Page 536 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

534  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS SHOPPING IN GERM AN Y  535
SHOPPING IN GERMANY every city, selling fresh and Regional

packaged food, cosmetics, Products
Germany is known for its regional handicrafts, department stores. The food markets are a clothing and household goods. There are many high
high quality manufacturing, good wines and real treat for seasonal local produce and are quality regional
beers, as well as wonderful bread, cakes and a meeting place for locals once or twice a Fashion products on sale
fresh produce. Make sure you sample some week. The pedestrian precinct is also common What Germany does best in the throughout Germany
which make ideal
of the various cakes from the Konditorei. in German town centres where there is usually way of clothing and accessories souvenirs. The most
Organic food and produce is also big in a department store, a post office, boutiques is casualwear, jeanswear, sports­ common are glass
Germany, more so than elsewhere in Europe. and a weekly market, as well as cosy cafés wear and outerwear. Typical from Saxony and
All towns have the usual international brands and ice-cream parlours. Often it is considered brands originating in Germany Bavaria, porcelain
of clothing and accessories, as do German the social hub of the town. are Esprit, S. Oliver, Hugo Boss, and ceramics from
Bogner, Adidas and Puma. Meissen in Saxony,
German fashion design is classic, and gourmet Gingerbread (Lebkuchen) on sale at a market stall
Opening Hours Methods of Payment and Sales purist and discreet. products and
VAT Refunds
Shops are allowed to remain End of season goods are sold Although it is not on a par intricate carved wooden as well as imported goods,
open until 8pm on weekdays Cash is widely used for small off at a discounted price during with Italy or France, well­known objects, such as cuckoo clocks, such as exotic fruits. It is a
and Saturdays. As a general items and at markets. Large the twice-yearly sales (Schluss­ names on the international from the Black Forest. Traditional colourful, lively sight full of local
rule, they open between 9 department stores take credit verkauf) – in summer at the scene include Jil Sander, toys, dolls and dolls houses are flavour. Flea markets are also
and 10am and close at 8pm. cards, as do international end of July and in winter at Strenesse, Wolfgang Joop, common around the Nuremberg popular all over Germany.
Department stores are also chains of boutiques. Smaller the end of January. Depending Escada and the famous area with its long standing
open until 8pm. However, in shops will not accept cheques, on trading, discounts of 30 to couturier Karl Lagerfeld. Classic reputation of toy manufacturing Food and Drink
smaller towns, shops will often so visitors are advised to use 70 per cent may be given. department store chains are and traditional Christmas
close at lunchtime from cash where credit cards are Karstadt and Galeria Kaufhof; markets. In terms of food, Wine and beer are readily
12:30 to 2:30pm and in the not taken. Cash machines are there are also independent marzipan is a speciality of available at supermarkets.
evening at 6:30pm. widely available, though some department stores such as Lübeck, gingerbread Specialist wine stores are
On the last four Sundays are located inside the bank Ludwig Beck in Munich. comes from Nuremberg, also common in most
before Christmas, shops stay and only accessible during Speciality stores (Fachhandel) jams from the Black towns. Germans drink
open until 6pm. The only other opening hours. are still common in German Forest, cheese from a lot of sparkling water at
shops opening on Sundays are Visitors from countries towns, especially for leather Allgäu, ham from home, often mixed with
those in railway stations and outside the EU can claim a goods and homeware. Inter­ Westphalia, and each sparkling apple juice
some of the bakeries and cake VAT refund (Mehrwertsteuer) in national chains have a high region has its own Traditional (Apfelsaftschorle), as well
shops (though these only open shops displaying the Tax-Free presence, though mixed brand special sausages. beer tankard as beer, wine and other
for a few hours in the morning). sign. Ask for a special form to boutiques are still thriving. soft drinks. All these are
Everything shuts on public be completed and, on leaving Factory outlets are another bought at the wholesaler
holidays. Outside these hours the country, all forms have to way of getting hold of German Markets (Getränke markt) with a deposit
the only places open are petrol be stamped for a refund at the design, albeit for seconds or Once or twice a week, local on bottles and crates. Local
stations or railway kiosks. border, which may be given Food market in Munich selling fresh local reduced goods. Metzingen has a farmers set up their stalls in food is best sought in the
Dispensing chemists work on on the spot or sent to your farmers’ produce high concentration – Hugo Boss town centres in the market markets, though supermarkets
a rota so that there is always address at a later date. Goods was the first outlet, followed by square or a car park. They sell and specialist delicatessen offer
one open 24 hours in each bought tax-free must remain Bogner, Jil Sander and Escada. farm produce from the region, a good choice as well.
town. Each chemist displays a unopened in the original Green Shopping Other stores worth trying here
sign in the window saying packaging for a valid refund Germans are very ecologically are Villeroy & Boch in Mettlach Size Chart
which one is on duty. at the border. aware when it comes to and Puma in Herzogenaurach. Women’s dresses, coats and skirts
shopping and recycling. They European 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
buy locally when it comes to British 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
basics and fresh fruit and American 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
vegetables, supporting local Women’s shoes
farmers and small businesses. European 36 37 38 39 40 41
Shoppers can be seen all over British 3 4 5 6 7 8
the country with their wicker American 5 6 7 8 9 10
shopping baskets at markets Men’s suits
and local stores, and any European 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 (size)
additional bags are reusable British 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 (inches)
cotton totes, rather than plastic American 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 (inches)
bags. Cotton bags are also Men’s shirts (collar size)
available to buy at cash desks European 36 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 (cm)
in every supermarket or British 14 15 15½ 16 16½ 17 17½ 18 (inches)
department store, and you are American 14 15 15½ 16 16½ 17 17½ 18 (inches)
always asked if you need a Men’s shoes
plastic bag or whether you can European 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
do without. Organic shopping British 6 7 7½ 8 9 10 11 12
has boomed. Organic super- High fashion in the KaDeWe department American 7 7½ 8 8½ 9½ 10½ 11 11½
One of Germany’s very popular organic supermarkets markets have opened up in store in Berlin

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