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A lot of our questions in the first few weeks involve shopping. Where to go for everyday groceries? Where can you get gluten-free foods? Where can you go to buy shoes for your kids fast growing feet? Where can you go to get cupboards or couches for your new home? Being close to the borders of France and Germany, we also have the advantage of being able to access better pricing options in shops across the border. Find below a useful list of shops in and around Basel you can go to for your various needs.
A lot of our questions in the first few weeks involve shopping. Where to go for everyday groceries? Where can you get gluten-free foods? Where can you go to buy shoes for your kids fast growing feet? Where can you go to get cupboards or couches for your new home? Being close to the borders of France and Germany, we also have the advantage of being able to access better pricing options in shops across the border. Find below a useful list of shops in and around Basel you can go to for your various needs.
At ISB we also live by and encourage our community to adopt the values of sustainable living. When it comes to sustainable shopping you will find a lot of useful suggestions at this link from the CA's Sustainability Team, https://www.isbasel.ch/parent/dashboard/community/sustainability-isb. (Click on this and scroll down to Living Sustainably in Basel)
At ISB we also live by and encourage our community to adopt the values of sustainable living. When it comes to sustainable shopping you will find a lot of useful suggestions at this link from the CA's Sustainability Team, https://www.isbasel.ch/parent/dashboard/community/sustainability-isb. (Click on this and scroll down to Living Sustainably in Basel)
SUPERMARKETS
SUPERMARKETS
Many of the the general supermarkets also carry a wide range of organic (Bio) and gluten free (GF) products. Look for the tags -Bio & GF - below to know which ones. They also have an International Foods aisle with the popular foods and spices from around the world like Asian, Mexican or Indian. Though there are also some speciality stores for organic and gluten free products as well as those that cater to international cultures and communities.
Many of the the general supermarkets also carry a wide range of organic (Bio) and gluten free (GF) products. Look for the tags -Bio & GF - below to know which ones. They also have an International Foods aisle with the popular foods and spices from around the world like Asian, Mexican or Indian. Though there are also some speciality stores for organic and gluten free products as well as those that cater to international cultures and communities.
Aldi Suisse (Location: Switzerland)
Affordable supermarket, across from Aesch campus, good meat.
Alnatura (Location: Grenzach-Wyhlen & Weil am Rhein, Germany)
Only organic store with a wide range of products including home care, personal care and various gluten free products. Some of their brands can be found in other shops on this list. Bio-GF.
Coop (Location: Switzerland)
One of the biggest supermarket chains, it is conveniently located everywhere though you have to get used to the Swiss prices. Bio-GF.
Denner (Location: Switzerland)
Relatively affordable supermarket in Switzerland. Usually, a smaller selection, have good table wines and interesting offers on their products.
E.Leclerc (Location: Saint-Louis, France)
Good for seafood, fresh crepes, croissants, prepared food, cleaning supplies but also has housewares, school items, clothing, bulk dry goods. Very popular with ISB families. Also has halal meat options. Bio-GF.
Géant Casino (Location: Saint-Louis, France)
Accessible by public transport tram 3. Bio-GF.
Globus (Location: Switzerland)
A department store that is known for its gourmet department on the lower level, very expensive but great for special occasions and some hard to find items.Bio-GF.
Hieber (Location: Binzen & Lörrach & Grenzach-Wyhlen & Weil am Rhein, Germany)
The most popular supermarket among ISB families. Good quality at lower prices.Bio-GF.
Picard Surgelés (Location: Saint-Louis, France)
High-quality frozen food.
Rewe (Location: Lörrach & Weil am Rhein, Germany)
Good supermarket, reasonable prices, big selection.GF.
Glutenfreie Köstlichkeiten (Location: Riehen, Switzerland)
Gluten-free bread and other gluten -free baked goods.GF.
Glutenfreie Welt Husic (Location: Aesch, Switzerland)
Sells only gluten-free products.GF.
Other Gluten-Free Tips
Other Gluten-Free Tips
Apotheke in Switzerland sometimes carries gluten-free products and the one in Reinach (Apotheke Hornstein) even sells freshly baked bread (you have to inquire about the days).
Mexican products - For the corn chips and corn tortillas, you can find them at El Sol in Allschwil. You can order online, but you can also go to their warehouse to buy them directly. It looks like a big warehouse, but you walk around to the back right of the building and they keep a small shop in one corner of the building.
You can find toaster bags at Coop. You can use them if you keep only 1 toaster and use gluten bread in there too. The bag helps keep the gluten-free bread separate so it doesn't get contaminated. One bag can be reused for like 150 times.
Lastly, if you visit the celiac website of Switzerland they have some great info like a list of where to find gluten-free products.
World Foods, Halal
World Foods, Halal
There are many international grocery stores in the area. It is easy to google Indian grocery stores, Asian grocery stores, Turkish grocery stores or Halal grocery stores and find them but here is also a list of some of the popular ones visited often by the ISB community.
There are many international grocery stores in the area. It is easy to google Indian grocery stores, Asian grocery stores, Turkish grocery stores or Halal grocery stores and find them but here is also a list of some of the popular ones visited often by the ISB community.
Tang Asien Supermarket, Spalenring 1, 4055 Basel. - Asian.
New Asia Supermarket, Rheinfelderstrasse 1,4058 Basel - Asian.
Agarwal AG, Claragraben 78, 4058 Basel - Indian and south Asian mostly. Also some south- east Asian and Mexican products.
RMC Paradise, Kuchengasse 9, 4051 Basel - South and South -East Asian.
https://www.cnpmarket.ch/ - online Indian and South Asian grocery store.
Alima Supermarket, Güterstrasse 165, 4053 Basel - Turkish foods, halal meats.
Anka Supermarket, Brunngasse 1, Reinach 4153 Baselland - Turkish foods, halal meats.
DEPARTMENT STORES IN BASEL
DEPARTMENT STORES IN BASEL
The big Globus store sells fashion jewelry, handbags, premium clothing brands, shoes, etc. but also a gourmet and fine food, home goods, kitchenware, suitcases, etc. Smaller Globus shops only sell clothes and shoes.
Luxury brands like Chloe, Etro, Moncler, Tod’s, etc. Clothes, handbags, shoes, and some fashion jewelry.
FURNITURE STORES
FURNITURE STORES
IKEA (Location: Pratteln, Switzerland)
Who doesn't love Ikea?! Always has a solution to your needs.
Bolia (Location: Basel, Switzerland)
Scandavian inspired timeless furniture, accessories, rugs, lighting.
LIVIQUE (Location: Pratteln, Switzerland)
Premium brand furniture, accessories textiles, garden furniture, lighting, kids furniture, office furniture.
Maisons du Monde (Location: Saint-Louis, France)
Affordable, trendy home goods, and furniture.
Wohnbedarf (Location: Basel, Switzerland)
Design furniture and lighting with brands like Artemide, B&B Italia, Minotti, Vitra, etc.
Wohnpark (Location: Binzen, Germany)
A wide range of living room, bedroom, kids, office, garden furniture, lighting, rugs, accessories.
HOBBY & GARDEN STORES
HOBBY & GARDEN STORES
The stores below are home improvement retailers, supplying tools, construction products, and services. Prices are similar.
The stores below are home improvement retailers, supplying tools, construction products, and services. Prices are similar.
Do it + Garden (Location: Reinach, Switzerland)
A large selection for do-it-yourself, garden, construction & hobby.
HORNBACH (Location: Binzen, Germany)
Reasonable prices for a variety of selections.
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
All stores below sell sporting goods for the whole family.
All stores below sell sporting goods for the whole family.
Decathlon (Location: Basel, Switzerland)
Affordable sporting goods, bikes, nutrition, etc. Decathlon mostly sells their own brand.
Intersport (Location: St. Louis, France / Weil am Rhein & Lörrach, Germany)
Premium sporting goods and clothes.
Karrer (Location: Laufen, Switzerland)
Especially for renting/buying ski equipment, have a discount for the ISB ski team and an outlet.
Ochsnersport (Location: Basel, Switzerland)
Premium brands.
ELECTRONICS
ELECTRONICS
Interdiscount (Location: Basel & Allschwil & Oberwil & Muttenz & Reinach, Switzerland
MediaMarkt (Location: Basel & Pratteln, Switzerland)
Both big stores.
Revendo (Location: Basel, Switzerland)
Sells used as well as repairs computers and phones, a great option for kids' devices.
BOOK STORES IN BASEL
BOOK STORES IN BASEL
All stores below have a big selection and also English books:
All stores below have a big selection and also English books:
SHOPPING ACROSS THE BORDER
SHOPPING ACROSS THE BORDER
When you add up the Francs and Euros, it's difficult to deny that it does make a lot of sense to get your weekly/monthly shopping done in France or Germany but remember not to exceed the permitted limits.
There are import restrictions per person regarding the value of the goods, kg meat, meat products, butter, cream, oil, fats, margarine, alcoholic beverages. Find the latest rules and regulations at Duty-free allowances: foodstuffs, alcohol, and tobacco.
You can claim taxes back at the German and French borders. In Germany, it is valid for any purchase over 50 francs and in France, the minimum purchase amount is 175 Euros at a single store, tax included. Here's how:
Ask at the cash register for a custom form or Ausfuhrschein (in German) or permis d'importation (in French).
Fill out the custom form with your personal details.
Attach the receipt.
Before entering Switzerland, take this form to the customs office at the border (bring your resident’s permit, Ausländerausweis, as well), to have it stamped.
On your next trip to the store, bring back the stamped custom form to obtain a tax refund in cash. In some shops, you receive an immediate discount on purchases when paying for goods.
The cash refund that you end up with at the end of your shopping, will have you crossing the border again soon. :-)
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