Peculiarities of shopping in Germany

Shopping in Germany looks very attractive against the background of other European countries. This is a country you would like to return to, thanks to rather pleasant prices and a large selection of original products. Despite the fact that Germany has not yet become a world shopping center, it is actively gaining this status.

What is typical for shopping in Germany

Oddly enough, but Germany remains an unexplored country for Russian tourists - shopping lovers. Most of our fellow citizens prefer to shop in other European countries, in particular, in France or Italy, completely unfairly ignoring Germany, which is in no way inferior to its geographical neighbors in terms of the range or quality of goods sold, and often even surpasses them.

The country is famous for such brands as Adidas, Hugo Boss, Tom Tailor, New Yorker, Escada and others. These brands are well known far beyond the borders of Germany.

Things to remember when shopping in Germany:

• The quality of German goods is more than high, however, you can find quite a lot of imports from China on store shelves, so if you want to buy things from German manufacturers, carefully read the price tags.
• There are two seasons of sales and discounts in Germany: winter and summer.
• There are many flea markets in the country where you can buy rare antiques literally for next to nothing.
• Fans of thrifty shopping will surely like outlets. There are a lot of them in the country, and their prices are favorable to purchase, allowing you to get a discount on branded goods up to 40%, or even more.
• In Germany, you can get Tax free refunds for your purchases.

In general, if you are organizing a small shopping tour to Germany, you will not have to regret anything.

Sales seasons in Germany

As already mentioned, there are two types of sales in the country:

• winter;
• summer.

Winter sales start around the end of November (usually referred to as Christmas) and end in February. At first, discounts are small - 15-20%, but closer to the holidays the prices become more attractive, and in the pre-holiday week discounts can reach 40-50%.

However, the highest discounts occur during the Christmas holidays, when the vacation period begins. Keep in mind, however, that when the Christmas sales kick off, it becomes more difficult to find anything worthwhile in stores - people instantly take apart all the hot items.

After Catholic Christmas (December 25), sales continue to gain momentum, with discounts reaching 60 and even 70%.

By the end of January, most stores are mostly out of demand, so even 90% discounts don't appeal to pragmatic Germans - despite their penchant for saving, they won't buy things they don't need.

Basically, winter discounts apply to:

• clothes (mainly outerwear);
• electronics;
• furniture.

Summer sales begin approximately at the end of May and last until the last month of summer - August. As in the case of the winter sales, prices begin to decline gradually, so this becomes most noticeable in July.

Usually discounts apply to:

• light and lightweight clothing;
• shoes;
• jewelry and bijouterie;
• beach accessories.

The initial discount is 30%. And literally in a month, that is, in June / July, discounts already reach 50%. Well, in August, discounts become maximum.

Moreover, among the stores there is a sequence of discounts: stores with inexpensive goods are the first to drop prices, followed by mid-range stores, and brand boutiques are the last to join the discount season. So the peak of sales is observed somewhere in July.

There are also discounts in selected stores. As a rule, this applies to outlets where branded products are sold. There, the goods are sold at lower prices in order to make room for the new collection. Typically, these promotions are held at Galeria Kaufhof, Karstadt, H&M and Peek & Cloppenburg.

Shopping centers Saturn and Mediamarkt also practice sales. True, they sell not clothes, but electronics.

In addition, there are spring and fall discounts. True, they are not so obvious, so they are not taken seriously. For discounts in specific stores, you need to follow the official websites of these stores. At the same time, there is one caveat: men's clothing is getting cheaper much more slowly than women's.

What souvenirs are usually brought from Germany

In Germany you can buy not only clothes and shoes, but also very interesting souvenirs. Usually tourists bring the following things from here:

• beer mug. Since Germany is the birthplace of beer, it is quite reasonable to bring a mug from a trip into which this very beer can be poured. Moreover, there are a lot of them in stores, and the assortment is very diverse;
• anything from food: sausages, marzipan, gingerbread, chocolate. Usually, edible lodgings are sold on the street, and you can buy them in local markets;
• alcohol. The most famous brands of German wines are: Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett, Trockenbeerenauslese, Scharzhofberger Riesling BA, Abtsberg Riesling Auslese, Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett. Just do not take them all together, otherwise you will not be released from the country;
• cosmetics. Such souvenirs will appeal to the fair sex. It is unprofitable to order cosmetics from Germany, but you can buy them at cost in special stores;
• figurines. For example, miniature statues of bears, Nutcracker, etc are very popular;
• porcelain. If you have the means, you can bring the famous Meissen porcelain from your trip, which is the country's hallmark. His products are made by hand, so the price is appropriate;
• technique. This is not exactly a souvenir, but travelers quite often bring all kinds of equipment and electronics from Germany, since here they are a little cheaper and, moreover, of excellent quality.

However, it should be borne in mind that there are items that cannot be exported from the country - for example, antiques, works of art or items of historical value.

What is the difference between shopping in different cities of Germany

Tourists who go shopping in Germany for the first time may get confused: which city is better to go to, because the country is large and there are many shops in it.

Geographically, the state is divided into two zones: East Germany plus Bavaria and West Germany.

In the eastern region, shopping is most popular in Berlin and Munich. Here the prices are lower and the assortment is wider. Usually they buy clothes, watches, equipment, jewelry, bicycles here.

• Dresden is famous for its unique porcelain.
• Berlin is the capital of Germany and the center of local shopping tourism. There are whole streets of shops, expensive boutiques and markets.
• Leipzig has the most outlets, where collections of such famous fashion houses as Armani, Gucci, Kenzo and others are regularly received.

In West Germany, prices are noticeably higher, as well as the standard of living in this part of the country.

• In Hamburg there are well-known retail chains "Karstadt" and "Kaufhof".
• Düsseldorf is a one-stop shopping city. It has everything from expensive boutiques to children's stores. And the prices are reasonable.
• In Cologne, on the other hand, prices for tourists are shockingly high. However, sales are regularly held here. About exactly where they will be held, you should find out in advance.

In general, there are many interesting shopping offers in Germany.

Where to shop in Berlin

Berlin is a city filled with a wide variety of shops. Their working hours are mainly from 10.00 to 19.00 / 20.00. As for shopping centers, they work a little longer - from 10.00 to 22.00. Not a single store is open on Sunday, not even a grocery store.

In addition to shops, there are also boutiques that form whole streets. The most famous of them:

• Kurfürstendamm or Ku'damm - they sell mainly luxury goods. Along the street, which is more than three kilometers long, there are boutiques of Gucci, COS, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Zara, H&M and others, so you obviously won't be able to get around them in a day;
• Friedrichstrasse - Lacoste, Zara, Valentino, Gucci, COS stores are located on this street, as well as shopping centers Galeries Lafayette (Friedrichstrasse, 23) and Departmentstore Quartier 206 (Friedrichstrasse, 71).

In addition, there are several areas where shops are literally at every turn:

• Mitte - the largest shopping centers Potsdamer Platz Arkaden (Alte Potsdamer Strasse, 7) and Gesundbrunnen Center (Badstraße, 4) are located here;
• Steglitz - the first Primark store was opened here, as well as the largest shopping centers: Forum Steglitz (Schloßstraße, 1), Boulevard Berlin (Schloßstraße, 10-15), Das Schloss (Schloßstraße, 34).

There are also markets in the city. The largest of them are:

• The Kunst-und Flohmarkt am Tiergarten is a very popular market for unique relics from the GDR era. However, sellers are overpricing.
• Hallentrodelmarkt Treptow is the largest flea market in the city. It is versatile in terms of the goods it sells, therefore it is popular with both tourists and the local population. Most often, used appliances and electronics are bought here.
• Flohmarkt am Arkonaplatz is the ideal place for those looking for antiques. Since there are few tourists so far, the prices are affordable.

Where to shop in Munich

There are many shops in Munich, but their opening hours vary. For example, department stores open around 10:00 and close at 20:00. Supermarkets are open from 08.00. During sales, business hours are extended until 22:00.

• Kaufingerstrasse and Neuhauserstrasse - there is a huge selection of shops. Shopping, mainly at affordable prices, brands include H&M, C&A, Mango and others.
• Teatinerstrasse - this street is intended for lovers of more expensive purchases, so spending tens of thousands of euros here is not a problem. The largest shopping center in the city, Five Courtyards, is also located here.
• Sendlingerstrasse - here you can buy interesting original souvenirs at affordable prices.
• Maximilianstrasse - the most expensive shopping can be done here. On this street, boutiques of world famous brands are located: Louis Vuitton, D&G, Versace, Gianfranco Ferre.

In addition, interesting things can be bought in the malls. The largest of them is Olympia, which houses more than 130 stores.

If you are tired of shopping in Munich, you can go to Bayreuth. The distance between the cities is 230 km, so you need to spend several hours on the trip. A little closer is the Ingolstadt shopping village with hundreds of shops of the most famous brands.

Outlets in Munich are represented by the Classic Outlet shopping center. This store is a real gold mine for fans of the brands Lagerfeld, D&G, Cerruti, Daniel Hechter, Roberto Cavalli.

Where to go shopping in Frankfurt am Main

The most popular tourist destinations in this city are the following streets:

• Zeil is one of the largest shopping streets not only in the city, but also in Germany. There are over a thousand different shops here. There is also a large shopping center MyZeil.
• Goethestrasse - mainly expensive stores of the brands Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Gucci and others are located here.
• Kalbächer Gasse and Größe Bockenheimer Strasse - Apple Store and Porsche Design are located here.
• Berger Strasse is the longest shopping street in the city, but less popular than the above. However, due to the smaller flow of tourists, it is profitable to make purchases here.

The largest shopping centers:

• Hessen Center - consists of 3 floors with 115 stores.
• Karstadt is an inexpensive shopping center with a varied assortment.

Outlets in the city are represented by Wertheim Village. It is located on the outskirts of the city and consists of hundreds of boutiques with discounts of up to 30-60% regardless of the season. Here are brands such as Timberland, Versace, Reebok, Levi’s, Lacoste.

There are quite a few different markets in the city:

• Flea Market is one of the largest flea markets in the city. Its assortment includes interesting antiques and vintage items, as well as objects of art.
• Römerberg - this market opens during the Christmas period, and the assortment there is appropriate.
• Kleinmarkthalle - food market located in a building with three floors.
• Wochenmarkt Bornheim is a market where you can buy fresh produce directly from the farmers' fields.

Where to shop in Dusseldorf

There are only two large shopping streets in this city:

• Schadowstrasse - the largest shopping centers in the city are located here. The five-story Peek & Cloppenburg, as well as the Kaufhof and Karstadt deserve special attention. Both elite shops and retail outlets with affordable prices are concentrated in them.
• Königsallee (popularly referred to simply as Kyo) is a street lined with expensive designer shops. However, thanks to constant discounts, even branded items can be bought here at an affordable price. There is also a large shopping center Kö Galerie at 60 Königsallee.

If this is not enough for you, you can go shopping in the old city, looking, for example, in Kult.

Düsseldorf is also famous for its outlet sales at the factories of famous brands. Of course, there are a lot of people here, but the prices for products of such brands as "Tom Taylor", "Esprit" and "San Oliver" are several times lower.

Take, for example, to Ratingen, a suburb of Düsseldorf. From the city, you can get there by buses that leave from the Bahnsteig stop, 16, located near the Central Bus Station.

Where is it more convenient to shop in Hamburg

The most popular shopping spots in the city are the Gansemarkt-Passage and Gerhof-Passage department stores. Visitors with any wallet size will be able to find products to their liking in these shopping centers. Stores of the brands H&M, S Oliver, New Yorker and others are open here.

Another large shopping center is Europa Passage, which has more than 140 stores.

A special kind of shopping in Hamburg is going to outlets. They are located quite far from the city (140 km), but if you go there, Wolfsburg Designer Outlet can save up to 70% on purchases. If you don't want to go anywhere, you can go shopping near Altora Station.

The most popular street for shoppers is Moenckebergstrasse. However, due to the large number of tourists, prices are quite high here.

Fans of expensive shopping will find the Gänsemarkt and Grosse Bleichen shopping centers, where Prada and Chanel have opened their boutiques. But these shops are open from 10.00 to 18.00.

How to organize shopping for yourself in Germany

Today, tourists do not need to independently organize their trips - travel agencies offer ready-made tours that have a lot of advantages:

• well-designed routes that make it possible to visit the maximum number of stores;
• the possibility of drawing up an individual route (you can go to both Berlin and Marktredwitz);
• there is no problem of a language barrier thanks to the support of a Russian-speaking consultant;
• assistance in returning tax-free;
• thoughtful transport logistics.

In the case of an independent trip, you need to deal with all this on your own, looking for hours on the Internet for the necessary information and forming routes.

Routes that include visits to border towns in different countries are especially popular. For example, Karlovy Vary - Germany. In this case, tourists from the Czech Republic go:

• in Chemnitz;
• in the Hof;
• to Weiden and other cities.

But to go on such shopping tours, you need a visa. It can be obtained by preparing the following documents:

1. Visa application form.
2. Passport, before the expiration of which is at least 3 months (original and copy).
3. Two photos 3.5 × 4.5 cm.
4. Flights with a return date must be indicated.
5. Confirmation of the availability of a place of residence for the duration of the trip (hotel reservation or rental agreement).
6. Medical insurance with coverage from 30 thousand euros.
7. Receipt for payment of consular fees.
8. Bank statement confirming the availability of money for the trip.
9. Certificate from work (if the applicant does not work, it is not needed).

For shopping, a Schengen short-stay visa category C is suitable.

How to issue a tax-free

Tax-free can be returned at the airport when leaving the country in the form of cash or credit card. In Germany, the maximum tax refund is 14.5%. But you can only get such a large VAT refund if you have made fairly large purchases.

The minimum amount in order to qualify for a tax refund is only 25 euros, but only if the amount is in one check.

Tax-free is calculated according to the following scheme:

Purchase cost	Refund amount	Received percentage of the price
25 - 29.9 euros	From 2 euros	8 - 6,67
30 - 49.9 euros	From 3 euros	10 - 6
50 - 74.9 euros	From 5 euros	10 - 6,67
75 - 99.9 euros	From 7 euros	9,33 - 7
100 - 124.9 euros	From 9 euros	10 - 8
125 - 149.9 euros	From 13 euros	10,40 - 8.67
150 - 174.9 euros	From 16 euros	10,67 - 9,14
175 - 199.9 euros	From 19 euros	10,87 - 9,50

Tax free registration in 2021 has the following algorithm:

1. Issue a check upon purchase. In the shop window of the outlet there should be an inscription TAX FREE. In such establishments, the cashier issues two checks: cash and tax-free.
2. Go through a customs check with him. Please note that sometimes it is necessary to present not only receipts, but also purchased goods.
3. Get paid. This must be done in specialized companies. There are several tax-free firms in Germany: Global Blue, Tax Free Worldwide and Premier Tax Free. Tourists usually work with Global Blue.

Finally

The tourist attraction of Germany is growing every year, including thanks to the high-quality shopping that can be done here. There are many shops in the country that will satisfy even the discerning shopper, as global brands open boutiques even in small German cities. If you go shopping during the sales season, you can save up to 25% on your purchases.

The country has both large retail chains where you can get a Corso Como discount, shopping centers, outlets, and various markets where you can buy all sorts of things, from food to antiques. And shortly before Christmas, specialized markets also open up. In general, going on a shopping tour in Germany is really worth it, especially on the eve of the New Year holidays.