Cologne is one of the most affluent cities in the western part of Germany, and it has a lot of interesting activities and attractions to offer. The city is known as a shopping haven, and many people travel from various parts of Germany as well as other countries to peruse its famous shopping districts. Here are a few Cologne shopping places that you must visit:

Hohe Strasse and Schildergasse

These two streets make up the most popular shopping district in the city of Cologne. The Hohe Strasse is a historic street that served as an important part of the connection between Rome and Xanten during the time of the Roman Empire, and it became the first pedestrian-only shopping street in Germany in 1967. The street starts at the Wallrafplatz, and it has numerous shops that sell a wide range of goods, including clothes, jewelry, shoes and other items. The Hohe Strasse runs for almost one mile, ending at the point where the Schildergasse begins. On this street, you will find many shops that offer children and household products. The street leads to Zeppelinstrasse, which is a shopping paradise for women, as well as the popular Neumarkt Galerie shopping center.

Neumarkt Galerie Shopping Center

The Neumarkt Galerie is the most beautiful and largest Cologne shopping center, and it's one of the major landmarks of the city. The building is crowned with a huge "dropped" ice cream cone structure that measures more than 30 feet high. The well-lit interior provides the ideal environment for shopping, and there is a forum in the middle of the center. The Neumarkt Galerie has three levels and a total of 65 shops, which offer a wide selection of products from famous brands. You will find the largest branches of Karstadt Sport, Sinn Leffers and Mayersche as well as many popular restaurants and cafes in the shopping center. Neumarkt Galerie can be easily reached from anywhere in Cologne, because it's located close to the Neumarkt subway station.

The Main Train Station

The Main Train Station has a shopping area that is very popular among both locals and tourists in Cologne. This shopping place is also known as the Colonaden Hauptbahnhof Köln. There are about 70 shops along the halls of the station that offer a huge selection of food products as well as other items, ranging from artisan cheese and specialty tea to jewelry and books. Most of the shops in the Colonaden open from 8am to 10pm, and a number of bistros are open for business 24 hours a day.