Germany Shopping Tips by globetrott Top 5 Page for this destination

Ampelmännchen: a funny shop for fans of the DDR

This is a funny shop for all fans of the "good old times of DDR/GRD" and the very best of it was certainly the so-called Ampelmännchen with the large hat that found a lot of friends also in Western germany and here you can buy some souvenirs about this and similar things of the DDR.

What to buy: I love that Ampelmännchen as well, it looks much better than ours !
And they have small-scale-models of the Trabbi as well !

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.ampelmännchen.de

Konditorei-Zieger: Buy a FUMMEL in Meissen

Konditorei Zieger is an interesting traditional bakery in the centre of the old city of Meissen (north of Dresden) and their best-known product is the so-called "Fummel",dating back to the year 1710, a pastry that was never ment to be eaten...
In colloquial german a Fummel is a kind of dress for ladies that is expensive and rather thin, and might be ruined quickly...
Fummeln or herumfummeln in colloquial german is an activity, when touching something with your fingers....

What to buy: August der Starke had a post-rider, who was drinking quite a lot, and in order to be able to control him ,August asked the bakeries in Meissen to create a very thin pastry that might easily break, when it is not carried around very carefully...
You can still buy this pastry ONLY in Konditorei Zieger for about 2 Euros, it is big like a loaf of bread, but very light and really thin ( & it survived several days in my car)
It is a funny souvenir, BUT I would NOT recommend it for a great taste , it actually tastes like nothing !

What to pay: 2 Euros is the price for a Fummel

Address: D-01662 Meissen - Rote Stufen 5

Directions: Bäckerei Zieger is in the very centre of the old town of Meissen, about 15 km north of Dresden.

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.konditorei-zieger.de/

at Oktoberfest & other fests: Lebkuchen - Herz

Nowadays it is not easy to find this type of a unique souvenir and gift to take home, except that you are lucky to be able to attend Oktoberfest or any other similar festivity in Bavaria or other parts of Germany :
Lebkuchen - Herz ( a heart made of Gingerbread) , it mostly has an inscription like on my photo and in most cases such a heart is a donation to the girl that is taken out to Oktoberfest by a young man.

What to buy: A Lebkuchenherz is quite expensive and it would be a pity to eat it. It will be mostly packed in plastic and might stay like this for several years !

What to pay: Be prepared to pay between 15 and 20 euros for such a piece of art !

Directions: I saw tham at Oktoberfest !

Theme: Other