Gifts in Germany - 12 must-haves to bring home

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | What to look for when shopping for gifts in Germany? We present 12 tips for things to buy to take home – everything from crafts and toys to chocolate and health products.

Shopping for gifts while travelling

Do you usually buy gifts when you are abroad? We do it sometimes, and if it's close to Christmas or someone's birthday, it's perfect. A few years ago, when we visited Lübeck just before Christmas, we bought marzipan for the whole family.

Twelve tips for gifts in Germany

Will you be travelling to Germany sometime in the future? In collaboration with the German Tourist Board, we've come up with 12 perfect gifts to bring home from your trip to Germany.

1. Marzipan from Lübeck

The Niederegger marzipan from Lübeck is now known all over the world. Marzipan originally came from the Orient, and it was the Crusaders who brought the delicacy to Europe. Initially, only pharmacists were allowed to trade in sugar, and marzipan was only for royalty and other distinguished people. Over time, the profession of sugar baker emerged and Johann Georg Niederegger (1777-1856) founded the famous company that still produces the beloved sweet.

In Lübeck, you can visit Niederegger Marsipaneri, and there is also a marzipan museum with impressive marzipan figures. On the first floor of the Niederegger House there is also a café where you can enjoy, for example, a marzipan cake with a coffee.

2. Wood crafts from the Erzgebirge mountains

The Erzgebirge mining region in eastern Germany has a long history of woodworking. The most famous craft from here is a kind of 'Christmas pyramid', which began to be developed in the 17th and 18th centuries. The pyramid is a Christmas decoration somewhat reminiscent of an angelica, with several levels and rotating discs. Small indoor Christmas pyramids are often powered by candles placed in the corners of the pyramid.

In addition to Christmas pyramids, many other wooden crafts are also sold in the Erzgebirge, such as "Nutcrackers" and Advent candlesticks. In Annaberg-Buchholz you can also visit the Erzgebirge Museum, which is about both mining and crafts.

3. steiff plush toys

Margrete Steiff was born in 1847 and when she was 18 months old she contracted a fever, which left her with paralysed legs and difficulty moving one arm. How would Margarete cope in life? Despite the limitations of her one arm, she learnt to sew and eventually began making popular plush elephants.

In 1880, Margarete Steiff founded a company to sell plush toys, and the various animals are very popular today. To protect the toys from being copied, they have an original labelling with a metal button in the ear. If you want to know more, you can also visit the Steff Museum in Giengen an der Brenz.

4. Porcelain from Meißen

The Elector of Saxony, August the Strong, had a passion for porcelain and so imported porcelain from China, which was an expensive hobby. To save money, he hired his own alchemists, and in the early 18th century the first white European porcelain was fired.

Today, Meissen porcelain is produced by the Meissen Manufaktur in Albrechtsburg in Meissen, eastern Germany. It makes plates, cups and vases, as well as sculptures of animals and people. You can also visit the porcelain workshop.

5. Healing chalk from Rügen

Limestone deposits on the north-eastern part of the island Rügen supplies the raw material for 'healing chalk'. Healing chalk is a pure and non-allergenic product that is considered to have healing properties. The product is used in baths and in masks, wraps and scrubs.

6. Sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn is a shrub that often grows near seashores, bearing orange fruits that look like berries. In Germany, the shrubs are found in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The nutritious berries are harvested between September and early December and are used in many different ways. For example, you can buy sea buckthorn in the form of jam, juice, oil, tea or even schnapps.

7. Cuckoo from the Black Forest

Black Forest cuckoo clocks, or 'Kuckucksuhr' as they are called in German, have a long tradition of craftsmanship. The first clocks were produced in the 18th century and became immensely popular in the second half of the 19th century. The cuckoo clock is still a popular souvenir, and those who wish to do so can also visit the Cuckoo Museum in Furtwangen.

8. German wines

In Germany, you can take the opportunity to buy locally produced wine from different wine regions, such as Moselle valleys, Rhine Valley, Neckar, Saale and Main. You can also buy speciality wines, such as apple wine (äppelwoi). Read more about wine regions and wine festivals in Germany.

9. Products from outlets

If you want to shop for designer clothes at good prices, you can find last year's collections at various outlets. Here are some examples of shopping and outlets in Germany:

• Outlet City in Metzingen
• Wertheim Village in Wertheim
• Ingolstadt Village in Ingolstadt
• Designer Outlets in Wolfsburg
• Designer Outlet in Berlin
• Herzo in Stadt Herzogenaurach (Puma, Adidas and others)

And of course, if you're travelling by ferry, such as in Rostock or Sassnitz, you can shop at the Bordershop.

10. beer or beer garnish

Germany is great at beer and there are lots of different German beer brands, both from the most famous producers and from local microbreweries. If you want to buy beer as a gift, you can buy it with a pewter-capped beer coaster or a glass coaster, which, incidentally, was introduced at the World Cup. Oktoberfest in Munich 1892.

11. German bread

German bread culture is included as one of 27 cultural forms in the national list of intangible cultural heritage. So why not buy some bread from Germany? You can also visit the German Bread Museum in Ulm.

12: Ritter sport chocolate

Do you or someone you know like chocolate? Then you might want to pay a visit to Ritter Sport and buy some chocolate to take home. Ritter Sport can be visited either in Berlin or in Waldenbuch.

Good to know about shopping and gifts in Germany

• Currency: In Germany, the euro is used.
• Payment: Many shops and restaurants accept cards, but it is good to have cash available as well.
• Opening hours: Most shops are open Monday-Saturday 10:00 - 20:00. Small shops may close earlier.