Shopaholics are in for a treat in Munich. The city's shops combine international names and designer goods with traditional Bavarian crafts. Neuhauserstrasse and Kaufingerstrasse, in the city centre, are the main shopping areas and are lined with large department stores and global chains. You can find smaller, more exclusive boutiques around Maximilianstrasse and Theatinerstrasse. In Schwabing, Leopoldstrasse is a trendy shopping street with interesting boutiques tucked away on the surrounding streets.

Viktualienmarkt, the bustling, colourful food market at the eastern end of the Marienplatz pedestrian zone, is one of the city's major attractions. The market is open Monday to Friday 1000-1800 and Saturday 1000-1500. It has existed on the site since 1807 and is a focal point of life in Munich. At the heart of the market is a traditional maypole surrounded by a beer garden, and alongside it is the recently rebuilt Schrannenhalle shopping hall, where grain was once traded before its destruction by fire in 1932.

Typical Bavarian gifts might include traditional clothing (Trachten) such as Lederhosen for men at Lederhosen Wagner, Tal 2, and Dirndl for women at Loden Frey, Maffeistrasse 97; beer steins (Bierkrug), wood carvings (Holzschnitzereien), pewter-ware (Zinn) at Geschenke Kaiser, Rindermarkt 1; or speciality foods - such as Lebkuchen and Christmas Stollen - at the Viktualienmarkt.

Larger shops, department stores and supermarkets are usually open Monday to Friday 0900-2000 and Saturday 0900-1600. Smaller outlets are open Monday to Friday until 1830 and might close for lunch. Mehrwertsteuer (VAT) of 19% (lower for some goods like food and books) is included in the price of purchased items. Visitors from non-EU countries are entitled to a tax refund from participating stores displaying the Tax Free Shopping logo.