What to bring from Switzerland - 10 best gifts

The first thing that comes to mind when answering the question: what to bring from Switzerland is the famous chocolate, cheese and watches. But this is not all that tourists fill their bags with when returning from Switzerland. This article contains detailed information about everything that can be brought from this country as souvenirs and gifts.

Chocolate

Swiss chocolate is considered one of the best in the world. He gained this reputation thanks to the original, centuries-old proven manufacturing techniques and high quality milk of local cows. If you need to bring something inexpensive to your female friends from Switzerland, then chocolate will be the most suitable gift.

You can buy chocolate in Switzerland in supermarkets and in branded chocolate shops of numerous manufacturers: Frey, Callier, Suchard, Teuscher and others. Here you can find different types of it with all kinds of fillings and fillings - from recognizable Toblerone triangles to Easter rabbits and designer handmade chocolates. As souvenirs, tourists are offered sets of chocolates in wrappers with views of Switzerland, which can be bought from 5 francs.

It is most profitable to buy chocolate for shares in large supermarkets, where discounts on it can reach half the cost.

Another opportunity to buy sweet gifts at an inexpensive price is excursions to chocolate factories. Here you can learn the secrets of making traditional chocolate, taste sweet products and buy them without trade margins.

Swiss gingerbread cookies

Another sweet gift you can bring from Switzerland is Basler Läckerli (gingerbread from Basel). Produced according to a special recipe passed from generation to generation, they have an unusual refined taste, not similar to the taste of other gingerbread cookies. Confectioners, and indeed all residents of Basel, are rightly proud of this sweet symbol of their city.

You can buy Basel gingerbread in Läckerli Huus brand stores, which are available in all major cities in Switzerland, but it is more profitable to buy them in supermarkets, especially at discounts.

The cost of gingerbread depends on the weight of the package and starts from 5-7 francs. It is better to stock these sweet gifts before the end of the trip, as the Swiss gingerbread cookies have a limited shelf life. After opening the packaging, they dry quickly, so it is better to take them in small packaging.

Cheeses

Cheese lovers usually do not care about the question: what to buy in Switzerland for a tourist, as a rule, there is a lot of free space left for their famous product in their suitcases. It should only be borne in mind that odorous cheese without vacuum packaging can soak up the entire contents of the suitcase with its specific flavor, and even cause a refusal to board the plane.

As gifts from Switzerland, it is better to bring hard and semi-hard cheeses with long shelf life:

• Emmental (Emmentaler);
• Gruyère
• Schabziger (Schabziger);
• Appenzeller (Appenzeller) and many others.

The price for 1 kg of cheese ranges from 20 francs and above. Tasting sets of cheeses of different varieties that can be bought in supermarkets are very popular among tourists. In specialized cheese stores, such a purchase will cost more, especially if it is an assortment of delicious cheeses in wooden boxes.

If you need to bring small cheese souvenirs, then the best choice would be sets of cheeses in which thin cheese plates are rolled into rolls. They are original, have a weight of about 100 g and a price not exceeding 5 francs.

Gourmets and connoisseurs of everything authentic can buy exclusive home-made cheeses from farmers and peasants at the fair in Zurich, which is held weekly on Wednesdays in the premises of the railway station. Excursions to the cheese dairy are interesting, where you can participate in the process of making cheeses, have plenty of fun tasting and buy your favorite varieties without trade margins.

Alcoholic drinks

The country hardly exports alcoholic beverages; therefore, they are little known outside its borders, although they are quite worthy of being brought as a gift from Switzerland. Among the white Swiss wines are popular:

• Petit Arvine;
• Fendant
• Johannisberg.

Fans of red wine are advised to pay attention to Pinot Noir, especially non-tailoring production. A bottle of 0.7 liter of wine costs on average 10 to 30 CHF.

Of strong drinks in the form of souvenirs from Switzerland, they often bring:

• Kirschwasser - brandy made from black cherry with pits.
• Welsh pear vodka - Williams, apricot - Apricotine, and plum - "Pflumli" are also popular.

In specialty stores you can find Williams gift bottles with a pear inside. The price of strong drinks in bottles of 0.7 liter is not more than 30 CHF.

Penknives and manicure sets

From the fact that you can bring from Switzerland as a gift, perhaps the most useful souvenirs are penknives. Present such a knife to a friend, and he will remember you with a kind word all his life, because Swiss knives differ in unsurpassed quality and durability. Their blades are made of special steel, they remain razor sharp for decades without requiring sharpening.

High quality is typical for all Swiss knives - both for hunting, army folding models with up to 30 items, and for small key chains. The most popular products are the famous brands Victorinox and Wenger. Trinket prices start at 10 CHF, and knives start at 30-80 CHF.

Upon purchase, you can engrave on the handle the name of the owner or a gift inscription. Manicure sets, scissors, tweezers are also very popular. All steel cutting items made in Switzerland are hits, and if you can buy them cheaper than in your own country, you should use it.

Please note that sharp objects must not be carried in cabin baggage on airplanes. And if you forgot to hand over even a small keychain knife with a bunch of keys, then before boarding the plane you will have to say goodbye to him.

Clock

Swiss watches have long been synonymous with quality, reliability and accuracy. This is the best gift for yourself or a loved one who can be brought from Switzerland. Popular with tourists are both cuckoo clocks, which are considered one of the symbols of this country, and watches, which are a status accessory.

In Switzerland, you can buy watches everywhere - from specialized departments of jewelry stores and large department stores, to watch stores and boutiques. They can be found even in small towns. A large assortment of watches includes relatively inexpensive Swatch models and more prestigious brands:

• IWC;
• Rolex
• Omega;
• Longines

Swiss watches can be made of precious metals or ordinary stainless steel, but high quality and reliability are unchanged for all models. When buying a watch, a certificate confirming their authenticity is mandatory.

The prices of Swiss watches are from 70-100 to several thousand francs. The same model costs about the same in different stores, so it makes no sense to spend time searching. In any case, bringing watches from Switzerland is much more profitable than buying them in any other country.

Jewelry and bijouterie

Wealthy tourists it makes sense to look at the jewelry of famous Swiss brands: Chopard, de Grisogono, Boghossian, Vainard. Skillfully combining centuries-old traditions of jewelry art with bold design finds, Swiss jewelers compete with leading world brands.

Jewelry lovers are advised to pay attention to the author’s jewelry designers ’products, which can be found in small shops and gift shops. Such a gift must be selected in accordance with the taste of the person to whom it is intended. Particularly noteworthy are bracelets, pendants, rings made of natural materials - valuable tree species, gems, amber, mother of pearl. Cost of jewelry - from 15 francs and above.

Cosmetics & Perfumes

Those who hope to bring cosmetics and perfumes from Switzerland will be disappointed - the prices for these products are higher than in other European countries. But if the priority is not favorable prices, but the natural composition of cosmetics, their rejuvenating and healing effect on the skin, then you can pay attention to high-quality skincare cosmetics of the following brands:

• Artemis
• Migros,
• Louis Widmer,
• Declare
• Amadoris,
• Chambo et al.

Most of these products are sold in cosmetic departments of pharmacies. The cost of cosmetics is very different, but always high, as is the quality. For example, a moisturizing face cream costs between 50-60 francs per jar of 50 ml.

Medication

When preparing for a tourist trip, you need to know what you can buy at a pharmacy in Switzerland. Indeed, in an unfamiliar country, problems may arise with the acquisition of necessary pharmacy products.

Keep in mind that all pharmacies and shops are closed on Sundays in Switzerland. The only places where you can buy something are gas stations and station stores.

In pharmacies, only herbal teas, skincare cosmetics, vitamins, baby food, and the required minimum amount of medications are available for sale. From drugs you can buy painkillers, antipyretics, cough syrups and drops from a cold. There are also first aid measures for injuries. The rest of the medicines can only be bought by prescription.

The cost of simple medicines is from 5 to 15 francs. Given the high price of medicines and the inaccessibility of their main part without a prescription, it is recommended to bring all medicines that theoretically may be needed with you on a trip to Switzerland. They don’t take up much space, and on occasion they can help out well.

As a souvenir from Switzerland, many tourists bring herbal teas. They can be bought both in pharmacies and in stores and supermarkets. Herbs for herbal teas are harvested in the mountains and in ecologically clean alpine meadows, their collections are made according to traditional healing recipes, so herbal teas are excellent in the treatment and prevention of various ailments. Fragrant alpine teas will be a good gift to friends and relatives. The average packaging price is about 5 francs.
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Souvenirs

Not a single trip abroad can do without buying souvenirs for memory. Most often, gifts such as bells, music boxes, soft toy cows, wall plates, magnets, postcards are brought from Switzerland.

The traditional bell on the neck of cows grazing in alpine meadows has become a peculiar symbol of Switzerland. This traditional souvenir has another symbolic meaning - its ringing drives away evil spirits.

You can buy a bell as a souvenir along with a soft toy - a cow, which is considered the main animal of this country. After all, without it, there would not have been famous Swiss cheeses and milk chocolate, which every Swiss is proud of.

Music boxes in Switzerland often have a characteristic shape - they are made in the form of national houses. When opening the box, beautiful music sounds that can be accompanied by traditional dances performed by tiny figures of Swiss in national clothes. The main manufacturer of these gifts is Reuge Music, prices from 60 francs and above.

If you need to bring something inexpensive as a gift from Switzerland, you should pay attention to the dishes - wall plates with views of cities and alpine landscapes, interesting mugs and cups and saucers decorated with images of cows. Prices - from 10 francs.

In large quantities, tourists are buying magnets with views of Switzerland, key rings and lighters with national symbols. If you do not know what to buy in Saxony Switzerland, bring postcards and magnets with unique views of the Sandstone mountains and ancient fortresses that this part of Germany is rich in.

What to bring from Switzerland - the choice is yours; there are many attractive things here that will please you, your friends and relatives. But the most important thing that you bring with you is vivid impressions and memories of the time spent in this beautiful country.

What you can bring from Switzerland - tips from a local resident in the video.

Watch the video: Top 5 Swiss souvenirs locals would definitely buy affordable and authentic. Switzerland Shopping (May 2024).