The 6 kilometres of arcades in the Old Town make Bern one of the most pleasant cities in Europe to shop in, regardless of weather. The arcade streets — Spitalgasse, Marktgasse, Kramgasse, and Gerechtigkeitsgasse — have a mix of high-street names and independent shops selling Swiss watches, chocolate, knives, and local design. The covered walkways mean you never need an umbrella.
For food shopping, the Tuesday and Saturday morning market on Bundesplatz and Münsterplatz has produce, cheese, and prepared food from farms in the Bernese Mittelland. The Bern main station also has a well-stocked underground shopping concourse if you need basics at odd hours.