Old Town Souvenir Shops (Self Guided), Munich
"Collect moments, not things," wise men say. In reference to travel, this may be interpreted as the prevalence of experiences and memories over material gains. Still, when it comes to travel mementos, albeit material they are, memories and experiences are primarily what these little (or not so little) tokens are all about.
And it would be a pity to leave Munich without bringing home something truly memorable. Exploring the city you can find numerous charming shops and boutiques offering a wide range of traditional Bavarian and Munich-themed items. The bulk of them are scattered throughout the Old Town (Altstadt), particularly along the main streets and in close proximity to popular attractions like Marienplatz.
Ludwig Beck, a well-known department store, is one such location; it has a dedicated area for traditional Bavarian products. Another large department store nearby, offering a similar range, is Galeria Kaufhof.
And if you're looking for unique, locally-made items, such as lederhosen (leather shorts), dirndls (traditional Bavarian dresses), Alpine hats, and other suchlike craftsmanship, Obacht’ boutique is a great place to visit.
Also, since Munich is famous for its beer culture and Oktoberfest, checking out the iconic Hofbräuhaus is a must. This landmark beer hall has a gift shop that carries a variety of beer-related stuff like beer steins, glassware, and other pertinent whatnot. Similarly attractive, for football fans, may be the FC Bayern Munich Fan Shop – the official merchandise store of the renowned local football club.
Reflecting on the broader philosophy of exploration and appreciation for the world around us, Saint Augustine used to say, "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." To bookmark the Munich page in your book of travels, you may wish to find a perfect souvenir or gift that captures the essence of this beautiful city and its traditions. And when you do, always remember to check for the "Made in Germany" label so as to ensure its authenticity and support local artisans.
And it would be a pity to leave Munich without bringing home something truly memorable. Exploring the city you can find numerous charming shops and boutiques offering a wide range of traditional Bavarian and Munich-themed items. The bulk of them are scattered throughout the Old Town (Altstadt), particularly along the main streets and in close proximity to popular attractions like Marienplatz.
Ludwig Beck, a well-known department store, is one such location; it has a dedicated area for traditional Bavarian products. Another large department store nearby, offering a similar range, is Galeria Kaufhof.
And if you're looking for unique, locally-made items, such as lederhosen (leather shorts), dirndls (traditional Bavarian dresses), Alpine hats, and other suchlike craftsmanship, Obacht’ boutique is a great place to visit.
Also, since Munich is famous for its beer culture and Oktoberfest, checking out the iconic Hofbräuhaus is a must. This landmark beer hall has a gift shop that carries a variety of beer-related stuff like beer steins, glassware, and other pertinent whatnot. Similarly attractive, for football fans, may be the FC Bayern Munich Fan Shop – the official merchandise store of the renowned local football club.
Reflecting on the broader philosophy of exploration and appreciation for the world around us, Saint Augustine used to say, "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." To bookmark the Munich page in your book of travels, you may wish to find a perfect souvenir or gift that captures the essence of this beautiful city and its traditions. And when you do, always remember to check for the "Made in Germany" label so as to ensure its authenticity and support local artisans.
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Old Town Souvenir Shops Map
Guide Name: Old Town Souvenir Shops
Guide Location: Germany » Munich (See other walking tours in Munich)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 8
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Author: Daniel
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Germany » Munich (See other walking tours in Munich)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 8
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Author: Daniel
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Eilles Tea
- Dallmayr Coffee
- Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall
- FC Bayern Munchen Fan Shop
- Obacht’
- Ludwig Beck
- Galeria Kaufhof
- Bears & Friends
1) Eilles Tea
Joseph Eilles opened Eilles Tea across from the Bavarian State Opera House on the Residenz Strasse. His shop was the first specialty tea and coffee shop in Munich, and from the very beginning, Joseph was known for his high-quality product; in fact, he was so good that he quickly became the supplier for the Royal Bavarian Court. Without him, it is said, the tea culture in Munich would not be what it is today.
Still located across from the Bavarian State Opera House, Eilles Tea is a cozy store that offers a huge variety of high-quality teas and coffees. And of course, they would not forget to offer many types of chocolates, marzipan sweets and cookies to pair with the warm drinks. It is quite possible that the large selection will overwhelm you; don’t hesitate to ask the friendly staff behind the dark wood counter in the front for help. Tea here is quite reasonably priced, and depending on how much you buy, it will cost somewhere between 3 to 10 Euros.
Still located across from the Bavarian State Opera House, Eilles Tea is a cozy store that offers a huge variety of high-quality teas and coffees. And of course, they would not forget to offer many types of chocolates, marzipan sweets and cookies to pair with the warm drinks. It is quite possible that the large selection will overwhelm you; don’t hesitate to ask the friendly staff behind the dark wood counter in the front for help. Tea here is quite reasonably priced, and depending on how much you buy, it will cost somewhere between 3 to 10 Euros.
2) Dallmayr Coffee
A tradition that has existed in Munich for over three centuries, Dallmayr Coffee is made from a very high quality blend of coffee beans. Therefore, the beverage is a staple to many Munich residents and German citizens the country over. The Dallmayr legacy began as a small family-owned grocery store and is now an international name, with the main store in downtown Munich receiving about 2.5 million visitors annually. The store is most famous for its “Prodomo” coffee blend, which is so delicious due mainly to the fine raw beans that make it up.
Coming mostly out of Ethiopia, Dallmayr’s “coffee specialists” visit the regions of Sidamo and Harrar to hand pick the selection. And if that is not fine enough for you, the precise, pre-roasting refinement process serves to remove any possible irritants or bitter components from the blend. In the Dallmayr shop in downtown Munich, the unground coffee beans are stored behind the counter in hand-painted porcelain vases from Nymphenburg and are measured out using the historic beam-balances that were designed specifically for Dallmayr. A bag of coffee here will cost around 5 Euros.
Coming mostly out of Ethiopia, Dallmayr’s “coffee specialists” visit the regions of Sidamo and Harrar to hand pick the selection. And if that is not fine enough for you, the precise, pre-roasting refinement process serves to remove any possible irritants or bitter components from the blend. In the Dallmayr shop in downtown Munich, the unground coffee beans are stored behind the counter in hand-painted porcelain vases from Nymphenburg and are measured out using the historic beam-balances that were designed specifically for Dallmayr. A bag of coffee here will cost around 5 Euros.
3) Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall (must see)
The Hofbräuhaus is probably the best-known “watering hole” in Munich. Dating all the way back to 1589, this beer hall was founded by the Duke of Bavaria, Wilhelm V, and originally, surprisingly enough, was not open to the public. Luckily for today's tourists and locals, though, in 1828 it finally opened up to the masses. Today, this hospitable spot, thick with traditional atmosphere and friendly vibes, is where you can come to enjoy typical Bavarian food to your heart's content, listen to the Oompah band play loudly on stage, and gulp down the rich Hofbräuhaus beer in large, one-liter steins, which the Germans call a Mass.
The Bavarian Beer Purity Law, passed in 1516, states that only natural ingredients can be used for beer brewing. To this day, this law is still duly adhered to and the beers of Munich, including Hofbräuhaus, are held to that high, delicious standard of beer making.
In case you want to take home one of the authentic huge Hofbräuhaus beer steins, you can find them at the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl gift shop at the cost of 10 to 15 Euros apiece. Just don’t tell any of your German friends that you might be willing to fill it up with something other than the pure, golden Hofbräuhaus beer. Never!!!
The Bavarian Beer Purity Law, passed in 1516, states that only natural ingredients can be used for beer brewing. To this day, this law is still duly adhered to and the beers of Munich, including Hofbräuhaus, are held to that high, delicious standard of beer making.
In case you want to take home one of the authentic huge Hofbräuhaus beer steins, you can find them at the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl gift shop at the cost of 10 to 15 Euros apiece. Just don’t tell any of your German friends that you might be willing to fill it up with something other than the pure, golden Hofbräuhaus beer. Never!!!
4) FC Bayern Munchen Fan Shop
Represented by the colors red and white, with a little bit of the typical Bavarian blue and white diamond pattern thrown into the logo for effect, FC Bayern München is a very beloved German sports club that is based out of Munich. And while the FC Bayern München does host other sports besides soccer (like basketball, handball, chess, gymnastics, bowling, and table tennis), they are most known for their “Fussball” as the Germans call it.
Pride for FC Bayern München runs thick in Bavaria, and with good reason; they have won 22 national titles and 15 cups. Three of the European Cups that the team won occurred consecutively in the 1970s, when the club was being run by Franz Beckenbauer. Because of this, some people believe that that was the club’s heyday, but in actuality, they are still going pretty strongly now. On game days, especially when playing at home (which now takes place in the Allianz Arena, rather than the Olympic Stadium, as it did for 33 years), fans come out in droves, decked out in red and white from top to bottom to support the team. Singing throughout the streets, underground trains, trams, and busses, the fans certainly make themselves seen and heard.
FC Bayern Munchen Fan Shop is the place to pick up a team jersey so you can feel being part of the city. Cost for a jersey of your own: around 50 to 70 Euros.
Pride for FC Bayern München runs thick in Bavaria, and with good reason; they have won 22 national titles and 15 cups. Three of the European Cups that the team won occurred consecutively in the 1970s, when the club was being run by Franz Beckenbauer. Because of this, some people believe that that was the club’s heyday, but in actuality, they are still going pretty strongly now. On game days, especially when playing at home (which now takes place in the Allianz Arena, rather than the Olympic Stadium, as it did for 33 years), fans come out in droves, decked out in red and white from top to bottom to support the team. Singing throughout the streets, underground trains, trams, and busses, the fans certainly make themselves seen and heard.
FC Bayern Munchen Fan Shop is the place to pick up a team jersey so you can feel being part of the city. Cost for a jersey of your own: around 50 to 70 Euros.
5) Obacht’
The people of Bavaria enjoy their own kind of style, which is presented in certain colors (blue and white for example), patterns (rows of alternating colors of diamonds) and designs. They are proud of their long traditional heritage and Bavarian language (which is actually quite different from the more general German language), and therefore, they often decorate their homes with items that show off their tradition and culture.
At Obacht’, a small store in downtown Munich, many of these cozy household items stemming from Bavarian traditions are available. This is just one place where you can find a staple of German kitchens: the German cutting board. Smaller and narrower than most American cutting boards, these decorated plastic boards are designed to showcase Bavaria. With bright background colors, some feature pictures of the traditional German “weisswurst sausage and spicy mustard” breakfasts, while others proudly present the famous Bavarian soft pretzel, a cool beer, a scene from Oktoberfest, or even the skyline of Munich.
The cutting boards, as well as other items in the store, such as specific aprons and specially decorated coffee cups, are all staples in warm German homes, and will cost about 5 Euros for the mugs, 10 Euros for the cutting boards and 20 to 30 Euros for the aprons.
At Obacht’, a small store in downtown Munich, many of these cozy household items stemming from Bavarian traditions are available. This is just one place where you can find a staple of German kitchens: the German cutting board. Smaller and narrower than most American cutting boards, these decorated plastic boards are designed to showcase Bavaria. With bright background colors, some feature pictures of the traditional German “weisswurst sausage and spicy mustard” breakfasts, while others proudly present the famous Bavarian soft pretzel, a cool beer, a scene from Oktoberfest, or even the skyline of Munich.
The cutting boards, as well as other items in the store, such as specific aprons and specially decorated coffee cups, are all staples in warm German homes, and will cost about 5 Euros for the mugs, 10 Euros for the cutting boards and 20 to 30 Euros for the aprons.
6) Ludwig Beck
Spread throughout 7 trendy, innovatively designed floors, Ludwig Beck is unlike other department stores that exist today. With cool, quirky gifts and high-end paper and cards located next to young fashion, traditional tracht outfits and accessories, and high-couture dresses, it’s no wonder that tourists from around the world and locals from just down the street flock into the shop each season to see what new pieces are available.
On the first floor, no matter what time of year it is, shoppers will find a large variety of colorful fine silk scarves, available at many different price points from 20 to 80 Euros. No matter whom you are shopping for, or what your budget is, there will definitely be a scarf here that will interest you. And not only will you be shopping in one of the nicest stores in Munich, but you will be walking into a bit of history as well; while the store on Marienplatz has been the home of Ludwig Beck since 1954, the Munich-based store itself has been around since its humble beginnings as a small family-owned shop in 1861.
On the first floor, no matter what time of year it is, shoppers will find a large variety of colorful fine silk scarves, available at many different price points from 20 to 80 Euros. No matter whom you are shopping for, or what your budget is, there will definitely be a scarf here that will interest you. And not only will you be shopping in one of the nicest stores in Munich, but you will be walking into a bit of history as well; while the store on Marienplatz has been the home of Ludwig Beck since 1954, the Munich-based store itself has been around since its humble beginnings as a small family-owned shop in 1861.
7) Galeria Kaufhof
Directly translated into English, Lebkuchenherzen are “gingerbread hearts,” but unlike gingerbread cookies or cakes, Lebkuchenherzen are not really meant to be eaten. Decorated with hard, crunchy sugar frosting, the Lebkuchenherzen are baked with a hole in the top, wrapped in plastic, and hung from a colorful ribbon. Used as decorative ornaments around the house, Lebkuchenherzen can be found at public festivals and seasonal fairs in Munich, including Oktoberfest and both the spring and winter Tollwood festivals.
They can also often be found year-round at the Viktualienmarkt downtown. Prices vary by size, with the smaller hearts costing around 4 Euros and the larger up to 15 or 20 Euros. Normal lebkuchen that people eat, as opposed to lebkuchenherzen for decoration, are very popular in Germany as well, especially during Christmas time. Also known as Pfefferkuchen, Gewürzkuchen, or Honigkuchen, German gingerbread is typically circular cookies available for purchase from the Galerie Kaufhof in downtown Munich in packages of 5 or 6. Some are coated in chocolate, while others in almonds and powdered sugar, or just plain.
They can also often be found year-round at the Viktualienmarkt downtown. Prices vary by size, with the smaller hearts costing around 4 Euros and the larger up to 15 or 20 Euros. Normal lebkuchen that people eat, as opposed to lebkuchenherzen for decoration, are very popular in Germany as well, especially during Christmas time. Also known as Pfefferkuchen, Gewürzkuchen, or Honigkuchen, German gingerbread is typically circular cookies available for purchase from the Galerie Kaufhof in downtown Munich in packages of 5 or 6. Some are coated in chocolate, while others in almonds and powdered sugar, or just plain.
8) Bears & Friends
The Spiegel is a German magazine, and they have an international section online in English. In this section there is a sub-section called, “Germany Survival Bible,” and on March 24, 2006 they published an article entitled, “The Gummy Bear Obsession.” The byline says it all: “Want to make a German happy? Flowers and wine might be a good start. But to really win one over, consider a gift of sickly-sweet globs of sugary gelatin.” Bottom line--the Germans love their Gummy Bears.
Invented by Hans Riegel in 1922, the Haribo “dancing bear” was what first won the affection of millions of Germans. Even Albert Einstein loved them, and today they are given out for free in the cafeteria of the German parliament. The Association of the German Confectionary Industry reports that a German, on average, consumes 3.49 kilograms of gummy candy per year! In Munich there are several gummy bear stores for you to choose from, including one on the Sendlingerstrasse running between Sendlinger Tor and Marienplatz, which offers you bags of gummy bears for about 4 Euros. But in the Stachus Passage in the underground-station area of Karlsplatz (Stachus) there is a gummy bear store that sells German beer and cocktail glasses filled with gummy bears to make it look like they are filled with either golden beer or colorful beach drinks; these range in price from 7 to 20 Euros, depending on size.
Invented by Hans Riegel in 1922, the Haribo “dancing bear” was what first won the affection of millions of Germans. Even Albert Einstein loved them, and today they are given out for free in the cafeteria of the German parliament. The Association of the German Confectionary Industry reports that a German, on average, consumes 3.49 kilograms of gummy candy per year! In Munich there are several gummy bear stores for you to choose from, including one on the Sendlingerstrasse running between Sendlinger Tor and Marienplatz, which offers you bags of gummy bears for about 4 Euros. But in the Stachus Passage in the underground-station area of Karlsplatz (Stachus) there is a gummy bear store that sells German beer and cocktail glasses filled with gummy bears to make it look like they are filled with either golden beer or colorful beach drinks; these range in price from 7 to 20 Euros, depending on size.
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