6 Best Places to Shop in Germany

This pastry shop is renowned for its Schneeballen, which translates as snowballs but does not really describe the fried dough strips wrapped into balls and slathered with confectioners sugar or sprinkles or drizzled with chocolate, or all of the above. This is the signature pastry of Rothenberg, and no visit to this Romantic Road town can be considered complete without sampling one or more varieties.

Some of the best Aachener Printen can be found here, at one of Aachen's most beloved cafés, as can another tasty Aachen specialty, Reisfladen (a sort of tart filled with milk rice and often topped with fruit—pears, apricots, or cherries). Set in a 17th-century building, the café is worth a visit if for nothing more than its atmosphere and tempting aromas. 

Dallmayr is the city's most elegant and famous gourmet food store, with delights that range from exotic fruits and English jams to a multitude of fish and meats, all served by efficient Munich matrons in smart blue-and-white-linen uniforms. The store's famous specialty is coffee, with more than 50 varieties to blend as you wish. It even has its own chocolate factory. This is the place to prepare a high-class—if pricey—picnic.

The large and airy Kleinmarkthalle is a treasure trove of stands selling spices, herbs, teas, exotic fruits, cut flowers, meats, live fish flown in from the Atlantic, and more varieties of Wurst and cheese than you can count. Plus, it offers all kinds of snacks in case you need a break while shopping.

A bit of a cult destination for German foodies, Pfeffersack und Söhne create their own dried herb and spice blends from regionally grown plants where possible, as well as dried produce from farther afield. You can buy the gorgeous ceramic pots the spices are sold separately; also on offer are various gourmet specialties such as mustard, oil, and tea. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and very happy to advise you on your spice purchases.

Eat, drink, and shop: this store and restaurant specializes in regional culinary items, including gift baskets, from Rheinhessen, Odenwald, and Pfalz. They also offer wine seminars, such as guided wine and cheese or chocolate tastings.