While Zurich may not be the Swiss capital city, it is no doubt the capital of Christmas markets with one such market on almost every street corner.
Largest indoor Christmas market
In no other Swiss city are there so many things to buy - so much so that the city's authorities turn Zurich's mainline railway station into the biggest covered market in Europe every year.
More than 170 stalls gather around a 15 metre-high Christmas tree decorated with over 7,000 ornaments.
In the past, the tree attracted not only admiring glances but the attentions of people wanting a souvenir. However, Max Paatz from Zurich's tourist office warns of the decorations having their own security.
Oldest traditional Christmas market
From the railway station, it's just a stone's throw to central Zurich where the oldest Christmas market in the city is located between Hirschenplatz, Niederdorfstrasse, Spitalgasse and Rosenhof.
Between 8 and 23 December every year, craftspeople from all over the world sell their products here.
"It's a traditional Christmas market where classical handicrafts are on sale," says Paatz. "There are many stalls where visitors can watch glass makers or wood carvers at work."
Singing Christmas tree market
One of the most unusual markets is at Werdmuehleplatz where the "Singing Christmas Tree" can be seen and heard from 30 November to 23 December.
The tree is actually a choir of children who sing Christmas carols on a "stage" that looks like an enormous Christmas tree.
Other places worth checking out
Even more opportunities to make last minute Christmas purchases can be found back in Zurich's centre at the City Christmas Market between 20 November and 31 December.
Zurich's most important shopping thoroughfare, the Bahnhofstrasse, is another great place for a shopping spree. In the run up to Christmas, the street is decked out in lights that provide a modern contrast to the more traditional illuminations in the old city centre.
Shops are open to customers on two Sundays before Christmas – 7 December and 21 December, according to Zurich Tourism.
Zurich's tourist authorities have organised a two-hour guided shopping ramble through the city's main sights and beginning at the Tourist Service office in the railway station at 4.30 pm from Wednesdays to Fridays and at 3.30 pm on Saturdays from 28 November to 22 December.
Tickets cost around CHF 20 for adults and about CHF 10 for children.
For more information, go to:
text: dpa / Expatica 2008
photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons-licensed content
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Shoppers are in for a treat at Europe’s largest indoor Christmas market.
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