Knowing the best shopping spots in Munich

When we think about Germany, many historical, gastronomic, and tourist references come to mind. But do you know that Munich is an ideal shopping destination? Especially for those who love high quality and good customer service. Because when you get to know the best shopping spots in Munich, you will realize that they don’t offer a common experience. In fact, in this city, you will experience commerce with the German style, which combines efficiency and elegance for all budgets. Get ready to hunt for the best deals that Munich has to offer!

Table of contents:

Where to shop in Munich

Discover the traditional shops of Marienplatz

Munich has nice neighborhoods near to the best hotels in Munich. One of them is Marienplatz, located at the center of the city, in the district of Altstadt-Lehel traditionally known as the Old Town. There you will find a beautiful central square surrounded by many shops that range from traditional Bavarian to the most modern proposals. This area is famous for being the most frequented in Munich, by tourists and locals, because you can find different markets, shops and products for any occasion.

However, clothing is something that many locals and foreigners look for in this location. Because on Marienplatz there are a lot of department stores, such as the Ludwing Beck department store, where you can find everything from scarves to traditional Bavarian clothing, such as leather pants and dirndl dresses. Don't hesitate to visit this impressive 5-story store, if you want to check out the latest trends in perfumes, creams, makeup, clothing, accessories, and even in its music department. To get there you have to go to U-Bahn metro station using U3 or U6 lines.

Maximilianstraße: A walk between high couture and luxury boutiques

Maximilianstraße is a commercial hub dedicated to exclusive and renowned products, making it one of the best shopping destinations in Munich. Located in the Altstadt-Lehel district, it connects to Marienplatz to the west, which makes it a perfect starting point for your shopping itinerary around the city. This street lets you discover the latest products and serves as a reference for everything available in Munich.

On this street, you can find the most beautiful and elaborate showcases in Munich, as well as international brands such as Gucci, Rolex, Prada, Louis Vuitton, among others. Who presents a range of luxury and high couture products such as exclusive collections of bags, shoes, sunglasses, watches, works of art, and very interesting antiques. If you are interested in getting a product that has just gone on sale or try to buy a gem that is sold out in stores, you have to come to this street.

To get to this shopping street, you can take the subway to Lehel station, using line U5. Or you can take the tram 19 heading towards St. Emmeram, to the Maxmonument stop.

Schwabing: The trendiest neighborhood in Munich

This is one of the coolest neighborhoods in the city, thanks to its Bohemian culture, and countless creative proposals that range from fashion, art, entertainment, and lifestyle. There you will find many independent boutiques, local designers, and innovative concept stores offering you many items that mix creativity with functionality. Like the lamps and antiques from Kunst Oase, ecological and vegan fashion from DearGoods, and ceramics from Weißglut Concept Store.

The good thing about this neighborhood is that it has a cultural and gastronomic offer as interesting as its boutiques. You can complement your shopping trip by visiting Leopoldstrasse, the main street full of restaurants and cafes that serve characters like Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and the Rolling Stones. Therefore, be sure to include Schwabing on your travel route. You can get there from Marienplatz, taking line U6 in the direction of Kieferngarten and getting off at the Münchener Freiheit station in the heart of Schwabing. >/p>

Second-hand stores on Sendlinger Straße

This shopping street is located between Sendlinger Tor and Rindermarkt, in the famous pedestrian zone of Munich. There you can find many local and foreign sports stores such as Norrona, Salomon, Adidas TerreX, Northface, Quicksilver, among others. You will also find fashion stores such as Scotch & Soda, Superdry, Gant, Levis, Marc O Polo, G-Star, More & More, Weekday, and Tommy Hilfiger. Also, you can find resales with second-hand items, where you can find true hidden gems like in the Vintage Fabrik store. That is why if you are looking for sweatshirts, t-shirts, jackets, and jeans this is one of the best places to shop in Munich.

To get there from Marienplatz, you can walk about 5 minutes south or take the U1 or U2 to Sendlinger Tor station.

Unique shopping experiences in Munich

On the other hand, Munich is not only a luxury shopping destination, but also you can find many products that celebrate local culture. In fact, exploring different places and knowing things to do in Munich, can be helpful if you are not looking for a specific item. Then, if you want to buy something distinctive from this part of Germany, you should go to the best shopping spots in Munich:

Viktualienmarkt traditional market

This is one of the oldest gastronomic markets in Germany, it was founded in 1807 and is the most important open-air markets in the country. Where you can find fruits, vegetables, cheeses, sausages, pretzels, herbs, spices, and much more. In fact, it’s the ideal place to find pewter and ceramic objects, souvenirs, and other types of artisan products from all over Bavaria.

If you are looking for a souvenir from your trip, like a mug of beer, you should go to this market. It is located just 5 minutes from the Marienplatz metro station, which you can access by taking any of the lines U1, U2, U5 or U6.

Vintage shops in Munich

On the other hand, if you are looking for cheaper options with the same quality from international brands, the second-hand markets of Munich are a treasure. This is because Munich has positioned itself as a very important commercial location in Europe, and big brands have established their presence very strongly. It’s the ideal place to find clothing and designer items at a very good price.

In the Schwaben neighborhood, you can go to the Kauf Dich Glücklich store, which offers a very interesting selection of vintage clothing. Or you can also go to any of the Humana stores (it has several locations in the city), since it’s one of the best-known second-hand clothing store chains in the city, and they also sell accessories and footwear.

Local artisans and craft-made gifts in Munich

But, if you want to support local artisans, and do conscious and ethical shopping, you should know that Munich has a constantly growing sustainable sector. Here you will find an infinite number of proposals in small stores, ranging from modern ceramics, clothing made from sustainable materials, cards & photo albums, chocolates, among others.

One of the city's artisan markets is the Schwabinger Hofflohmärkte, located at Nikolaipl 1B near the Schwabing neighborhood. It’s open Monday–Tuesday, Thursday–Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm (closed Sunday, Wednesday). This is one of the best places to shop in Munich because is an open-air bazaar with local, non-industrialized products. There you can find everything from bakery, crafts, second-hand items.

Luxury and comfort surrounding the best shopping experience in Munich

No other city in the world has so many luxury brands intertwined with local shops on its streets. In fact, locals say that luxury has managed to permeate even the city's lifestyle, without worrying about the budget... But if you like to purchase the most exclusive products, or get the latest collections of your favorite brands, you should visit places like The Residenzpost building, the home of Louis Vuitton on Maximilianstrasse street.

Also, next to this street, you will find the Maximilianhöfe patios, a shopping area where brands such as Brioni, Bottega Veneta, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana exhibit their collections. In addition, it’s a quiet place to rest after the hustle and bustle, and connect with Perusastrasse street, where the luxury experience continues with the British elegance of Burberry, the excellence of Tiffany, and the beauties of Prada.

Bargain finds while shopping in Munich

An experience you shouldn't miss on your trip, and without a doubt the best places to shop in Munich, is looking for deals at second-hand stores. Because you can find luxury items in any of these stores at unbeatable prices. A local favorite is Flohmarkt am Olympiapark, a weekend flea market near the Olympiapark metro station (line U3). Where you can find vintage clothing, antique furniture, and curious objects for the home that will undoubtedly surprise you.

On the other hand, if you like outlets with luxury clothing, you have to go to Ingolstadt Village. This location is part of The Bicester Collection (a family of 11 luxury shopping destinations in Europe and China). Located about an hour by Regional Express (RE) train or an Intercity (IC) train from Munich. This place is home to over 110 luxury boutiques offering sales all year round, which is considering the best places to shop in Munich. For finding good deals below normal retail prices in every item that you can find there.

There are seasonal shopping events in the city?

Besides common seasons such as Black Friday, winter and summer discounts, there are other seasons that have made Munich a very popular shopping destination. One of these events is the Oktoberfest, whose focus is gastronomic, but it’s a great opportunity to find items from Bavarian culture, and limited-edition souvenirs. This festival is celebrated 15 minutes from the city center, near the Theresienwiese metro station (lines U4 and U5).

Another seasonal shopping event is Munich Fashion Week, which is held twice a year in spring and autumn, at the München Order Center (MOC) or the Prinzregententheater. International designers and brands meet there to present their latest collections, making it the perfect place to delve into exclusivity and the latest trends.

And finally, the Munich Christmas markets are a tradition for shopping every year. It’s common to find several markets around the city, but the most famous is the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz. Where you can find handmade Christmas decorations, typical Bavarian sweets, toys, and unique gifts.

Where to find local souvenirs and gifts?

In the case that you’re looking for local souvenirs, and gifts that could take a little piece of this culture to other side of the world. You must know that there are options for all kind or personalities. As is the case with traditional dirndl and lederhosen costumes, but if you want something smaller there is a wide range of leather products such as high-quality bags and belts. Also, you can find mugs, tableware and other types of items made of hand-painted ceramic, as well as beer mugs, t-shirts, wooden dolls, and unique Christmas decorations.

The stores we recommend to get these items are the Viktualienmarkt open-air market, and the huge Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe) store located on Marienplatz.

Summary

You can realize that shopping in Munich is a unique and unforgettable experience, whatever your budget is. So, without a doubt, this city offers a large number of high-quality items at unbeatable prices. That’s why you should write down this destination in your list, if you like shopping and sightseeing the city in this way... Remember, in this part of Germany you can live a unique trip to sophisticated shopping centers, where you’ll find the best shopping spots in Munich, in addition to experiencing the first-class attention that the Germans offer to their customers. If you are looking for a souvenir, a craft, some haute couture clothing, or exclusive items from your favorite brands, start planning your trip to this beautiful city in Europe.

FAQ’s

What is the famous shopping street in Munich?

The most famous and expensive street in Munich is Maximilianstrasse, where you can find the most exclusive shops in the world in one place, like Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, and others.

What luxury brand to buy in Munich?

We recommend purchasing clothes on sale at the Gucci outlet in Ingolstadt Village (1 hour from Munich), because there you will find prices below the usual retail price of luxury product.

What is the best souvenir from Munich?

The best souvenir you can buy in Munich is an emblematic pewter mug or a beer mug, they will undoubtedly be a memory that you will treasure for a lifetime.