10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Nuremberg

Lorenzer Altstadt takes up one-half of the old town centre of Nuremberg. It spreads across a trio of blocks to the south of the River Pegnitz, bounded by the Rosengarten Park on its south side and the Fleischbrücke bridge to its north. The whole area is pleasantly walkable. In fact, it's home to 2 fully pedestrianised streets that are veritable shopping hubs.

The first is Breite Gasse, which runs from the White Tower U-Bahn stop in the west for nearly 500 metres. As it goes, you'll find high-street brands like Levi's and Foot Locker next to traditional German souvenir outlets. One block up is Karolinenstrasse, where the retail vibe is a touch more upscale – expect jewellers, haute couture, and bohemian fashion outlets.

The Nuremberg Christmas Market is among the most famous of its kind in Europe. It takes place each year throughout November and December on the sprawling Hauptmarkt square in the midst of the Mitte district – a spot that's within easy walking distance of most hotels in the old town area.

Said by many to be the oldest Christmas market in the world, the event is sure to stoke the festive feels. You'll shuffle over the icy cobbles to find glühwein (mulled wine) sellers and gingerbread stalls jostling for space, all under the gaze of the angelic Christkind decorations. The shopping is fantastic, especially if you're into tree baubles, carved wooden goods, and festive foods.

The Hauptmarkt is the fabled home of Nuremberg's Christmas market, but it's also host to bazaars throughout the whole year. The simply named Nuremberg Main Market bustles into life here from Mondays to Saturdays no matter the season. And it's convenient – the spot is easy to get to from virtually all quarters of the old town by foot.

Spreading out under the Gothic tops of the lovely Frauenkirche, the collection of stalls focuses largely on cooked goods and fresh produce. Come here to taste Bavarian rye bread and local apples, sample famous blood sausage, and meet artisan coffee brewers alike.

Mitte is the beating heart of the whole city of Nuremberg. Encompassing the 2 main old town centres of Sankt Lorenz and Sankt Sebald, it's ringed by the vast Stadtpark gardens. There's a good chance you'll be staying in these parts anyhow. If not, the Lorenzkirche and White Tower U-Bahn stations offer the best access.

Shoppers have loads to get stuck into in Mitte. Weaving, wiggling lanes of cobblestone pave the way to quaint bakeries that showcase meticulously made gingerbread loaves. There are art galleries offering replicas of Albrecht Durer's works. You'll see charming festive outlets with decorations prepped for Christmas. The south side of Mitte is better for high-street shopping, while the north is better for local markets and independent stores.

The Königstorpassage shoots underneath the main ring road that encircles the old town areas of Nuremberg to link up with the platforms of Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof. It's not only a convenient way to the charming half-timbered houses of the centre after stepping off a train, though.

The whole concourse is lined with cute Bavarian bakeries and coffee shops, where you'll be able to bag sweet doughnuts and artisan teas. At its northwestern end, the alley meets Handwerkerhof Nuremberg. Home to lederhosen crafters, medieval taverns, and beer halls it offers an enthralling taste of authentic Bavaria in Nuremberg.

The Plärrermarkt sits on the southwestern edge of the Mitte area of Nuremberg, offering an altogether more modern shopping experience than the cobbled plazas of the centre. There's easy access because it has a dedicated U-Bahn station called Plärrer, and there's onsite parking to boot.

The Plärrermarkt spreads over 2 wings. The one to the west deals largely with utilitarian homeware establishments, with some pharmacies and medical supply stores thrown in. The one to the east has cafe-bars and international food outlets, along with a smattering of affordable fast-fashion brands. Head down adjoining Gostenhofer Hauptstrasse to find a string of fun Middle Eastern grocers with exotic fruit and spices for sale.

CARRÉ Fürther Freiheit is a staple of the local shopping scene. It's not in the centre of the town, but rather up the railway line a little in nearby Fürth, where it occupies a whole block just south of the Stadtpark. A ride here from Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof should take about 5 minutes on the trains, which leave every 15 minutes throughout the day.

The modern-style complex contains mainstay brands like WÖHRL fashion. However, there's also a good showing of more quirky local stores around the edges of the building. They come in the form of the independent bookstore Bücher Edelmann and the Bavarian beer outlet of Die Bierothek.

Mercado Nürnberg figures as one of the largest out-of-centre malls on the northeastern side of the city. It's located just past the 4R ring road, some 5 minutes on foot from the Schoppershof U-Bahn station in Weigelshof. A train ride from Mitte usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes.

Measuring 200 metres lengthwise and over 150 metres across, this vast concourse has plenty of space to accommodate all sorts of retail brands. Mercado Nürnberg counts both German and international fashion names in its number – Woolworth, H&M, Hunkemöller. Plus, there are convenient pharmacies and sporting outlets in the mix.

The Nuremberg Easter Market trumps even the uber-famous Nuremberg Christmas Market to be hailed as the oldest market in the whole city. It starts in the early spring, so is one of the first main cultural events on the municipal calendar. Its home? The legendary Hauptmarkt, of course – the very heart of the Mitte district.

Easter is the theme that runs through all the stalls. Buyers can browse painted eggs, easter-themed textiles, springtime decorations, artisan eggcups – the list goes on. There are also craft sellers that showcase kitchenware and table goods, along with a whole host of food stalls to sate those shopping-induced hunger pangs.

The Trempelmarkt graces the streets of historic Nuremberg just twice a year. Usually, that's once in spring and once in the autumn, though the dates can chop and change. If you happen to be in town when it's on, then great – look for it along the lanes of the Mitte area north of the Hauptmarkt.

The Trempelmarkt is said to be one of the largest flea markets in Germany. Browsers and hagglers can expect a hodgepodge of serious diversity. At the market, knick-knacks from the 1800s mingle with wartime paraphernalia and old-school threads meet vinyl records from the 1960s.