The main retail street is Mönckebergerstrasse, and there are several major indoor centres with varying degrees of exclusivity. Jungfernstieg and Neuer Wall boast the most expensive. The emphasis is on national and international brand names in fashion, jewellery and high-class furnishings.

The largest city centre shopping mall in Europe is Europa Passage, which boasts over 100 shops on five floors, including names such as Esprit, H&M, Hilfiger Denim, Kult and Sasch, not to mention the largest sports shop in Europe.

Harry's Hamburger Hafenbasar, Erichstrasse 56 (St Pauli), is a quirky place selling ethnic items (masks, musical instruments, furniture, statues, and erotic art and objects), many collected by globetrotting Hamburg seafarers. Thomas-i-Punkt, Mönckebergstrasse 21, offers top urban fashions in an historic and quirkily fitted building.

Shops are open Monday to Saturday from around 1000 to 1800; and until 2000 in the malls and on Mönckebergstrasse.