Darmstadt's pretty, tree lined Schulstraße is home to a wonderful assortment of owner-run specialist shops that sell everything from sustainable fashion, books and antiques to organic and vegan food and drink, skateboards and modern art. In the Baroque city of Fulda, the plethora of independent shops include a button store stocking over 2000 buttons and a confectioner's selling exquisite handmade truffles.
Head to Marburg for independent shops and cafés in the city's charming old town - though be warned, though the streets are pretty, they're very steep! In Wetzlar, visitors will find small boutiques tucked amongst quaint restaurants and pubs, all housed in gorgeous historic buildings. Wiesbaden's old town is home to traditional goldsmiths and leather goods' stores as well as fashion and home accessory boutiques.
Frankfurt's most popular shopping street, the Zeil, is home to a large selection of well known brands as well as department stores and the MyZeil shopping mall. MyZeil boasts eight levels of shops and cafés, extraordinary architecture and from the rooftop restaurant, a view of the famous Frankfurt skyline.
In Frankfurt's Sachsenhausen district, a small but buzzing fashion scene has developed, with a number of young, creative designers establishing fashion, accessory and jewellery boutiques.
In Fulda, the LIEBLINGS concept store offers high quality fashion items, accessories and beauty and lifestyle products. Other large malls in Hessen that also offer various electronics, sports and culinary offerings, include the Luisencenter in Darmstadt, the Galerie Neustädter Tor in Giessen and the Forum Wetzlar in Wetzlar.
Hessen's plentiful farmers's markets offer a fantastic opportunity for food lovers to shop like locals, but those in search of culinary souvenirs have plenty more shopping options to choose from.
Visitors to Frankfurt shouldn't miss out on the city's legendary market hall for local and international treats. Head to Freßgass, a sycamore-lined shopping street that's home to grocery stores, gourmet delicatessens, restaurants and cafes. In late summer, the street plays host to the city's annual Rheingau Wine Festival, where you can pick up bottles of excellent local wine at very reasonable prices.
The charming shops of Wiesbaden's old town are worth browsing for fine wines, oils, spices and much else besides. Gourmands will also enjoy a trip to Offenbach's Wilhelmsplatz, a square lined with restaurants and delicatessens which is also the home of a thrice weekly farmers' market.
For high-end shopping in Frankfurt, head to Goethestraße, home to luxury brands and international designers such as Versace, Armani, Omega and Louis Vuitton. Visitors will also find fashion boutiques and stylish concept stores on Neue Rothhofstraße, including at the exclusive Neue Rothof mall. In Wiesbaden, luxury fashion and jewellery brands as well as chic home furnishings can be found on the elegant tree-lined Wilhelmstraße.
Top-of-the-range photography products can be found in the gorgeous Leica store at the Leitz Park in Wetzlar, which is also home to a gallery and museum covering the history of the world-famous camera manufacturer and works produced by well-know photographers.
Fleamarkets are commonplace around Hessen, taking place regularly in cities around the state. In Frankfurt, bargain hunters should head to the Sachsenhausen riverbank and the Osthafen district to browse second-hand goods and antiques. Large fleamarkets also take place in Wiesbaden, at the Schlachthof culture centre as well as at Biebrich Palace, in Marburg and in Kassel.
