These are the best places to go shopping in Munich

In Munich, shopping is a competitive sport. Its teams are made up of local and international department stores and boutiques, and its fans are the fashion savants who have just as much devotion to the pastime as football fans have to FC Bayern. For that reason, the city’s roster of seasoned and rookie players includes some of the most established and the hottest emerging names in the industry.

International travellers who are eager to shop Europe’s best brands (and discover exciting under-the-radar ones, too) will find plenty to love – and buy – in the Bavarian capital. And because the city is so amenable to shopping tourism, it’s often seamless for international visitors to receive tax refunds on their qualifying purchases. For that reason, always ask the sales associate if they can assist with the process. The only thing more therapeutic than shopping is getting money back for doing it – and these are the best shops in Munich to do so.

For everything luxury in one place: Oberpollinger

When Münchnersthink of luxury shopping, many will think of the historic Oberpollinger. From the same holdings company that owns Kadewe (Berlin’s premier department store), Oberpollinger has been a fixture in the city since 1905. And it wears its age well: the department store was recently renovated floor by floor, so when guests enter through its doors, they are instantly immersed in the world of modern luxury. Indeed, it’s more than just a clothing store: there’s a tea salon from beloved Parisian macaron maker Ladurée, a rooftop restaurant and a beauty lounge.

The high fashion stop: Mytheresa

The online luxury powerhouse Mytheresa started as a brick-and-mortar store in Munich in 1987. After introducing Mytheresa Men in 2020 and completing renovations in 2022, the original store offers a curation of the best designers from Fashion Month in a chic space designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi. Keen shoppers may even be able to find exclusives from their favourite brands that they can’t find anywhere else – that's because Mytheresa is known for its unique collaborations and design partnerships. 

Bavarian luxury: Lodenfrey 

Lodenfrey carries prestigious Bavarian brands that specialise in traditional clothing. Before it opened the doors to its department store, it started as a textile manufacturer in 1842. While heritage remains at the heart of the brand, it also produces the latest trachten trends (traditional costume trends). Discover stylish dirndls from Giacomelli Trachten , made in the brand’s Tegernseer atelier, and Gottseidank , headquartered in Munich. Leather experts Meindl produce the world’s most exceptional lederhosen – after all, they’ve been specialising in the tradition since the late 1600s.

Munich’s million-dollar mile: Maximilian Strasse 

Maximilian Strasse is one of Munich’s four royal avenues, a fitting distinction for its grandeur. One end is punctuated by the Residenz palace and the National Theater and the other by the Maximilianeum monument. The wide boulevard is flanked by beautiful architecture, historic landmarks and museums, and, of course, the most exclusive boutiques. Among the first-in-class fashion houses, Chanel and Hermès both have locations here. Visitors can easily spend an entire day flitting in and out of appointments with their sales associates, only stopping for coffee or lunch breaks in between.

Munich’s high street: Neuhauser Strasse

Not only is this pedestrian zone in the Altstadt (old city) one of the best places for sightseeing, but it's also one of the best areas for picking up the latest European trends. Encompassing Neuhauser, Kaufinger and Sendlinger Strasse, this high street area is densely packed with some of Europe’s most popular stores and more niche names like Cos, & Other Stories and Arket. For premium fashion, such as Samsøe Samsøe, check out Ludwig Beck – this Munich manufacturer-turned-department-store is yet another testament to how much fashion is a part of the local lifestyle.

For men: Hirmer

Men’s fashion is the raison d'être of Hirmer , instantly recognisable by the vibrant geraniums that sit beneath every window of the five-storey façade. The sprawling store carries everything from activewear and business-casual to black tie. In addition to fashion, the store also provides special services: personal shoppers can help identify the perfect made-to-measure suit for an event, and in-house tailors are on hand to make the alterations.

Lifestyle & concept stores: Gaertnerplatz 

Some of the most au courant shopping isn’t in the Altstadt, but in the Gaertnerplatz neighbourhood. Several shopping streets branch out from the Gaertnerplatz roundabout, each one lined with design-oriented boutiques that specialise in home and fashion. The studio Kearly is both an interior design firm and a shop that specialises in Scandinavian design. Nearby, the Danish brand Hay will leave you bursting with ideas on how to redecorate your home. Other concept stores in the area include  Heisseliebe & Grapes . And finally, fashionistas must make a stop at Capricorn Store , which carries both new and vintage fashion.