Shopping in Strasbourg
There is a wide range of shopping opportunities in Strasbourg, ranging from colourful markets to shopping malls.
Key areas
Fine fashion and retail items, leather goods, jewellery shops and gourmet caterers can be found along rue des Orfèvres and rue de la Mésange, where brands like Cartier, Gucci and Hermès all have a store. Other high-end outlets such as Kenzo and Georges Rech can be found in rue des Hallebardes and rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Poissons. For a more traditional take on fashion, customary Alsatian dresses and robes can be bought or hired at Costume Alsacien, 11b quai de Turckheim.
For year-round Christmas fans, Un Noël en Alsace, 10 rue des Dentelles, sells Christmas decorations whatever the season whilst hat lovers should head for designer milliner Chapellerie Medernach, 24 place de la Cathédrale. All around the cathedral and neighbourhood of the Petite France, little souvenir shops sell local potteries and stuffed toys in the shape of the symbolic stalk.
Alsatian specialities at Edouard Artzner, 7 rue de la Mésange, include Strasbourg goose, duck foie gras and Alsatian wines. René Tourette's cheese shop, La Cloche à Fromage, 27 rue des Tonneliers, is well worth a visit, as is Kirn, a local delicatessen shop with patés and typical meals, all ready to go, on 19 rue du 22 novembre.
Markets
The Tourist Office provides a brochure on Strasbourg's local markets, mainly held Tuesday to Saturday 0700-1300. The seasonal Christkindelsmärik (Christmas Market) takes place from late November to 24 December in and around place Broglie and rue de la Comédie, and until 31 December at place de la Cathédrale and rue des Hallebardes. This traditional Christmas market dates back to the 16th century and serves anything from vin chaud (mulled wine) to santons (clay figurines), toys and gourmet delicacies. The more traditional and quaint Christmas markets of Colmar and Kaysersberg (75km/46miles and 80km/49 miles from Strasbourg respectively) are well worth the visit.
Shopping centres
The central Place des Halles, at 24 place des Halles is Strasbourg’s main commercial shopping centre (open Monday to Saturday 0900-2000), with more than 120 shops, as well as 10 restaurants and bars. The two main department stores – Galeries Lafayette, rue du 22 Novembre, and Printemps, 1-5 rue de la Haute Montée – are both close to place Kléber and offer a variety of goods, from retail to cosmetics and household items.
The FNAC on place Klébe has a wide selection of books and electronics. A couple of bookstores (Librairie du Monde and Librairie Kléber) are also in the vicinity. A little further out but equally as large is the Rivetoile with many stores and restaurants, open Mon-Fri from 1000-2000 and Sat from 0900-2000 and accessible by tram.
Opening hours
Shopping hours vary – department stores usually open Mon-Sat from 0900-1900 and boutiques are open from 1000-1200 and 1400-1800. Many smaller shops and stores also close Saturday mornings and Sunday.
Souvenirs
Many souvenirs shops dot the city centre, especially around the cathedral and Petite France. Souvenir shops will usually sell traditional potteries and memorabilia with the emblematic stalk and cathedral. The Alsace region is also renowned for its wine wines, such as Riesling (dry), Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer (sweet).
