Shopping · Cologne · Germany
Shopping in Cologne
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: File:Cologne (Köln) Rhine River view.jpg : Neuwieser derivative work: Georgfotoart, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Cologne has two of Germany's busiest shopping streets, Schildergasse and Hohe Straße, plus independent boutiques in the Belgian Quarter and Ehrenfeld. Best souvenirs: Eau de Cologne, Kölsch glasses and Carnival costumes and accessories.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Eau de Cologne
Where to shop
Schildergasse and Hohe Straße
Pedestrian streets of department stores and chains running south from the cathedral.
Ehrenstraße
Fashion and streetwear shops near the Rudolfplatz.
Belgian Quarter
Independent designers, concept stores and vintage shops.
Mittelstraße and Pfeilstraße
Upmarket fashion, jewellery and design boutiques near the Neumarkt.
Markets
Christmas markets
Several markets in Advent, including those beneath the cathedral, on the Alter Markt and at the harbour.
Weekly produce markets
Neighbourhood markets in districts such as Nippes and Ehrenfeld sell regional food several mornings a week.
What to buy
Eau de Cologne
From the Farina house, where it was created, or the 4711 house on Glockengasse.
Kölsch glasses
Branded Stangen glasses and beer-mat sets from brewhouses.
Carnival costumes and accessories
Costume shops sell everything from noses to full outfits year round.
Chocolate
Bars and pralines from the Chocolate Museum shop.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Museum · Old Town
Farina Fragrance Museum and 4711 House
Eau de Cologne was created here: the Farina house opposite the City Hall has made it since 1709 and offers guided tours of its fragrance museum.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Belgian Quarter
Belgian Quarter
A grid of handsome 19th-century streets named after Belgian cities, full of independent boutiques, record shops, cafés and bars.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Kölsch, Halve Hahn and Cologne caviar. Traditional brewhouses in the old town and around the cathedral, and pubs across the city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof | $$$ | The Dom, the main station and the start of the Hohe Straße shopping street |
| Belgian Quarter | $$$ | Boutiques, cafés and bars on streets named after Belgian cities |
| Ehrenfeld | $ | Former industrial district of street art, clubs and international food |
| Südstadt | $$ | Neighbourhood pubs, a medieval gate and the Volksgarten park south of the centre |
| Deutz | $$ | Right bank of the Rhine with trade-fair hotels and the best cathedral views |
| Rheinauhafen | $$$ | Converted harbour with crane-shaped towers and riverside promenades |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Round up or add about 5–10% for table service, telling the waiter the total when paying. In brewhouses, rounding up on each round is common.
- A KölnCard pays off if you use public transport several times and visit two or more museums.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- August: Gamescom video-game fair at Koelnmesse (usually August)
- November: Christmas markets open (usually late November)
- December: Christmas markets at the cathedral, Alter Markt, Neumarkt and the harbour (usually until 23 December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and solo travellers
Cathedral and Hauptbahnhof
The Dom, the main station and the start of the Hohe Straße shopping street
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Cologne?
Eau de Cologne, Kölsch glasses, Carnival costumes and accessories and Chocolate.
+Where is the best shopping in Cologne?
Schildergasse and Hohe Straße: Pedestrian streets of department stores and chains running south from the cathedral.
+What are the best markets in Cologne?
Christmas markets and Weekly produce markets.