Best Shopping Streets in Germany

The pedestrian zone in the city center of Cologne is called Schildergasse and is the busiest shopping street in Europe. With nearly 13,000 people passing through every hour, it even puts London's Oxford Street take second place.

The Schildergasse offers international department stores and modern architecture, but the street has a long history; it dates back to ancient Roman times and was open for business in the Middle Ages.

Try a pastry at Café Riese, family-run for over 100 years, and stop into one of the many perfumeries to buy a fine bottle of "Eau de Cologne". For the full scented experience, Duftmuseum im Farina-Haus should be on your itinerary. Make sure to stroll down the adjacent pedestrian street Hohe Straße, which leads you to the landmark of the city, the impressive Cathedral of Cologne.

Shopaholics get their fix in Munich's city center; start your shopping spree at Marienplatz, in the heart of Munich's Old Town.

For foodies, the large open-air market Viktualienmarkt is a must-see (and must-taste). On the adjacent Kaufingerstraße, you can buy clothes, books, jewelry, and shoes, all the way until you reach the medieval city gate, Karlstor.

Sendlinger Straße also starts at Marienplatz and is home to many family-run retailing and specialty shops. The street is a great place to hunt for arts and crafts, or a Dirndl (traditional Bavarian costume), and to try some Bavarian treats after a long shopping day.

The premier place to shop in Frankfurt is the shopping street Zeil, especially the area between Konstablerwache and Hauptwache.
Also called "The Fifth Avenue" of Germany, this shopping street offers everything from chic boutiques to international department chains for the discerning shopper.

Don't miss the Zeilgalerie, a 10-floor shopping center, which is famous for its spiral-shaped interior and a viewing platform that offers the best views of Frankfurt.​

On the adjacent Goethestraße, you can drop some serious cash (or do some wishful window shopping) at world-class jewelers like Cartier and Tiffany, international designers such as Armani and Versace, or gourmet restaurants.

Düsseldorf is home to the most elegant shopping boulevard in Germany, the Königsallee (King’s Avenue). Called Kö by the locals, it stretching along the banks of the river. The promenade is not only lined with ​hundred-year-old chestnut trees, but also with some of the most luxurious boutiques, high-end designer stores, and shopping malls in the country.

Hamburg's most popular shopping street is the Mönckebergstraße.
The Mö runs from the central train station to the richly decorated City Hall. The shopping boulevard is lined with historical merchant's villas, which are now home to a wide variety of popular department stores; expect no less than Europe's largest sports store (Karstadt), and the world's biggest electronics store (Saturn).

An architectural gem is the historical Levantehaus, a traditional brick stone house-turned-shopping center, now home to high-class​ specialty shops, international restaurants, and the exclusive hotel Park Hyatt.

Kurfürstendamm, or simply Ku'damm, is Berlin's most popular shopping street. The 2-mile long boulevard is packed with international shops (Zara, H&M, Mango, Esprit), hotels, restaurants, and movie theatres, which still advertise their program with hand-painted film posters.

Browse the many levels of KaDeWe, the biggest department store in continental Europe. Shop for designer labels on the first few floors followed by fine jewels and cosmetics to the legendary food floors at the top. 

Make sure to promenade through the quiet side streets of the Ku'damm, such as Fasanenstraße, where you find beautiful townhouses, cozy cafés, art galleries, and antique stores.