Christmas Shopping in Bavaria

Everything from Christmas Markets to Outlet Shopping

Christmas Time - Shopping Time! Bavaria's cities are now filling again with people who are looking for something special for their loved ones. Besides practical gifts, things that bring light and warmth into the cold season are a good choice for Christmas. Such typical Yuletide presents can best be bought at one of Bavaria's many Christmas Markets. Be it world-renowned as in Nuremberg, traditional as in Coburg or extraordinary as the medieval advent market in Munich - each Bavarian Christmas Market has its very own charm!

However, for a big shopping trip it sometimes just has to be a department store or a specialized shop. Therefore it is a good thing that many cities and towns are offering open-for-business Sundays which give present-seekers more time for their hunt. You will find an overview of all shopping Sundays at the end of this article.

An easy way to save money and avoid long distances is to go outlet shopping. Bavaria has many outlet shops and with the Ingolstadt Village it has a big open-air mall with more than 100 factory outlet stores. The Ingolstadt Village is now brightly lit and exudes a festive atmosphere and, of course, it has many special season's offers. Moreover, Ingolstadt Village's service includes a daily Shopping Express which brings shoppers from Munich to Ingolstadt and back. Guide-to-Bavaria users are offered a special 2 for 1 Shopping Express Ticket.

Bavaria is a Yuletide shopping paradise, not only because of its christmasy cities. It is above all the variety of traditional local products and of specialised stores which make Bavaria a highly attractive shopping destination. Oberammergau, for example, is famous for its many retailers of wood carving products, nativity sets and other Bavarian handicrafts. Shops which offer Xmas products year-round - Käthe-Wohlfahrt-Shops are the best-known among these - can be found in almost every well-known Bavarian city. For those who like crystal glitter, the Bavarian Forest is the place to go. On its famous 'Glass Road' you can find anything in glass, from chandeliers to jewellery to drinking glasses.

It is not only the gifts that come with a wrapping that delight people on Christmas. Delicatessen, sweets, and beverages must also be part of the festivities. Why not go for something typically Bavarian this time? A case filled with Nuremberg's famous gingerbread (Lebkuchen) for example or a choice of Bavarian beer? Wine from Franconia is also a special treat as is cheese from the Allgäu. And if you want to go for something really special you should have a look at celebrity chef Alfons Schuhbeck's selection of exceptional spices.

Shopping Sundays in Bavaria

Please note that due to German law shops are open on Sundays only from 1:00 p.m. at the earliest to 6:00 p.m. at the latest. All information is without guarantee for completeness and correctness.

Altötting	November, 27.
Bad Brückenau	November, 27.
Beilngries	November, 27.
Dietfurt on River Altmühl	November, 27.
Dingolfing	November, 27.
Eichstätt	November, 27.
Freilassing	November, 27.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen	November, 27.
Hammelburg	November, 27.
Hilpoltstein	November, 27.
Hof (Saale)	November, 27.
Landsberg am Lech	November, 27.
Massing	November, 27.
Partenstein	November, 27.
Seubersdorf in Upper Palatinate	November, 27.
Velden	November, 27.
Wolfratshausen	November, 27.
Wolnzach	November, 27.
Waging am See	December, 11.