Shopping in Bavaria
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Fünf Höfe
Munich usually feels more cosy than cosmopolitan, but one exception is the Fünf Höfe, a ritzy shopping arcade whose modernist design is as interesting as the fancy flagship and concept stores lining its passageways. There's plenty of steel and glass, fountains and public art as well as a great 'hanging garden' with real vines dangling from the ceiling.
Shopping options include Armani, Alessi, D&G and even a branch of the Japanese department store Muji. Cafés invite refuelling and people-watching, and there's also the Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, an art space with high-calibre changing exhibits. Entrances to the Fünf Höfe are on Theatinerstrasse, Salvatorstrasse, …
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Old Town
Nuremberg was one of the first German towns in the mid-20th century to clear a pedestrian path through the city for shoppers. Consequently, it has several established strips of department stores and smaller boutiques. These are concentrated around the Breite Gasse and Karolinenstrasse regions near Lorenzkirche.
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Farmers Market
Sample a little of what Bavarian farmers dedicate themselves to producing: fresh fruit and vegetables, miles of the famous local sausages, meat, baked goods, cheese and other palate-pleasing delights. The red-and-white sunshades set against the fresh flower stalls make this an all-round sensual delight.
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Christkindlmarkt
The Christkindlmarkt in December is a well-stocked fulfiller of traditional Christmas wishes. Crèche scenes, 'smoking figures' carved in the Erzgebirge and spicy-sweet Lebkuchen (gingerbread) are some of the favourites. Flea markets are held on the square at other times of year.
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Siebter Himmel
Cool hunters will be in seventh heaven when browsing the assortment of fashions and accessories by hip indie labels like Pussy de Luxe, Indian Rose and Religion, all sold at surprisingly reasonable prices. Complement your new outfit with shoes from Schuhhimmel across the street.
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Sebastian Wesely
If you're in the market for traditional souvenirs, this little shop (in business since 1557) has floor-to-ceiling shelves of carved angels, pewter tankards, beer steins, carved figurines and handmade candles. The sales ladies are quick with a smile and happy to help.
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Käthe Wohlfahrt Weihnachtsdorf
With its mind-boggling assortment of Yuletide decorations and ornaments, this shop lets you celebrate Christmas every day of the year (to go with the snowballs). Many of the items are handcrafted with amazing skill and imagination, and prices are accordingly high.
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Die Alte Silberlchmiede
The quaint, narrow street Pfladergasse is lined with artisan shops such as jewellery shop Die Alte Silberlchmiede , which occupies a 13th-century house and courtyard. It's usually possible to pop inside its workshops to watch original designs being handcrafted.
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Beauty & Nature
All natural, all the time, is the motto at this drugstore that stocks only top-performing products by Dr Hauschka, Logona, Lavera and other Euro brands, usually at much lower prices than found overseas. Ask about their manicures and beauty treatments.
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Mohren-Haus
Owner-run shops and one-off fashion boutiques are dotted throughout the Altstadt, such as Mohren-Haus, a 13th-century former pharmacy that's now a fragrant tea shop selling loose-leaf teas. Also in and around the Altstadt are some 30 antique stores.
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Weissblauer Gay Shop
The best listings can be found in the German-language Rosa Seiten (Pink Pages; €3.50) or Our Munich (free), a monthly guide to gay and lesbian life in the city. You can pick up both at the Weissblauer Gay Shop.
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Servus Heimat
Everything a gift store should be - fun, happy to see you and stocked with unique souvenirs that play with Bavarian symbols like tees emblazoned with Empress Sisi or the Olympic Stadium outline. Campy, tongue-in-cheek chic.
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Susanne Bommer
Avant-gardists will love Susanne Bommer in Haidhausen. The speciality here is transparent clothing (capes, wrap-around blouses etc) for the cashed-up female. Just browsing is fun. There is a second store on Rumfordstrasse.
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Schuh Seibel
Birkenstocks, a type of hausschuhe (slippers), are rarely worn outside the home in Germany. A major stockist of the brand, this place will offer to ship your purchases home for you and yes, they are cheaper here.
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Manufactum
Anyone with an admiration for top-quality German design classics should make a beeline for this place. Last-a-lifetime household items compete for shelf space with retro toys, Bauhaus lamps and times-gone-by stationary.
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Loden-Frey
This specialist department store stocks a wide range of traditional Bavarian wear for adults and children. Expect to pay a fair bit for a good leather jacket, lederhosen or a dirndl dress, but it'll last forever.
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Flohmarkt Riem
Like urban archaeologists, you have to sift through trash and detritus to unearth treasure at Bavaria's largest flea market, far out of town by the trade fair grounds in Riem. Take the U2 to Messestadt-Ost.
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Kiosk Reichenbachbrücke
Need a bottle of wine, dog food or toilet paper at 05:00 in the morning? You'll find all of this and then some at Kiosk Reichenbachbrücke, a kiosk with cult status among clued-in Münchners.
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Hiking & Climbing, Sport Scheck
Hiking & Climbing, Sport Scheck For buying gear and equipment, Sport Scheck's hard to beat. It has multiple floors of everything from camping equipment to expedition wear, plus lots of books.
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Holareidulijö
Munich's only secondhand traditional clothing emporium, and worth a look even if you don't intend to buy. Apparently, wearing hand-me-down lederhosen reduces the risk of chafing.
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Schuster
Get tooled up for the Alps at this sports megastore boasting seven shiny floors of equipment, including cycling, skiing, travel and camping paraphernalia.
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Mode Design
Pick up designs by fashion designer Silvia Ritcher off the rack at her shop, Mode Design , where you'll see her sewing in her open studio out the back.
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Lebkuchen Schmidt
Some of Nuremberg's best traditional gingerbread cookies are made by Lebkuchen Schmidt, whose shop windows are piled high with decorative metal tins.
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Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg
It has made fine porcelain for Bavarian royals and quite a few commoners since being founded in 1747. There's a more central store at Odeonsplatz 1.
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Käthe Wohlfahrt
The Nuremberg branch of the Rothenburg-based Christmas-ornament emporium, Käthe Wohlfahrt, gets especially busy during the Christkindlesmarkt.
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