23 Best Places to Shop in Altstadt, Munich

This company's philosophy is all about sustainability. For 40 years, they've been selling handcrafted products of all kinds—from housewares to fashion—which share a few simple standards: high quality, timeless design, and are made to last. Sharing the space is Brot & Butter (Bread & Butter), a delicatessen and food shop.

At this gallery showcasing Bavarian work from craftspeople, you'll find every kind of handicraft, from glass and pottery to textiles.

Ludwig Beck is considered a step above other department stores by Müncheners. It's packed from top to bottom with traditional and new fashion brands, and has an immense beauty, music, and stationary section.

Munich's Viktualienmarkt is the place to shop and to eat. Just south of Marienplatz, it's home to an array of colorful stands that sell everything from cheese to sausages, flowers to wine. A visit here is more than just an opportunity to find picnic makings; it provides an opening into Müncheners' robust—though friendly—nature, especially at the Viktualienmarkt's Bavarian Biergarten (beer garden).

Shop for both traditional and trendy takes on Bavarian and alpine attire, including Dirndls and Lederhosen.

In Antike Uhren Eder, the silence is broken only by the ticking of dozens of highly valuable German antique clocks and discreet negotiations over the high prices. There is a highly covetable selection of prestige vintage watches to browse also. 

For an enormous selection of contemporary and traditional caps and hats from international brands as well as its own Hut-Breiter Munich label, stop by the family-run Breiter, which has been selling hats for over 160 years.

A wide array of artisanal chocolates, truffles, and chocolate spreads, plus delicious hot chocolate, is on offer at this snug shop and café just across from the Viktualienmarkt.

Dallmayr is the city's most elegant and famous gourmet food store, with delights that range from exotic fruits and English jams to a multitude of fish and meats, all served by efficient Munich matrons in smart blue-and-white-linen uniforms. The store's famous specialty is coffee, with more than 50 varieties to blend as you wish. It even has its own chocolate factory. This is the place to prepare a high-class—if pricey—picnic.

This small shop around the corner from the Frauenkirche has been producing handmade candles since 1862. Look for beautifully decorated wedding, christening, and holiday-themed candles. 

For an upscale shopping experience, visit the many stores, boutiques, and eateries of the Fünf Höfe, a modern arcade carved into the block of houses between Theatinerstrasse and Kardinal-Faulhaber-Strasse. The architecture of the passages and courtyards is cool and elegant, in sharp contrast to the facades of the buildings. Along with outposts devoted to well-known international brands, there are German brands such as S. Baumeister (shoes and accessories) and Friendly Hunting for cashmere.

Across the seven floors of this mid-priced department store, you'll find everything from cosmetics, fashion, and jewelry to greeting cards, office supplies, household items, and toys. The end-of-season sales offer true bargains.

Spanning six floors, Hirmer has Munich's most comprehensive collection of German-made men's clothes, with a markedly friendly and knowledgeable staff. International brands are also here, such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, and Paul & Shark.

This multistory bookshop has a good-size English-language section, with fiction and nonfiction selections. There are also nearby outposts at Marienplatz (Marienpl. 22) and close to the Residenz (Theatinerstr. 11). 

A couple of boutiques and eateries line this 230-foot-long glass-roofed passageway that connects Kaufinger Strasse to Fürstenfelder Strasse.

Nestled up against the Heiliggeist Church, this small shop carries Lederhosen, loden jackets, and Bavarian lace-up shoes for men as well as traditional outfits for women and children.

This upscale department store has a sizeable section devoted to traditional and modern Trachten-outfits for men, women and kids, including accessories and its own yearly Oktoberfest collection.

Pick up whimsical German-made souvenirs, from tote bags, aprons, and tea towels emblazoned with Bavarian sayings to pretzel- and dachshund-shaped cookie cutters, at this delightful store.

The over-century-old Oberpollinger—one of Germany's finest upscale department stores—has seven floors packed with pricey and glamorous fashion, furniture, and beauty items. The large, open-plan self-service restaurant on the top floor with an outdoor patio is as much as the other drinking and dining options well worth a visit.

Besides a great variety of religious trinkets and nativity figurines, Sebastian Wesely is the place to come for beer-related vessels and Stampferl (schnapps glasses), walking sticks, scarves, and napkins with the famous Bavarian blue-and-white lozenges.

The focus here is on adventure sports, so if it's climbing, trekking, biking, or walking you're into, this huge store, just off Marienplatz, is the place.

Shop here for classic and limited-edition German-made teddy bears, as well as other hand-stitched stuffed animals. There’s also bear-embellished clothing for babies and kids.