Shopaholic's Guide To Cologne: Best Places To Indulge

Cologne is a great place to shop, with a wide variety of options to suit all tastes and budgets. The city has everything from small boutiques and vintage shops to large department stores and shopping malls. The Innenstadt neighbourhood is the most famous place for shopping in Cologne, with trendy shops from large fashion retailers and department stores. The largest part of this shopping area is pedestrianised, so you can browse in peace. For those looking for unique, independent shops, the Belgian Quarter and Ehrenfeld are the places to go. These neighbourhoods are full of trendy and small fashion boutiques, as well as inviting pubs and restaurants. Cologne also has a passion for open-air markets, which become even more abundant in the run-up to Christmas.

Shopping centres and malls

Cologne has a range of shopping centres and malls, from large shopping malls to smaller, chic department stores.

Köln Arcaden

A large shopping mall with over 110 stories of shops, ranging from high-end designer shops to grocery stores and small boutiques. It is located in a busy local neighbourhood across the Rhine River, just a few blocks east of Pyramidenpark. Here, you can shop at H&M, Pull&Bear, Orsay, and Tally Weijl, and buy groceries and toiletries at Rewe or DM. The onsite food court has over 15 restaurants and fast-food franchises, including Ciao Bella, Burger King, Subway, and Nordsee.

Rhein-Center Köln

This shopping mall is just off Aachener Strasse in Weiden, a neighbourhood west of Cologne's city centre. It has a Rewe full-service grocery store and DM Pharmacy, as well as name-brand stores such as Zara, TK Maxx, and Levi’s. Rhein-Center Köln also offers massage chairs, a playground, lockers, and a pack station for shipping goods directly from the mall.

NEUMARKT Galerie

Conveniently located a few steps from the Neumarkt transit stop in central Cologne, this mall is hard to miss, with its roof shaped like an overturned ice cream cone. It features well-known stores like Primark, Claire’s, Flying Tiger, and Rituals, as well as a full food court in the basement. With three separate entrances on the main level and an underground entrance from the U-Bahn, this mall is easy to navigate.

WDR Arkaden

A smaller, chic department store located near the Neumarkt Galerie. Here, you can shop at jewellers, flower shops, and boutiques with elegant women's fashion.

Opern Passagen

A large indoor shopping mall in central Cologne, with an elevated, contemporary design. It has unique shops that you might not find in most Cologne malls, including the original Aue de Cologne perfume shop, a Bechstein piano manufacturer, the Villeroy & Boch porcelain shop, and the Dill & Chamomile home goods store.

Department stores

Cologne is a great place for shopping, with a mix of independent shops and big-name retailers. The city has a wide range of department stores, from high-end fashion to eco-friendly and fair trade brands.

Galeria Kaufhof

A large department store located in Hohe Strasse, one of the city's most popular shopping streets, Galeria Kaufhof offers designer clothes, home decor, and traditional German souvenirs across five storeys. The store also features a cafeteria-style food market, Markethalle, with a range of hot and cold food options.

Galeria Karstadt

One of the biggest department stores in Germany, Galeria Karstadt is located on Breite Strasse and offers a mix of retail outlets. The building is impressive, with a blend of old and new architectural styles.

Kauf Dich Glücklich

A sprawling, three-storey concept store located in Neumarkt, Kauf Dich Glücklich showcases designs from well-known and independent brands. The store features a hip Scandinavian aesthetic with mini capsule collections from various designers.

Fairfitters

For ethical shoppers, Fairfitters offers a range of fair trade and sustainably produced clothing and accessories. The store sources modern and trendy brands, so it looks and feels like any other clothing boutique.

NEUMARKT Galerie

Conveniently located a few steps from the Neumarkt transit stop in central Cologne, NEUMARKT Galerie is hard to miss, with its distinctive roof shaped like an upside-down ice cream cone. The mall features well-known stores such as Primark, Claire's, Flying Tiger, and Rituals, as well as a full food court in the basement.

Opern Passagen

A smaller, chic department store located near NEUMARKT Galerie, Opern Passagen offers a range of unique shops, including jewellers, flower shops, and boutiques with elegant women's fashion.

Local markets

Cologne is known for its local markets, which sell everything from fresh produce to quirky souvenirs.

One of the most popular markets in the city is Wilhemplatz, a lively square in the trendy Nippes neighbourhood. From Monday to Saturday, vendors sell farm-fresh produce, cheeses, and bakery items. On certain weekends, Wilhemplatz transforms into a vibrant flea market, offering trinkets, souvenirs, and unique items at great prices.

For those looking to buy local produce, the market at Wilhelmsplatz is the place to go. This market operates from Monday to Saturday and offers a range of affordable and fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and bakery items.

If you're interested in vintage shopping, the Belgian Quarter is the place to be. This urban district is known for its trendy and small fashion boutiques, pleasant cafes, and inviting restaurants. The lively streets around Brüsseler Platz, named after Dutch and Belgian cities, are a great place to start. Here, you'll find Maastrichterstrasse and Brusselerstrasse, two streets known for their fashion boutiques.

For those looking for unique shops and unconventional offerings, the Ehrenfeld district is worth exploring. Once a working-class area, Ehrenfeld is now home to artists and creative entrepreneurs. Here, you'll find quirky boutiques, nostalgic bookstores, and hip pop-up stores. While shopping, admire the street art on the walls of the former factories or enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the many hip cafes in the area.

Finally, for those looking for a more relaxed shopping experience, the Rhein-Center Köln is a large shopping mall located just off Aachener Strasse in Weiden, a neighbourhood west of Cologne's city centre. This mall offers a variety of name-brand stores, such as Zara, TK Maxx, and Levi's, as well as a Rewe full-service grocery store and a DM Pharmacy.

High-end and luxury shops

Cologne is a great place to shop for luxury items, with its mix of independent design shops, creative concept stores, and high-end boutiques.

Hohe Strasse

One of the most popular streets for high-end shopping in Cologne, Hohe Strasse boasts various luxury brands, including Michael Kors, Bvlgari, and Yves Rocher. It's located just a few blocks west of the Rhine River and runs from Schildergasse in the south to Wallrafplatz at the stunning Cologne Cathedral in the north.

Schildergasse

Cologne's pedestrianised Schildergasse is one of Germany's busiest shopping streets, lined with national and international brand outlets. It's also home to the Renzo Piano-designed Peek & Cloppenburg clothing department store.

Ehrenstrasse

A beautiful shopping street blending traditional family-owned shops with chic and fashionable stores, Ehrenstrasse sits in the inner ring of Cologne's city centre, just 1.3km west of the Cologne Cathedral. Here, you'll find stores like MAC, Adidas, and Scotch & Soda, as well as cafes and historic buildings.

Innenstadt

The most famous place for shopping in Cologne, Innenstadt offers trendy shops from large fashion retailers and department stores. The largest part of this shopping area is pedestrian-only, so you can browse in peace. Shop in Schildergasse, Höhe Strasse, or explore Neumarkt Square. These bustling shopping streets are easily accessible by train and just a 10-minute walk from Cologne Hauptbahnhof station.

Neumarkt Galerie

Neumarkt Galerie is a large and modern shopping centre located on Schildergasse, recognisable by the upside-down ice-cream cone on its roof. It features well-known stores like Primark, Claire's, Flying Tiger, and Rituals, as well as Cologne's largest bookstore, Mayersche.

Opern Passagen

A smaller, more chic department store, Opern Passagen offers jewellery, flower shops, and boutiques with elegant women's fashion.

Boutiques and independent shops

Cologne is known for its vibrant local businesses, with a thriving boutique culture and a plethora of unique small businesses. The city has a wide range of independent design shops, creative concept stores, and vintage shops.

Belgian Quarter

The Belgian Quarter is known for its trendy and small fashion boutiques, with lively streets around Brüsseler Platz, such as Maastrichterstrasse and Brusslerstrasse. Here, you'll find boutiques like How We Live, Schee, and Granit, offering trendy fashion, interior design, and Scandinavian design.

Ehrenfeld

The up-and-coming Ehrenfeld district is full of surprises, with quirky boutiques, nostalgic bookstores, inviting pubs, and hip pop-up stores. This former working-class area is now a hub for artists and creative entrepreneurs. Ehrenfeld is also home to street art, hip coffee bars, and unique shops like Motel a Miio, a pottery shop with pastel palettes and iridescent glazes.

Innenstadt

Innenstadt is the most famous shopping area in Cologne, with trendy shops from large fashion retailers and department stores. Schildergasse, one of Germany's busiest shopping streets, is a pedestrian-only zone with a mix of national and international brands. Höhe Strasse and Neumarkt square are also bustling shopping destinations just a short walk from the train station.

Individual Boutiques

Cologne has numerous independent boutiques scattered throughout the city, such as Boutique Belgique, founded by fashion blogger Lena Terlutter, offering carefully curated luxury labels for women. Ni-Ki Mode in the Sülz neighbourhood specialises in sustainable and eco-friendly fashion, with a focus on organic cotton basics and fun printed dresses. Magasinpopulaire, with locations in Stockholm and Oslo, showcases edgy Scandinavian fashion and lifestyle products. Kauf Dich Glücklich is a concept store in Neumarkt offering men's and women's fashion and accessories from well-known and emerging brands. Keep Loving in Sudstadt is another boutique that has been a local favourite since 2016, featuring on-trend women's fashion labels and lifestyle items.

Frequently asked questions