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You could do it online. You could just click on a few buttons and get all you want right there at home. No risk, no fun. But you wouldn’t even have the faintest clue what you were missing out on — the most elegant, the most fashionable and the most tempting places in Germany.
Get to know the world famous shopping zones. From Hamburg to Munich, this is where the jet set meets.
HAMBURG
If you want to shop till you drop, come to Hamburg. Being one of the most scenic shopping streets in Germany, the Jungfernstieg downtown is a good place to start. Situated right at the waterfront of the Inner Alster River, there are stores of high prestige, such as the Alsterhaus, one of Hamburg’s prime locations for beauty and wellness. Elegant ABC-Viertel and Neuer Wall are right there, too. A delicious coffee at the Alsterpavillion and a boat trip on the river could make your shopping trip more memorable. For those with a smaller travel budget, Mönckebergstraße is just around the corner. It runs from the Hauptbahnhof (central train station) to the city hall and hosts all popular department stores.
BERLIN
Big, bigger, Berlin — how many words could describe sufficiently the shopping opportunities in Germany’s capital city? Kurfürstendamm, or “Ku-Damm” as it is locally called, would be the first place to go, but having said that, Europe’s biggest KaDeWe department store on Wittenbergplatz is a must for its food halls and international designer labels. However, for an even more upmarket shopping experience, try the Friedrichstadt-Passagen and its stunning “Quartiers” like Quartier 206 for high-end international designer wear in an art deco atmosphere or the French emporium Galeries Lafayette in Quartier 207. The alternative spirit of Berlin with its independent fashion labels and provocative creativity can be experienced at the Hackescher Markt and Hackesche Höfe in the Scheunenviertel of former East Berlin.
DÜSSELDORF
Another famous abbreviation is the “Kö,” which refers to Königsallee (King’s Avenue). This is the place to go in Düsseldorf if you have the money and want to use it. It is one of the most elegant shopping boulevards in Germany with luxurious high-end fashion stores and boutiques. For those without a golden credit card, it is perfect for watching millionaires and millionaire wannabees. Stretching along almost 1 kilometer from Hofgarten to Friedrichstadt, the Kö goes from north to south. Framed by old chestnut and huge sycamore trees, it is divided by the Stadtgraben (town trench).
FRANKFURT
Whatever you are looking for, you will most likely find it on Frankfurt’s most popular shopping mile, the “Zeil.” Huge department stores like the “Hauptwache” and a large number of speciality shops satisfy every customer’s desire. The “Zeilgalerie,” a 10-floor shopping center famous for its spiral shaped interior, offers not just great products but also a stunning view of the city with its Manhattan-like skyscrapers. Being the money capital of Germany, it is not surprising that the
Zeil is one of the streets with the highest turnover on the continent. Additionally, if you still have some spare money left, you can easily spend it in the adjacent Goethestraße at places like Tiffany’s or Versace.
MUNICH
The capital city of Bavaria is home to one of the biggest and internationally known shopping zones. Munich’s Kaufingerstraße pedestrian street stretches from the Karlsplatz fountain to Marienplatz in front of the breathtaking town hall. All brands, all shops, from young fashion to dirndls, is all right there — the ultimate shop till you drop location. Just off Marienplatz, the Sendlinger Straße leads to the medieval city gate Sendlinger Tor and specializes in unique shops like “Stierblut” (bull’s blood) with fashion and accessories. For absolutely chic shopping, visit the “Fünf Höfe” mall with its exclusive shops and cafes in an environment of modern art and architecture. The “Viktualienmarkt” (Victuals Market), only a few steps from Marienplatz, is Munich’s most popular open air market with culinary sensations and rarities.
