening hours:
November 29, 2026: 11.00am – 6.00pm
December 6, 2026: 11.00am – 6.00pm
December 20, 2026: 11.00am – 6.00pm
Late-night shopping
The pre-Christmas season kicks off in Zurich on November 19, 2026, at 6pm with the lighting of the “Lucy” Christmas lights. That same evening, late-night shopping will take place in the city center. Shoppers looking for Christmas gifts will stroll through the many participating stores until 9pm.
November 19, 2026: 6.00pm – 9.00pm
New Year shopping
January 2 is a holiday in much of Switzerland. Nevertheless, many stores in downtown Zurich are open from 9am to 8pm and invite shoppers to enjoy their first shopping trip of the new year.
January 2, 2027: 9.00am – 8.00pm
More shopping tips
Where to shop, how to pay, and what to give as gifts
- Shopping: Swiss chocolate, luxury watches, up-and-coming brands, or traditional shops with a long history – in Zurich, everyone can find just what they’re looking for, including during Sunday shopping in Advent. Learn more on the Shopping in Zurich page.
- Store finder: Looking for a particular store? This overview of Zurich shops covers a wide selection of stores throughout the city.
- Payment: The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (CHF). CHF can be withdrawn from ATMs or obtained by exchanging currency at official exchange offices. Further ideas for stretching travel budgets are available on the Zurich on a Budget page.
- Gifts: The gift vouchers from Zürich Tourism are perfect as Christmas gifts. They are very versatile and can be used, for example, for souvenirs and postcards, for private guided tours from Zürich Tourism, or for public guided tours offered by partner businesses.
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