Decorative objects
Christmas decorations are very much in evidence in stores all year round. In the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, there's a gigantic store devoted entirely to Christmas decorations. Here, you'll find absolutely everything you need to decorate your tree and make your home warm and welcoming for the festive season. One of the great German classics is the wooden Christmas pyramid. Then there are the Lichthäuser, small wooden structures in the shape of a small house, lit by candlelight or garlands. And the great classic, of course, is the traditional wooden nutcracker (spruce or beech) in the shape of a character: forester, gendarme, king, hussar...
Souvenirs to eat... or not
Culinary delights include Lebkuchen in a Nuremberg patisserie, then buy a box to show your relatives back home the gingerbread that's so popular in southern Germany. Christmas markets are full of them, often in the shape of a heart with a kitschy inscription or illustration. These are rarely intended for consumption, but rather for interior decoration (you've got to love it...). But you can also find traditional confectionery shops offering Lebkuchen that are as beautiful as they are good. In Nuremberg, for example, you can try (and take home) the Elisenlebkuchen. It's made with just 10% flour, 25% nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds), placed on a sheet of host (Oblate), and may (or may not) be covered with a layer of chocolate. You'll find whole boxes of them in Nuremberg, often decorated with illustrations of the city's emblematic buildings.
For soccer fans
Soccer fans in Munich are sure to flock to one of the FC Bayern stores to find a jersey in their size, which can even be printed with their name. There's no reason why you can't redo your entire wardrobe in honor of the Munich team. You'll find everything you need to wear the blue, white and red logo, summer and winter alike: pants, sweaters, socks, caps, jogging suits. In December 2020, a gigantic 3,500 m² boutique was inaugurated in the heart of Munich. Three floors of merchandise pay tribute to Germany's most famous soccer club.
Fashion
If sportswear isn't for you, you can turn to traditional Bavarian outfits: the Lederhose and the Dirndl. These are real outfits, worn by Bavarians for special occasions such as weddings and christenings. For a quality garment, you'll have to dig deep into your wallet and spend at least €500. In Munich, you'll find designer boutiques that give new life to skin pants, shirts and aprons. With quality fabrics and wools, slim-fitting cuts and natural colors, they manage to combine yesterday's fashion with today's. To blend in with the Oktoberfest crowd, a Lederhose or a Dirndl is an essential investment, to which you'll need to add shoes, socks, a hat, etc.
For children of all ages
Did you know that Playmobil is a Bavarian company? Its headquarters are still in Franconia, in Zirndorf to be precise, a small town not far from Nuremberg. Children and adults alike who haven't forgotten the favorite game of their youth will find all kinds of Playmobil figures featuring famous Bavarians: Albrecht Dürer, Levi Strauss or Sissi, for example. It all depends on the location of your trip: you'll find Albrecht Dürer at the tourist office in Nuremberg, or Ludwig Erhard in Fürth. Cities have understood the marketing value of these little plastic figurines.
To drink
If your luggage allows, you can also bring back a few bottles of beer from your stay in Bavaria. Each region of Bavaria has its own local beer: Maisel's in Bayreuth, Paulaner in Munich, Ettaler in Ettal, and so on. To impress your experimental, thrill-seeking friends, you can take home a bottle of Bamberg's famous Rauchbier: a smoked beer with a taste reminiscent of smoked ham. But it's like Guinness: the first few sips have the scent of adventure, and after a couple of halves, you're completely used to it! All over Bavaria, there will be beers to suit all tastes: lagers, browns, amber ales and even IPAs. This selection of Bavarian beers can be accompanied by a set of traditional mugs. Souvenir stores in Bavaria - and throughout Germany - sell large, carved mugs, often 0.5 liters in size, with a small lid to prevent the beer from spilling. You'll find mugs with a variety of motifs: Bavarian celebrities (Ludwig II, for example), monuments (Neuschwanstein in the foreground) or coats of arms (the blue-and-white diamond coat of arms in the foreground, naturally). Smaller schnapps glasses are also a common sight in souvenir stores. Here, too, a cheerful kitsch often accompanies their decoration: Sissi, Neuschwanstein, etc.
