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Almost all stores are closed on Sundays in Germany. Therefore, make sure to get your grocery shopping done by Saturday!
 

Get your groceries locally from:


1) Edeka (Maidel)
Wasachstrasse 1, 87561 Tiefenbach
(+49 (0)8322-2124


2) Lidl GmbH & Co. KG
Im Steinach 10, 87561 Oberstdorf
(+49 (0)800-4353351 (Hotline)


3) Plus
Pfarrstr. 2 a, 87561 Oberstdorf
(+49 (0)8322-2326

4) Edeka (Neukauf)
Poststrasse 10, 87561 Oberstdorf
(+49 (0)8322-606195


5) Feneberg Lebensmittel GmbH
Weststrasse 3, 87561 Oberstdorf
(+49 (0)8322-80 93 04


6) Feneberg Lebensmittel GmbH
Im Steinach 10 3, 87561 Oberstdorf
(+49 (0)8322-43 53 361 (Hotline)


7) Norma
Enzenspergerweg 7, 87561 Oberstdorf
(+49 (0)8322 800437


8) SKY
Fellhornstrasse 1, 87561 Oberstdorf
(+49 (0)8322 3026

Live Like a German

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in Oberstdorf

 

Allgäu Apartment - Live Like a German in Oberstdorf, Germany’s popular skiing and hiking destination. Short walking distance to town center with nice restaurants, shopping, and other attractions.

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Interactive map, showing our Live Like a German apartment at Wittelsbacherstrasse 6 (blue icon), and the local bakeries, butchers/delis, and grocery stores (red icons.) Zoom in/out, move around the map to explore the local area, switch to satellite view, and more...

Autmun sunset in Oberammergau, Bavaria

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Where do you find fresh German bread, delicious rolls, sausages, meat, and groceries while living in Oberstdorf? Find out all the details here, along with reviews and recommendations, and an interactive map that shows you how to get there…

Browse the interactive map so see where the grocery stores and vacation rentals are located:

The Oberstdorf Destination Guide: Grocery Shopping > Grocery Stores

About German Grocery Stores


Although supermarkets are popular, many Germans still prefer to shop for meat, bread, pastry, fruit and vegetables in specialty shops: the butcher, the baker, the green grocer and other specialized types of stores.


Some useful words and expressions in English and German:


der Supermarkt - the supermarket

im Supermarkt - at the supermarket


fast alles - almost everything

die Lebensmittel - groceries

das Gemüse - vegetables

das Obst - fruit

die Milch - milk

der Käse - cheese


General information about grocery shopping in Germany


In common with most other Western European languages (but unlike English), in German a comma is used to indicate a decimal. For example, 2,99 € is two euros and 99 cents. The “€” symbol is not always used and may be placed both in front or after the price. A dot is used to “group” numbers, so “1.000” would be one thousand.


Retail prices are reasonable and slightly lower than in most northern European countries but the value added tax, V.A.T., “Umsatzsteuer” (official, but even politicians use this rather sparsely) or “Mehrwertsteuer” (most Germans use this word) has been increased to 19% from 2007 onwards and therefore prices will slightly rise; fuel, sparkling wine, spirits and tobacco are subject to even higher taxes. Some German brands of high end goods such as kitchen utensils, stationery, and hiking gear are considerably cheaper than abroad. V.A.T. is always included in an item's price-tag.


Cigarettes are available in most kiosks, supermarkets and newsagents. As of November 2008, a pack of 17 costs around €4 and a pack of 24 costs around €5.50.


Many Germans rather look for prices than for quality when shopping for food. As a result, the competition between food discounters (which might be the cause of this very specific behavior) is exceptionally fierce (WalMart had to retract from the German market because it failed at competing on price) and results in very low food prices compared to other European countries. The chains “Aldi” and “Lidl” are a special type of supermarket (don't call it “Supermarkt” - Germans call it “Diskont”, “Discounter” or - colloquially - “Billigheimer”): Their range of products is limited to the absolute necessities of daily life (like vegetables, pasta, UHT-milk, eggs, convenience foods, toiletries etc.), sold in rather simple packaging for tightly calculated prices. While quality is generally surprisingly high (at least in comparison to price), do not expect delicatessen or local specialties when you go to shop there. Many Germans buy their daily needs there and go to the more “standard” supermarket (like the chains Rewe or Edeka) to get more special treats. Don't blame the personnel for being somewhat harsh: Although they are paid slightly better than usual, they have to cope with a military-like working atmosphere and a significantly higher workload than colleagues in standard supermarkets.


If you are looking for organic products, your best bet is to visit a “Bioladen” or “Biosupermarkt”. (Bio- generally means organic.) There are also many farmers selling their products directly (“Hofladen”), most of them organized in the “Bioland” cooperative. They offer reasonable food at reasonable prices.


You can find local products (not necessarily organic) in most places at the farmer's market (“Wochenmarkt” or simply “Markt”), usually once or twice a week. While you should be aware that your chances on finding english-speaking sellers there may be somewhat reduced, it's nevertheless quite fun to shop there and mostly you will get fresh and good quality food for reasonable prices.


Be prepared to bag your own groceries and goods as well as provide your own shopping bags for doing so. While most stores provide plastic as well as canvas shopping bags at the checkout, you are charged for them. The Germans think it is more environmentally-friendly to re-use bags rather than get a new one each time. It's a good reminder to also keep a euro coin handy for the buggys / shopping carts. They all require a euro to use the cart but you get it back once your shopping is done.


Opening hours


Due to a federal reform, opening hours are set by the states, therefore opening hours vary from state to state. Some states like Berlin, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein have no more strict opening hours from Monday to Saturday (however, you will rarely find 24 hours shops other than at petrol stations). Sunday is closed for shops everywhere in Germany. As a rule of thumb:


  1. - Supermarkets: 8 or 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

  2. - Big supermarkets: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

  3. - Shopping centers and great department stores: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

  4. - Department stores in small cities: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

  5. - Small and middle shops: 9 or 10 a.m. – 6.30 p.m. (in big cities sometimes to 8 p.m.)

  6. - Petrol stations: in cities and along the “Autobahn” usually 24h a day

  7. - Restaurants: 11.30 a.m. – 11 or 12 a.m. (midnight), sometimes longer, many closed during afternoon


Small shops are often closed from 1 to 3 p.m. If necessary in many big cities you will find a few (sometimes more expensive) supermarkets with longer opening hours (often near the main station). Bakeries usually offer service on sunday mornings (business hours vary) as well. Also most petrol stations have a small shopping area.


Basic supplies can usually be bought around the clock at gas stations. Gas station owners work around opening hour restrictions by running 7-Eleven style mini marts on their gas station property. Be aware that prices are usually quite high. Another exception to this law are supermarkets located in touristy areas. Towns designated as a “Kurort” (health resort) are allowed to have their stores open all week during tourist season. Just ask a local for those well-kept secret stores.


[ sources: wikitravel, german.about.com ]