Shopping
Shopaholics are in for a treat in Munich. The city’s shops combine international names and designer goods with traditional Bavarian crafts. Neuhauserstrasse and Kaufingerstrasse, in the city centre, are the main shopping areas and are lined with large department stores and international chains. Smaller, more exclusive boutiques can be found around Maximilianstrasse and Theatinerstrasse. In Schwabing, Leopoldstrasse is a trendy shopping street with interesting boutiques tucked away on the surrounding streets.
Viktualienmarkt, the bustling, colourful food market at the eastern end of the Marienplatz pedestrian zone, is one of the city’s major attractions. The market is open Monday-Friday 1000-1800 and Saturday 1000-1500. It has existed on the site since 1807 and is a focal point of life in Munich. At the heart of the market is a traditional maypole surrounded by a beer garden.
Typical Bavarian gifts might include traditional clothing (Trachten) such as Lederhosen for men and Dirndl for women, beer steins (Bierkrug), wood carvings (Holzschnitzereien), pewter-ware (Zinn), the famous Nymphenburg porcelain and speciality foods – such as Lebkuchen and Christmas Stollen. Loden-Frey, Maffeistrasse 79, and Rudolf Mooshammer, Maximilianstrasse 14, are the shops to head for traditional, Bavarian-style togs.
Larger shops, department stores and supermarkets are usually open Monday to Friday 0900-2000 and Saturday 0900-1600. Smaller outlets are open Monday to Friday until 1830 and might close for lunch. Mehrwertsteuer (VAT) of 16% (or 7% for some goods like food and books) is included in the price of purchased items. Visitors from non-EU countries are entitled to a tax refund of up to 12.7% from participating stores displaying the Tax Free Shopping logo.
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