Shopping · Munich · Germany
Shopping in Munich
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rufus46, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Munich is one of Germany's main shopping cities, from department stores on the pedestrian zone to luxury boutiques on Maximilianstraße and traditional dress shops. Shops close on Sundays. Best souvenirs: Beer steins, Traditional dress and Nymphenburg porcelain.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Beer steins
Where to shop
Kaufingerstraße and Neuhauser Straße
The main pedestrian shopping street between Karlsplatz and Marienplatz, with department stores and chains.
Maximilianstraße
International luxury fashion and jewellery houses along a grand royal avenue.
Fünf Höfe and Theatinerstraße
Elegant arcades of design and fashion shops between Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz.
Glockenbachviertel
Independent boutiques, vintage shops and young designers.
Markets
Viktualienmarkt
Daily food market beside Marienplatz with produce, cheese, flowers and a beer garden.
Auer Dult
A traditional fair and market in Au held three times a year, selling crockery, household goods and antiques.
Christkindlmarkt
Christmas markets on Marienplatz and across the city, from late November to Christmas Eve.
What to buy
Beer steins
Glass or stoneware litre mugs, from simple Hofbräuhaus mugs to hand-painted collectors' steins.
Traditional dress
Dirndl and Lederhosen from specialist Trachten shops; quality pieces last for years.
Nymphenburg porcelain
Hand-painted porcelain from the historic manufactory at Nymphenburg Palace.
Sweet mustard
Bavarian sweet mustard for Weisswurst, sold in supermarkets and delicatessens.
Gingerbread hearts
Iced Lebkuchen hearts with messages, sold at Oktoberfest and Christmas markets.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Altstadt
Viktualienmarkt
Munich's main open-air food market has been trading next to Marienplatz since 1807, with stalls of produce, cheese, sausages, flowers and honey around a tall painted maypole.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
- Iconic
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Pretzel, Obatzda, Shredded pancake and Apple strudel. Bakeries across the city, beer gardens and beer halls. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Altstadt | $$$$ | Historic core of Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus |
| Maxvorstadt | $$$ | University and museum quarter of the Pinakotheken, Königsplatz and student cafés |
| Glockenbachviertel and Gärtnerplatz | $$$ | Stylish streets of cafés, cocktail bars and the city's LGBTQ+ scene by the Isar |
| Haidhausen | $$ | Village-like streets of 19th-century houses across the Isar from the Deutsches Museum |
| Ludwigsvorstadt and Hauptbahnhof | $$ | Station quarter of hotels near the Theresienwiese Oktoberfest grounds |
| Lehel | $$$$ | Quiet, upmarket streets between the Altstadt, the Isar and the Englischer Garten |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Round up or add about 5–10% in restaurants, telling the server the total you want to pay when they take payment rather than leaving money on the table.
- Greet with 'Grüß Gott' when entering a shop, café or tavern.
- Shops close on Sundays and public holidays, except at main stations and the airport.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–March and November; the busiest months are September.
- April: Frühlingsfest — spring beer festival on the Theresienwiese (usually late April to early May)
- May: Maidult — traditional fair and market in Au (usually early May)
- June: Tollwood summer festival at Olympiapark (usually late June to July)
- July: Munich Opera Festival (usually July)
- October: Kirchweihdult — autumn fair in Au (usually October)
- November: Christmas markets open (usually late November)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping
Altstadt
Historic core of Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Munich?
Beer steins, Traditional dress, Nymphenburg porcelain and Sweet mustard.
+Where is the best shopping in Munich?
Kaufingerstraße and Neuhauser Straße: The main pedestrian shopping street between Karlsplatz and Marienplatz, with department stores and chains.
+What are the best markets in Munich?
Viktualienmarkt, Auer Dult and Christkindlmarkt.