Mannheim Shopping – Shops, Stores, Best Buys & Inside Tips

Mannheim Shopping

Shopping in Mannheim is an experience in and of itself. Choose from sophisticated boutiques, large retail chains, small specialty shops, chic department stores and more to find exactly what you’re looking for and maybe even something you haven’t imagined yet.

Die Planken

The street leading from the watertower to the Paradeplatz at the center of the downtown area is the main shopping area in Mannheim. Though streets in downtown Mannheim are marked by letters and numbers rather than names, this street is historically known as “die Planken,” meaning planks or wooden boards. Before it was paved with cobblestone, the street became a muddy mess when it rained. Ladies of that era wore long dresses that became mired in the mud and made walking difficult, so the ladies complained to the city authorities. The authorities ordered wooden boards put down and soon everybody was doing their shopping on the planks, the Planken.

There are shops of every variety here – restaurants and cafes for a yummy lunch or dinner, ice cream parlors (highly recommended), department stores, clothing stores, a chocolate shop, bakeries, jewelry stores, many shoe stores and more.

Rhein Neckar Zentrum

This is a mall and shopping center just outside of Mannheim with a grid-like structure that’s perfect for shopping. It’s easily accessibe by Tram (Stop name: Tivoli, Line: 5) and has a shop to suit every need. Grocery stores, department stores and a pet shop accompany the usual fashion and gift shops. There’s also a great selection of restaurants and a movie theater, though most films are only available in German. Some shops are pricier than others, but there are plenty of bargains for those who are willing to search them out.

Farmer’s Market

Mannheim Farmer’s Market is the largest open air market in the area. Many professional chefs go early in the morning to buy fresh supplies. It is open year-round on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. In May you can get asparagus, and in late summer and early fall it’s a good place to find a wide variety of fresh mushrooms. From November through the holidays  you can pick up traditional chestnuts for roasting – very good. In addition to vegetables, bread and meat, you can choose from an abundance of fresh flowers.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about Mannheim Shopping.