Lucerne
Bern
Lausanne
Basel
Geneva
Zurich
Welcome to our digital retail tool for the Swiss market. CBRE’s team of retail specialists are happy to give you in-depth information about the main shopping streets in Switzerland.
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Source: Federal Statistical Office FSO, 2023
Unemployment rate 2022
Source: SECO, 2023
2.2%
Population (31.12.2022)
Source: FSO, 2023
8'812'728
Switzerland Key Facts
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Retail Switzerland Report - High Streets.
In 2022, the hotel industry in Switzerland recorded 38.2 million overnight stays, an increase of 29.4% (+8.7 million) compared with 2021. Tourism has recovered and overnight stays in 2023 are likely to break the all-time records set in 2019.
Tourism
Switzerland is also a popular travel destination at all year round for tourists from all continents. This makes the Swiss shopping streets an attractive place for national and international retailers alike. The shopping streets in beautiful old towns, surrounded by lakes and mountains are home to boutiques for every taste and budget. Of course, the Swiss clichés are not missing, there are many watch shops and chocolate is also sold everywhere.
The Swiss population benefits from one of the highest purchasing powers in Europe due to a stabile and diversified economy with low unemployment, high salaries, a strong currency and low taxes.
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Switzerland
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Purchasing Power 2023 (average per capita)
Source: GfK, 2023
€49'592*
*GfK Purchasing Power refers to the sum of the net income of the population according to place of residence. These purchasing power figures take into account income related to self- and non self-employment as well as capital gains and government subsidies, such as unemployment assistance, child benefit and pension contributions. Expenditures related to living expenses, insurance, rent and associated costs such as utilities (gas and/or electricity), clothing and savings plans have not been deducted from the cited values. Calculations are carried out on the basis of reported income and earnings, statistics on state taxes and deductions as well as forecasts provided by economic institutes. Source: GfK, 2022
Local Real Estate Market Practices.
Switzerland High Street Market Monitor.
Source: FSO,2023
Overall, the hospitality industry in Switzerland recorded a significant increase in the first half of 2022: with 16.9 million overnight stays compared to the first half of 2021, the increase totals 47.3 percent (+5.4 million). In 2019 before the pandemic, Switzerland recorded almost 40 million overnight stays for the entire year. Many of the tourists are back, but visitors from Asia, especially from China, are still missing.
General Framework of the Swiss retail market.
Blog
Cities
Bahnhofstrasse
Rennweg
Old Town
Limmatquai/Niederdorf
Löwenstrasse
Rue du Rhône
Rues Basses
Rue de Bourg
Spitalgasse-Marktgasse
Grendel/Schwanenplatz
Weggisgasse
Hertensteinstrasse
Freie Strasse
Click on the map to open an interactive map in a new tab
The city of Zurich attracts a large number of visitors every year. In 2022 the city of Zurich had approx. 3.28 million overnight stays, which is approx. 10% less than in the record year 2019. The many tourists from Asian countries, especially from China, who made up a significant proportion of tourists in Switzerland before Corona, were still missing as elsewhere in Europe in 2022.
With its aprox. 440'000 inhabitants, Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, although by European standards it is quite small. Zurich, however, can keep up with the retail likes of London and Paris when it comes to luxury fashion and of course watches and jewelry. Zurich is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Despite the high cost of living, Zurich residents have a high purchasing power due to high income and low taxes.
A small town with the glamour and prices of a metropole.
Overnight stays in tourist accommodation in 2022
Tourism region Zurich
3.28M
5.94M
Unemployment rate (September 2023)
Source: Canton of Zurich, 2023
1.9%
1.8%
Purchasing power index 2023
Source: GfK,2023 / *national average =100
113.6*
Source: City of Zurich, 2023
1.58M
443,037
CITY
CANTON/REGION
Zurich Key Facts
Explore the city's streets by clicking on the tabs below.
For more information about Zurich.
Unemployment rate (Sept. 2023)
Purchasing Power index 2023
The city of Zurich attracts a large number of visitors every year. In 2021 the city of Zurich had approx. 1.65 million overnight stays. However, in the year before the pandemic, 2019, it was 3.63 million. The many tourists from Asian countries, especially from China, who made up a significant proportion of tourists in Switzerland before Corona, are still missing as elsewhere in Europe.
Zurich’s busiest shopping street combining mass-market as well as premium and luxury brands.
Prime rent
CHF/m2/year
11’000
0.0%
Vacancy
BOSS Studio (pop-up), &other Stories, Cadillac, Une Ligne, Moncler
New entries
One of the iconic global shopping streets with a mix of national and international massmarket, premium and luxury brands.
Bahnhofstrasse Key Facts
Positioning
A combination of locals, office workers and tourists.
Customer
ZARA
Anchor Tenants
For more information about Bahnhofstrasse.
Back to city
H&M
PKZ
Department stores Globus and Jelmoli
Dolce & Gabbana
Bucherer
COS
Louis Vuitton
Bongénie-Grieder
As of September 2023
BOSS Studio (pop-up), &other Stories, Cadillac, Moncler
A historical street with modern brands attracting locals and tourists alike.
4’000
2.4%
Only, Max Mara Weekend,
Pedestrian shopping street next to Bahnhofstrasse at the entry of the old town. Cluster of French and Italian premium brands. Apple attracts higher footfall at the lower part of Rennweg.
Rennweg Key Facts
Many tourists, but also locals, highest traffic on Saturdays
Apple
Depot
maje
Victorinox
Snipes
Liu Jo
Zumstein Papeterie
5* Widder hotel
Starbucks
Gant
For more information about Rennweg.
Associate Director +41 43 305 02 36 bastian.caspers@cbre.ch
Bastian Caspers
Associate Director +41 43 305 02 46 angela.pijuan@cbre.com
Angela Pijuan
Associate Director +41 43 305 02 37 patricia.kunz@cbre.com
Patricia Kunz
Head Retail +41 44 226 30 01 michael.dresen@cbre.com
Michael Dressen
CBRE Zurich Bärengasse 29 CH 8001 Zurich +41 44 226 30 00
We like to help.
Calida (pop-up), Norquain
Pedestrian shopping street next to Bahnhofstrasse at the entry of the old town, Cluster of premium fashion brands. Apple attracts higher footfall at the lower part of Rennweg
Only, Max Mara Weekend, Caldida (pop-up), Norquain
Tap on the map to open an interactive map in a new tab
Old Town Left of the Limmat
Historical alleys and squares with premium and luxury boutiques.
Prime Rent
3’000
Narrow pedestrian streets and public squares in the historic city center of Zurich. Diverse mix of jewellers, premium and luxury fashion and lingerie with the 5* hotel Storchen in the center at Weinplatz public square.
Old Town Left of the Limmat Key Facts
Equally local as well as international wealthy customers and tourists. The 5* hotels Widder at Rennweg and Storchen at Weinplatz act as anchor for international clients with high purchasing power.
MaxMara
Hotel Storchen
La Perla
Jil Sander
Valentino
Céline
For more information about Old Town.
Akris, dagsmejan, Luca Faloni,
Strehlgasse - Storchengasse - Weinplatz
dixie, Atelier Zobel Le Labo
Akris, dagsmejan, Luca Faloni, dixie, Atelier Zobel, Le Labo
Prime Rent Niederdorf/Oberd.
Prime Rent Limmatquai
2’500
Vacancy Niederdorf/Oberdorf
1’800
For more information about Limmatquai and Niederdorf.
Jack & Jones
Brandy & Melville
Café Motta
Esprit
Weekday
Blue Tomato
Many locals as well as tourists, mostly a younger crowd.
Lieblingsstück, Hüsler Nest Kuhn Ricon, Burger King
Vacancy Limmatquai
The old town on the right bank of the River Limmat, compared with the left side, features no luxury boutiques, but is just as loved by visitors from around the world.
Limmatquai / Niederdorf / Oberdorf
Old Town Right of the Limmat / Limmatquai / Niederdorf
Limmatquai: Beautiful promenade scenery at the river with historical buildings, young-fashion brands as well as cafés and restaurants. Niederdorf / Oberdorf: Urban retail environment in the old town with a younger customer profile and many tourists; brands can be found predominantly within the young-fashion sector with streetwear, sportswear, sneaker stores and a very high density of restaurants and F&B.
Limmatquai - Niederdorf - Oberdorf
Hüsler Next, Lieblingsstück, Kuhn Ricon, Burger King ...
Lululemon
2.3%
Vacancy Niederdorf/ Oberdorf
Prime Rent Niederdorf/ Oberd.
https://efficy.cbre.ch/file/list?p=o%2FpmpoJrNVZDmXOoBPECn%2Fa%2B%2BlnfW%2BgUu%2FXBOKAoWRZgxQoWzpJOFaRkyeGtW36RYsPAlD%2FcGts5tlyCyT4F0xj56vpbv4Uyj2XpRoyByI7AIJtWJ5%2FWp%2BtrcbEKLTQ0Ex4uCAFo4scx3iWmI9PD8w%3D%3D
A shopping street that profits from a good footfall due to the proximity to Bahnhofstrasse, the main station and department stores.
2’200
1.5%
Tiny Fish, Vergani, Odlo, Sonho
Löwenstrasse profits from a good footfall due to the proximity to Bahnhofstrasse and the main station. The department stores Jelmoli, Migros City and Globus also attract shoppers to Löwenstrasse. At the northern section close to the main station F&B concepts such as McDonalds, Holy Cow and Pret a Manger have taken locations .
Löwenstrasse Key Facts
Mostly local shoppers and business people working in the CBD who take advantage of the proximity to the main station for spontaneous shopping activities or lunch or commute.
Foot Locker
PKZ Men
Migros City
Globus
Franz Carl Weber
For more information about Löwenstrasse.
Löwenstrasse profits from a good footfall due to the proximity to Bahnhofstrasse and the main station. The department stores Jelmoli, Migros City and Globus also attract shoppers to Löwenstrasse. At the lower section close to the main station new restaurants such as McDonalds, Holy Cow and SPIGA have opened. In the middle section a very positive development can be observed with new entries in the last two years as such as Foot Locker, Douglas, The Gallery or Clarins.
Löwenstrasse profits from a good footfall due to the proximity to Bahnhofstrasse and the main station. The department stores Jelmoli, Migros City and Globus also attract shoppers to Löwenstrasse. At the northern section close to the main station F&B concepts such as McDonalds, Holy Cow and Pret a Manger have taken locations.
https://efficy.cbre.ch/file/list?p=YP0bQacKY69RTv1z8h2SumcBkRkaYOkRdEKsYJDhGVOKKM7HVcBp1rZDZRq0UbTx1ane0C%2FNp5xJfAJdhurNiXWO%2Fh87Ege6zrQjtD%2BMomXctpnt6idimpFmOXORNsIAz%2F5YE3mkTtDlIsFQuv2a%2Bw%3D%3D
Albanesi, Tiny Fish
For more information about Geneva.
Geneva is an extremely international city and very attractive for tourists. The city is known for its trade shows and conferences such as the Motor Show or the reknown Watchmaking Show (SIHH). During the summer season, Geneva is a favourite destination for wealthy tourists from the Gulf States.
Geneva is Switzerland’s second most populous city and an important financial centre and reknown for its worldwide wealth management relevance. The Canton of Geneva has approx. 515'000 inhabitants, of which 40% are foreign due to the many international companies and organizations based there including the European Headquarters of the United Nations. The city is also known for its living costs and quality of life, which are among the highest in the world.
Geneva is a highly popular destination with a global reputation.
Tourism region Geneva
2.0M
2.97M
Unemployment rate Sept. 2023
3.9%
Source: GfK, 2023 / *national average =100
101.2*
513'952
203'757
Geneva Key Facts
Source: Canton of Zurich, 2022
1.7%
One of the most coveted streets by the major luxury brands.
6’500
Valentino, C&A temporary store, My Rock Attitude,
Parallel to the River Rhône, this street is one of the most luxurious in the world.
Rue du Rhône Key Facts
Wealthy locals, office workers, wealthy national and international shopping tourists, often from the Gulf states.
Tiffany's & Co
Rolex
Dior
Prada
Van Cleef & Arpels
Cartier
Chanel
For more information about Rue du Rhône.
Rue du Rhone
Emirates
Geneva is a highly popular destination with a global reputation, watch manufacturers and the luxurious Rue du Rhône.
Valentino, C&A temporary store, My Rock Attitude, Emirates
Rue du Rive, Rue de la Croix d’Or, Rue du Marché and Rue de la Confédération are collectively known as Rues Basses and together form Geneva’s longest shopping street.
4’500
Achat d'or
Geneva’s longest shopping avenue and the second longest in Switzerland.
Rues Basses Key Facts
A diverse mix of commuters and local office workers, and national and international tourists.
Fnac
Zara
For more information about Rues Basses.
For more information about Basel.
The City of Basel lies in the famous ‘Dreiländerdreieck’, the triangle where Switzerland, Germany and France meet. The city has its exceptional location to thank for its openness to the world, cultural diversity, and strong competitive edge. Its bi-national EuroAirport can be reached within a short time, although it is on French soil. The Rhine ports are the most important inland ports. The City of Basel is well known for its chemical and pharmaceutical industry with companies such as Novartis, Bayer and Roche who employ international staff.
Basel is the third largest city in Switzerland in terms of inhabitants.
Tourism region Basel
1.29M
1.53M
Unemployment rate September 2023
3.0%
99.8*
196'649
173'422
Basel Key Facts
Geneva is Switzerland’s second most populous city and an important financial centre and reknown for its worldwide wealth management relevance. The Canton of Geneva has approx. 510'000 inhabitants, of which 40% are foreign due to the many international companies and organizations based there including the European Headquarters of the United Nations. The city is also known for its living costs and quality of life, which are among the highest in the world.
Car-free highstreet Freie Strasse is Basel’s most important shopping mile.
3’500
4.6%
Genesis, tonjaconcept
The most important shopping street in Basel with a mix of mass-market retailers and luxury labels.
Freie Strasse Key Facts
A mix of locals, day tourists from Germany and France and cultural tourists from all over the world who visit the museums and fairs such as Art Basel.
Coop
Hermes
Longchamp
For more information about Freie Strasse.
For more information about Lausanne.
The city center of Lausanne with its many hills and charming shopping streets is an enjoyable experience for locals and tourists. Lausanne is Switzerlands fourth largest city and the capital of the Vaud Canton. The greater area has a population of 400'000. It is known as the « Olympic Capital » as it is the headquarter of the International Olympic Committee and 55 sports federatons. Lausanne is also a major student destination thanks to its many reknown universities.
Lausanne is the second largest city in the country’s french-speaking region.
Tourism region Vaud
857'058
2.68M
3.3%
Purchasing power index 2022
Source: GfK, 2022 / *national average =100
98.0*
Source: FSO 2023
830'221
141'355
Lausanne Key Facts
Explore the city's streets by clicking on the tab below.
Purchasing Power index 2022
Source: GfK,2022 / *national average =100
Tourism region Lausanne
Rue de Bourg is the main shopping destination for premium and luxury brands in Lausanne.
5.4%
Absolut Cashmere, Hugo Boss, Hunkemöller
Historically Rue de Bourg was exclusively destinated to luxury stores. Some mass-market brands now have a presence on this street. The majority of stores are fashion and accessories.
Rue de Bourg Key Facts
A mix of locals and tourists
Sandro
Bongénie
For more information about Rue de Bourg.
As of March 2023
For more information about Bern.
The City of Bern is the federal capital and the country’s political center. Bern lies in the heart of Switzerland on a loop of the River Aare and, with its 145,000 inhabitants, is the fifth-largest city in Switzerland. With its landmass of 5,959 km2 and population of approx. 1 Mio. that makes Bern the second largest canton in Switzerland on both accounts. The origins of the City of Bern date back to the 12th century and its old town is a UNESCO world heritage site. Bern possesses one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe below the arcades that provide a unique shopping experience.
Located in the intersection of two cultures, Bern is a bridge between Switzerland’s German and French-speaking regions.
Tourism region Bern
820'916
5.25M
Source: City of Bern, 2023 / SECO, 2023
1.3%
91.5*
Source: City of Bern, 2023 / FSO, 2023
1.05M
144'447
Bern Key Facts
Spitalgasse – Marktgasse
Spitalgasse and Marktgasse both have a high density of national and international retailers. In the basements there are mostly local concepts.
2’800
Levi's, Rituals Aura Bern
The most frequented shopping street in Bern with national and international retailers.
Spitalgasse – Marktgasse Key Facts
Both streets are popular with locals and tourists alike
Massimo Dutti
Loeb Department Store
Calzedonia
Manor
For more information about Markt-und Spitalgasse.
Spitalgasse - Marktgasse
Both streets are popular with locals and tourists alike.
Levi's Rituals Aura Bern
For more information about Lucerne.
Thanks to its attractions, its luxury shopping offer, the beautiful lakeside setting and the nearby destination mountains Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhorn, Lucern is a destination for many travel groups and individuals alike. The covered, medieval Chapel Bridge forms the centerpiece of Lucern’s townscape and is considered one of the oldest, covered wooden bridges in Europe. The famous Schwanenplatz, located on the right shore of Lake Lucerne, is the classical starting point for visits of the old downtown area and the start of the famous Grendel which offers an unparalleled shopping experience for watch enthusiasts.
Pretty as a postcard and nestled between Lake Lucerne and the mountains, the old town of Lucerne is a must-see in Switzerland.
Tourism region Lucerne
1.1M
3.5M
Source: SECO 2023
1.1%
98.2*
424'756
83'822
Lucerne Key Facts
Source: City of Lucerne, 2023 / FSO, 2023
Pretty as a postcard and inbedded between Lake Lucerne and the mountains, the old town of Lucerne is a must-see in Switzerland.
Grendelstrasse is the most important street in Lucerne for the middle and upper luxury segment.
5’000
Bulgari
Schwanenplatz/Grendel is dominated by Swiss luxury watch and jewelry brands and it’s the most luxurious shopping street in central Switzerland.
Grendel/Schwanenplatz Key Facts
Asian shoppers, predominantly Chinese and other tourists taking advantage of the wide watch, fashion and souvenir selection.
Gübelin
Hublot
Embassy
IWC
Omega
Casagrande
For more information about Grendel.
Grendel - Schwanenplatz
Grendel/ Schwanenplatz
Weggisgasse has the highest footfall in Lucerne, focused on mass-market and premium retailers
Swarovski, Etam, Franz Carl Weber
High traffic and a mix of mass-market and premium retailers
Weggisgasse Key Facts
A mix of local, young shoppers and tourists walking from Schwanenplatz to Weinmarkt
Tommy Hilfiger
Benetton
Footlocker
Rituals
For more information about Weggisgasse.
Weggisgasse has the highest footfall in Lucerne, focused on mass-market and premium retailers.
In addition to Weggisgagge, Hertensteinstrasse remains the most popular shopping street in Lucerne for retailers.
Swisscom, Sprüngli
Largest shopping street in Lucerne with a diverse mass-market offer in fashion, beauty, books and groceries.
Hertensteinstrasse Key Facts
Mix of local shoppers and tourists
Guess
Bayard
Lacoste
C&A
For more information about Hertensteinstrasse.
Migros
Müller
Associate Director Retail +41 43 305 02 46 angela.pijuan@cbre.com
Associate Director Retail +41 43 305 02 36 bastian.caspers@cbre.com
Head Retail +41 44 226 30 06 michael.dressen@cbre.com
Are you looking for retail locations in Switzerland or for a tenant for your property? Do you need support with lease negotiations or other topics? We like to help.