Bern Souvenirs & Shopping

Souvenir shopping in Bern is at its best when it stays elegant and practical. The Old Town arcades—around six kilometres of covered sandstone walkways, among the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe—make browsing easy in any weather, markets add a local feel, and Swiss classics like chocolate, cheese and small crafts travel well when chosen thoughtfully. This guide focuses on what is actually worth bringing home, what makes a good Bern or Swiss souvenir, and exactly where in the Old Town to look—without turning the trip into a logistics project.

A good souvenir does one of two things: it is genuinely from here (Bern's bear motif, regional cheese, a local confiserie's chocolate) or it is unmistakably Swiss and built to last (a knife, a watch, good chocolate). Skip the generic fridge-magnet end of the spectrum and you'll come home with something you actually use or eat.

What to Buy in Bern

Swiss chocolate

The classic, and in Bern it's also local history: Toblerone was created in Bern in 1908, its triangular bar a nod to the Alps and its logo hiding the Bern bear in the Matterhorn. For something more special than a supermarket bar, the Old Town's historic confiseries are the move—names like Confiserie Tschirren on Kramgasse, Confiserie Eichenberger near the station, and Beeler and Abegglen on Spitalgasse. See our best chocolate shops in Bern for the full rundown.

Bern bear motifs

The bear (Mutz in Bernese German) is the city's emblem, and it turns up on everything from soft toys and enamel pins to ceramics, prints and chocolate. A bear souvenir is the one thing that says Bernspecifically rather than just Switzerland.

Cheese & Alpine specialties

Emmental comes from the rolling hills just east of Bern, and Alpine hard cheeses keep and travel well as vacuum-packed wedges. Pair with honey, dried meats or biscuits for an edible gift box. Always check your home country's import rules for dairy and meat before you buy.

Swiss Army knives & watches

A Swiss Army knife is a durable, useful classic (pack it in checked luggage, never carry-on). At the other end of the budget, Switzerland is watch country—from affordable, design-led brands to fine timepieces in dedicated boutiques along the main shopping streets.

Crafts, textiles & market finds

Look for cowbells, edelweiss-embroidered textiles, regional crafts and small Appenzeller-style pieces in the independent arcade shops, plus honey, flowers and seasonal treats at the weekly markets. Postcards and small art prints are the lightest, most personal option of all.

Where to Look: the Arcaded Old Town Streets

Bern's great advantage as a shopping city is its Lauben—roughly six kilometres of covered sandstone arcades threading the UNESCO Old Town (the arcades were specifically cited when the Old Town was inscribed in 1983). You can browse for hours in rain or sun without an umbrella, and the four main shopping streets form one near-continuous spine:

• Spitalgasse & Marktgasse: the busiest stretch from the station down to the Käfigturm and Zytglogge—bigger names, department stores, and confiseries like Beeler and Abegglen.
• Kramgasse: past the clock tower, lined with handsome shops, galleries and Confiserie Tschirren, with the Einstein House along the way.
• Gerechtigkeitsgasse: the lower Old Town toward the bridge—more antiques, design, art and independent boutiques, and the Justice Fountain overhead.

For the full picture of how the arcades work and what hides in the cellar shops below street level, see our guide to the arcades (Lauben).

Where to Shop (Without Overthinking)

• Old Town arcades: Walk the main shopping streets and browse independent shops under cover. Start with the arcades guide.
• Weekly markets: For local atmosphere and edible souvenirs, see Bern’s farmers’ markets.
• Cafés and food stops: A great “souvenir” can also be a memory—pair shopping with a coffee route.

Packing & Tax Tips

• Keep chocolate cool and protected, especially in warmer months—it can soften fast on a long travel day.
• For cheese, charcuterie, wine and other liquids, check airline carry-on limits and your home country's customs rules before you buy.
• Pack any Swiss Army knife in checked luggage—blades are not allowed in the cabin.
• Carry heavy items near the end of the day or trip—Bern is walkable, but bags change the mood.
• Choose one “signature” souvenir instead of many random purchases—it's lighter and more memorable.
• VAT refund: Switzerland charges VAT, and non-residents can often reclaim part of it on larger purchases above a minimum spend. Thresholds and procedures change, so ask the shop for a tax-free form and check the current rules before counting on it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best souvenir from Bern?

For most people it's chocolate—ideally a box from one of the historic Old Town confiseries rather than a supermarket bar. If you want something unmistakably Bern, look for the city's bear motif. Both are easy to pack and genuinely local.

Where is the main shopping area in Bern?

The arcaded Old Town streets—Spitalgasse, Marktgasse, Kramgasse and Gerechtigkeitsgasse—form around six kilometres of covered walkways, so you can shop comfortably in any weather. Everything is within a short walk of the main station.

Can I get a VAT (tax) refund on purchases?

Often, yes. Switzerland charges VAT, and non-resident visitors can usually reclaim part of it on larger purchases above a minimum spend if they take the goods out of the country and complete the tax-free paperwork. The minimum amount and the process can change, so ask the shop for a tax-free form and confirm the current rules. Remember Switzerland is not in the EU, so it has its own scheme.

Can I bring Swiss chocolate and cheese home?

Chocolate travels easily; just keep it cool. Cheese and other dairy or meat products are subject to your home country's import rules, which vary a lot, so check before you buy and favour vacuum-packed, shelf-stable options.

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