Basler Läckerli
Buy some Basler Läckerli, the local biscuit specialty, a kind of gingerbread without ginger, however. Addictive, even if you buy the non-brand ones from the Migros (http://www.migros.ch/Migros_DE) supermarket chain.
Basel's "shopping mile" goes from Clarastrasse Claraplatz to Marktplatz and up Freiestrasse and Gerbergasse to Heuwaage and Bankverein. Much of the shopping here is in specialty stores and luxury boutiques, with a few department stores. Like other large Swiss cities, Basel has many jewelers, horologers watches, and chocolatiers. Try to veer off the beaten track and check out Schneidergasse off of Marktplatz, the hilly Spalenberg and adjacent little alleyways such as Heuberg, Nadelberg, which are not only lovely to walk through but where you are likely to find more original shops, selling artisan jewelry, antiques, specialty items, vintage clothing, books, art, etc. Retailers are generally cheery and very competent, polite and helpful.
There are many places in Basel, including bigger kiosks, where you can buy relatively cheap - and mostly kitschy - souvenirs, but if you're looking for something special, go to Heimatwerk see below. Souvenirs are also available at the SBB Station.
Prices of name brands are generally uniform across the city - and across the country. Discounting has only recently made inroads in Basel. Expect to pay the same price anywhere for a Swiss Army knife or a watch.
Most stores close promptly at 6:30PM Mo-Fr, except for Thursday when many stores are open until 8 or 9PM. Stores close by 5PM on Saturday and nothing is open on Sunday. Exceptions are the stores in and around the train station, the supermarket Coop Pronto at Barfüsserplatz and a number of small family businesses in residential areas. VAT is included in prices, and there is generally no haggling. Some luxury stores offer tax-free shopping for tourists.
Basel market in the Marktplatz runs Monday to Saturday until 1 PM, selling mostly local organic produce. Not cheap, but worth considering for a picnic.
For the very cheapest, try the Fleamarket in Petersplatz on Saturday.
Shops worth visiting
Globus
Marktplatz 1/2, +41 61 268 45 45, (http://www.globus.ch). high-end department store, with two floors of gourmet grocery store take the elevator or escalator downstairs.
Thalia
formely jã¤ggi bã¼cher, freie strasse 32, near the central post office, +41 61 264 26 26, (http://www.thalia.ch). another location is in the "stuecki" shopping centre at hochbergerstrasse 70, +41 61 639 50 50. this is switzerland's version of barnes & noble. the biggest bookstore in town, but not the most personal one. also carries a small selection of english books including computer books and stationery.
Comix Shop
Theaterpassage 7, city center, +41 61 271 66 86, (http://www.comix-shop.ch). if you're into comics, whether the american spiderman & co., or arty french bandes dã©ssinã©es, plan to spend an afternoon in this vast shop with a terrific selection. also sells postcards and other comics related items.
Confiserie Sprüngli
At basel sbb station, upstairs, (http://www.spruengli.ch). satellite location of the famous zã¼rich chocolatier. wide variety of chocolate products and pastries. try the dark chocolate or luxemburgerli, something like little macaroons - just better.
Bider & Tanner
Aeschenvorstadt 2, city center, +41 61) 206 99 99, (http://www.biderundtanner.ch). large bookstore with a well-stocked english book section and a wide selection of travel books and maps. the place to go to get local topo maps and swiss bike maps.
TARZAN
Gã¼terstrasse 145, +41 61 361 61 62, (http://www.tarzan.ch). in a cosy backyard behind bahnhof sbb, swiss label for trendy and high quality streetwear. the shop sells cotton shirts, hoodies, underwear and also some special design items. clothes for heros and other suspects.
Flohmarkt
If bucherer is outside your budget or range of interests, try the weekly flea market, each saturday on petersplatz grossbasel, tram no. 3. find just about anything except what you needed and came for, and enjoy what you usually never get to do in switzerland: heavy haggling!
Bucherer
Freie strasse 40, city center, + 41 61 261 40 00, (http://www.bucherer.ch). high-end jewelry and watches, especially rolex.
Confiserie Brändli
Barfã¼sserplatz 20, +41 61 261 70 33, and freie strasse 109, +41 61 271 50 05, (http://www.braendli-basel.ch/). one of about half a dozen excellent basel confiseries pastry shops that create unbelievably good pralinã©s. chocolate candy is a very poor translation for these little marvels that are absolutely to die for.
When you have filled your stomach with chocolates you may wish to move on to more substantial items:
marinsel*
Feldbergstrasse 10, (http://www.marinsel.ch). crazy little shop, independent fashion for boys / girls and kids, over 50 local brands, colorful stuff like comics, stickers, buttons, bags, belts and moreâ¦
Kiosk 18
Kasernenstrasse 34, kleinbasel, +41 61 681 50 45. conveys swiss design fashion and accessories by brands such as beige, prognose, and chantal pochon. try the colorful silk scarves by sonnhild kestler - they beat hermã¨s by a wide margin.
erfolg
Spalenberg 36, +41 61 262 22 55, (http://www.erfolg-label.ch). trendy underwear and t-shirts, somewhat reminiscent of the americanapparel brand.
Basel, home of the renaissance philosopher Erasmus of Rotterdam, also prides itself of many good bookshops. Here are some:
Plattfon Record Shop
Feldbergstr. 70, (http://www.plattfon.ch) together with the mediacafã© la cuna (http://www.cafelacuna.ch), where you can surf in the internet for free and have something to drink. very cool, small and independent record shop carrying mostly vinyl of genres like: hip hop, electronica, techno, drum n bass, punk rock, dub, metal and so on. it is open wednesday through saturday 12-8pm. there's also a small selection of books and zines about music, anarchy, situationism and alternative art. definitely a place worth checking out.
Bergli Books
Rã¼melinsplatz 19, city center, +41 61 373 27 77, (http://www.bergli.ch/shop...). basel's only english-only bookstore.
DomusHaus Buchhandlung für Architektur und Design
Pfluggã¤sslein 3, city center, + 41 61 262 04 90. excellent design and architecture bookshop, off of freie strasse.
Pep & No Name
Unterer heuberg 21, old town, near spalenberg, +41 61 261 51 61, (http://www.pepnoname.ch/). wide selection of books, including on art and photography, limited selection of titles in english. it's also a photography gallery featuring changing exhibitions.
choco loco
Spalenberg 38a, +41 61 261 06 75, (http://www.chocoloco-shop.ch/). an unusual chocolate shop, selling not mass produced brands like lindt or cailler - not that there is anything wrong with those - but unusual artisan chocolates, including spicy ones, most of which are heaven help! not even made in switzerland.
Läckerli Huus
Gerbergasse 57, city center, +41 61 264 23 23, (http://www.laeckerli-huus.ch/). another location is at cafe spitz see eat splurge on the kleinbasel side of mittlere brã¼cke. traditional and non-traditional versions of the famous basler lã¤ckerli and many other sweets - nice souvenirs.